. >> reporter: mike viqueira joins us live from washington.et's start with iraq and syria, the president's comments yesterday. provided today. give us the latest. >> that's right. we are fresh from a daily briefing from the white house spokesmen josh earnest. president obama is on his way to a fund-raising trip. he has decided incidentally, david, he originally planned to stay in the new york city tomorrow before attending the wedding of his personal chef, he will be returning to the white house tonight. bementioned david cameron, raising the threat level there. josh earnst reporting that he does not an advertise nate the homeland security department will be raising the threat level here, although they are monitoring those expatriot americans who have gone on to join those groups. after the president's appearance in the briefing room, the controversy ensued right away. the president said we don't want to put the cart before the horse in terms of whether or not we will extend the air bombing campaign from iraq into syria. he said we have not ma

mike viqueira reporting live from washington, d.c. and an editorial note al jazeera america is owned by qatarry interests. >>> no. iraq, u.s. warplanes have been pounding equipment. >> yes, those trying to form a new unity government feel they may be on the way, quite close forming the unity government which may make all the difference battling isis. we have pictures of this where they say are airstrikes carried out by iraq and u.s. planes in the northern city of mosul. footage from the pentagon shows these jets taking off from the aircraft barrier as part of the aerial operations against islamic state in iraq. >> anything in general you can see that we have done strikes up in different areas in iraq throughout iraq where you see the big effort around the mosul dam in order to allow the dam to be retaken so there was no catastrophe with the dam, and that folks can get back on there and protect the dam and make sure that everything is going correctly. >> now over the weekend 4 people are killed in car bombings. another nine died on mon

i was going to go to mike viqueira, our man at the white house to talk about developments in washington as it reflights fergusonrelates to ferguson, but another big story we're following, the developments in iraq and syria. you've got breaking news on this. >> reporter: well, that's right. we heard from the pentagon and white house in the last few minutes, and it's been startling news. the white house, the pentagon announcing that a rescue mission had been launched by the american military on a date they had not announced to try to rescue a number, an unspecified number, ali of american hostages inside syria. the pentagon spokesman said they werwhen they got there the hostages were not. then we heard from that the hostages were in increasing danger each passing day. the officer arranged the commandos. they had what they felt was sufficient intelligence but when they got there the hostages were not there. and they're adding that they're not going to be providing operational details because they want to protect operational security. ali this comes on the same day of the president speaking

mike viqueira is live for us right here in new york. mike, good to see you. the u.s. military already has boots on the ground in iraq. the white house said it's planning an advisory assessment rule. should americans be concerned about mission creep here, that this could lead to additional combat. >> reporter: i'm not sure whether americans should be concerned. americans are concerned. that's why you hear president obama and officials from the white house saying no combat role. no combat role. they simply cannot say it enough. even in the wake of the fact that president obama has inserted 700 special advisers and other personnel into iraq principlesly to protect personnel in baghdad and evacuate them if the situation further deteriorates but now announced last night on top of 250 advisers already in country 130, and these are marines and special operation comman commando unites. today the white house did more than assess the military capability. they're there to assess whether or not a humanitarian corridor can be formed to rescue the yazidis trapped, as you outlined j

joining us now from the white house is mike viqueira, again, this is all about evidence the administration says it has put forward against russia supplying arms to the ukrainian separatist. >> secretary kerry brought us that news when he was standing side by side with his yo ukrainian counter part. he had that talk with s ergei lavrov. and again promises were made for a cease-fire. promises were made for unfettered access to the crash site. promises were made for talks between the separatists kerry asking lavrov again to exert his influence over the separatists to get them to back off. the latest we've heard from estimates is 15,000. but john kerry again made comments to the press after his conversation with lavrov with the your raina ukrainian . >> in the individual time trial where he finished 56th. russia into ukraine. while the russians have said they want to de-escalate the conflict their actions have not shown a shred of evidence that they really have a legitimate desire to end the violence and end the bloodshed. >> so there you have the administration dossier in a nutshell. neatly s

. >> mike viqueira life for us at the white house, mike? >> reporter: david, that's right.hink with eric holder they're making the rounds meeting with youth groups and law enforcement, meeting with department of justice personnel and investigators as well as fbi. there are really two things he's going for here. number one is a practical function that he's serving in the civil rights investigation. there is really only so much the federal government can do at this point. but in a symbolic effort, here is a powerful african-american man a long-time friend of the president going there, assuring everyone by his very presence that he is there, the federal government is watching this very closely, trying to calm the waters. we'll see in the coming days what kind of effect that's had. >> we want to ask you about some of the imagery of this day. we saw some of the pictures, and robert ray has been reporting it's been wall to wall, the vice presidential aircraft is the one they decided to use not the regular department of justice aircraft that holder would normally use. >> reporter:

mike viqueira is at the white house with more on this. what are you hearing? >> the wire service is hearing from senior officials that the united states is considering sending up to 70 more of those advisors. there's about 250 in country in iraq. controversial when president barack obama decided to send them. 70 more, and their job would be to assess what has been done, the damage done to the islamic state group, the group that, of course, has beseemed the kurdistan and the minorities around kurdistan as well. after the series of air strike announced last week behind me at the white house, now the task is to go in and see just how much damage has been done by the - to the islamic state, and continuing to assess the iraqi forces and the peshmerga force, the kurdish forces that are, in fact, battling the islamic insurgence. >> mike viqueira in washington. >>> the peshmerga was knocked on its heals and had to surrender towns. kurdish forces retook the territory once the u.s. regained air gain. we go to a town mok more, taken back by the fighters >> reporter: kurd

i've turned for insight on what has been happening in washington to al jazeera's correspondent mike viqueira. the power structure, i'm overjoyed he's here with me in new york. the thing that you got, mike, i think you're a smart guy, well-read, what you got that separates you here is memory. you remember this is all sort of happened before. we're now coming into this midterm, and it seems like a mess from the outside. is it? >> it's a mess. it's paralysis, and there are a number of factors that lead to it. by the way, thank you for refer to go how long i've been around. [ laughing ] there is obviously dysfunction and much of it can be the roots of it can be traced to 2008 and the financial meltdown no question about it. president obama came into office vilifying wall street. i'll never forget the day he had the leaders, the major financial institutions into the white house, the white house staff made it so. normally you put them in the west wing. he had to march around the white house and almost an act of humiliation to vilify wall street calling them fat cats. that has walked and waned over

mike viqueira has a look at that part of the story. >> reporter: just six months into the job president obama stepped on a very sore spot. mistrust between the police and many african-americans. >> the cambridge police acted stupidly in arresting somebody when there was already proof that they were in their own home. >> reporter: mr. obama's off hand criticism of law enforcement for arrests his friend harvard professor louis gates, a black man, became a distraction during the first term agenda, since then it has not gotten any easier for mr. obama. in two recent public statements he stepped gingerly around the racial turmoil happening outside of st. louis. >> for the community of ferguson that is rightly hurting and looking for answers, let me help to seek understanding rather than just holler at each other. >> reporter: for paul butler statements like that lacked passion. >> there is a problem if there are 53 officers in ferguson, and only three are african-american. even though the city is 70% block. why couldn't the president speak out against that? >> there is a problem. there is a

mike viqueira has been following it in washington and how the officials in washington are responding to the situation here in ferguson. >> tony, after meeting face-to-face with president obama on monday, on wednesday, attorney general eric holder heads to ferguson, missouri, and he has two jobs. one to reassure the protestors and the community, and all of those concerned about the unrest and violence that they have seen in the last several days, and those who are upset about the unjustified killing of michael brown by a police officer. a full and fair investigation will go forward. as a practical matter, he'll be meeting with the department of justice investigators who have been on the ground in ferguson, and in the city over the course of the last several days, conducting eyewitness interviews, and trying to determine whether there's a civil race violation involved in what happened on the streets of ferguson in the slaying of michael brown. so a full plate of activities ahead of eric holder's visit there. in in of community policing, largely a liaison, to facilitate positions betwee

mike viqueira has the details. >> reporter: tony, u.s. officials and president obama has said it time and time again there will be no combat troops. no boots on the ground in iraq. they will never be reinserted there. now after the announcement by secretary of defense chuck headachel, this time marines and special operations you want command dos are going to be going to kurdistan assess the military capabilities of the armed group there among the kurds an. they will look at the possibility of a humanitarian corridor to try to evacuate that ethnic minority, the yazidis now besieged by islamic state group fighters. ben rhodes deputy national security adviser spoke to reporters from martha's vineyard where president remains on vacation. he left open the possibility that those troops could be inserted. and the significant point is that if they're there trying to evacuate or help the evacuation of the yazidis they could potentially come into live fire and in other words combat with the islamic state group forces. here is rhodes. >> you look at

mike viqueira is at the white house now. the president weighed in on the ferguson situation today. talk about that. >> well, that's right. it was a subdued and measured president obama who appeared at martha's vineyard where he remains on vacation. he spoke of there not being any excuse for violence on either sides of the police lines. he said emotions are raw in ferguson and called for calm. he had a visit with attorney general eric holder, and they spoke of the balance between public safety and the right for peaceable protest and assembly. and spoke with the democratic government of missouri, jay nixon, and called him a good man and governor. he expressed concern for the violence in the last 24 hours on the streets of missouri. the president urged all involved to take a step back and find a way to come together. >> there is never an excuse for violence against police, or for those who would use this tragedy as a cover for vandalism or looting. there's also no excuse for police to use excessive force against peaceful protests, or to throw protesters in gaol for lawfully exercising

mike viqueira outside of the white house, in washington d.c. straight ahead - a ceasefire between gaza and israel appears to have been suspended. we have the latest on talks to a long-term deal between gaza and israel. we hear what is being proposed. >>> the egyptian government says israel and palestinian negotiators agreed to extend a ceasefire for another 24 hours. the two sides will reach a deal to end the fighting that killed more than 2,000 people. the announcement came less than an hour before a 5-day truce was set to expire. nick schifrin was live in jerusalem. what should we take from the moment - that a more durable peace in the middle east is attainable? >> analysts believe that this is a sign of progress, even though some may believe that they are kicking the can down the road by extending and extending the ceasefire rather than coming to a long-term agreement. both sides are hinting that they are interested in a long-term agreement, and point number one is that they are still talking. these are marathon sessions, 10-12 hour sessions

mike viqueira in washington. we're going to take a quick break and come back to ferguson in a couple of moments. we'll talk to an activist who is on the ground with the mission of trying to de-escalate tensions. we'll go to michael yves, and he'll bring us up-to-date with other news of the day. and then we'll go to natasha in a moment. this is al jazeera. >> welcome back to al jazeera america. i'm michael yves in our studios in new york. we'll get back to tony harris in a few moments. but first more news around the world. the six-day cease-fire has fallen apart. gazans have left their homes in search of safety. hamas denies firing rockets. the palestinians and israelis were trying to agree on a long-lasting cease-fire. back and forth the firing has resumed. warning sirens have been heard in jerusalem and tel aviv. nick schifrin is live in jerusalem. nick, more death and destruction in gaza. what can you tell us about the very latest about this conflict? >> reporter: yes, michael, this is the 11th cease-fire that

mike viqueira, al jazeera, washington. >> i want to welcome david lemonthal san recovery reporter. good to have you with us? >> good to be with you. >> the governor held his ground, calling it a political attack. does he survive this indictment? >> he could survive this indictment. it makes me think back to kay bailey hutchisontiously the long time senator from texas who served many years. she was indicted back in the early 1990s on issues that weren't too dissimilar from what we have right now. of course, she had a very, very notable political career before finally, retiring. so, yes, it's entirely possible that he can go forward, still have a political career. of course, he is not going to run for governor again but everyone pretty much has him on their shot list for republican candidates. there could be a platinum lining to this which is that republicans really can see this as a democratic witch hunt and get behind rick perry even in a way they might not be getting behind him right now. >> it's not going to be an easy road. does this indictment set any precedent in he is facing

mike viqueira is following the story. the u.s.nd qatar were involved in securing curtis's release. what were their roles. >> you are right. in a 2-year ordeal for peter theo curtis and his family is over. the family expressing release and gratitude. there is sadness over the killing of james foley. >> today's date is june 30th, 2013. in the video obpained by al jazeera. he appears calm and reading from a script. everything is perfect, food, clothing. >> but in another video reportedly shot weeks later is different pictures of curtis, his hand tied. an armed guard stands over him. >> i have three days, if you don't do anything, i'm finished, dead. >> the pleas answered sunday when after two years, secretary of state john kerry confirmed peter theo curtis was free. his family is crediting the qatari government with winning their sons release and it's reported no ransom was paid to set him free. peter theo curtis changed his name after publishing "under cover muslim", is believed to have been kidnapped by al qaeda lipped al nusra. pr

al jazeera's mike viqueira is following the story from washington. the u.s.nd qatar were involved in the release. what do we know about the roles that they played. >> you're right. the ordeal is finally over. his family is expressing relief and gratitude and grief for the murder of james foley. >> in this video, peter that heio curtis appears calm and appears to be reading from a script. >> i have everything that i need. everything has been perfect. food, clothing, even friends now. thank you very much. >> you. >> but in another video reportedly shot only weeks later a much different picture of curtis. his hands tied while an armed guard stands over him. >> my life is in very, very grave danger. i have three days. three days to live. three days. if you don't do anything i'm finished. i'm dead. they will kill me. >> those pleas answered sunday when after nearly two years of captivity secretary of state john kerry confirmed curtis was free. his family is crediting the qatarry government for winning their son's release. it was reported that no ransom was paid to

peter, thank you. >> let's go live now to mike viqueira, who is in washington. , you heard peter sharp talking about it, the economic sanctions appear to be taking hold, wimp is what the president said yesterday. what other action might the president take against russia? >> well, the president's goal yesterday appearing in the briefing room something of a surprise to talk about these crisis now that are engulfing the middle east and ukraine. his goal there was to walk things back and lower the temperature and to some extent, some folks think he actually went too far in that record. you are absolutely correct, the president cited the sanction so far, just announced last month, those more severe broad as he can foal sanctions as really taking ability out of russia. he noted capitol flight, the sinking of the ruble as peter announced. the president did stress at this point, there is no western military role, at least not something the united states is going to be involved in when it comes to eastern ukraine. >> the president also weighing in on. >> taking military a

. >> mike viqueira is at the white house, and since we're talking about the white house putting the blame on the pentagon, let's dip in to the pentagon briefing, admiral kirby is briefi briefing -- giving a briefing. let's listen. >> if isil has drones of their own? >> reporter: yeah. >> i have seen a press report, but i have nothing that would back that up at all. >> reporter: yesterday president obama said that some states in the region are ambivalent about dealing with isil. some of them are financial [ inaudible ]. could you elaborate on that? do you have more information. can you say some gulf states are from one hand facing isil and on the other hand financing them? >> no, i'm not going to elaborate on that. tom. >> reporter: the president said there is no strategy yet for isil. talk about the pentagon's process of developing that strategy. talk about the way ahead. what are the plans you are looking at? what do you hope to achieve. talk about trading moderate levels. does the pentagon have a greater role in that effort. and train and assist mission in iraq eventually presumably wou

mike viqueira joins us live from washington. mike?> president obama is back from martha's vineyard for a brief break from his vacation. he met with eric holder, and then appeared in the briefing room, and said that eric holder was going to ferguson, missouri, he is bringing along the justice department liaison. because of the strains between the groups. the president and eric holder also reminding everyone that a civil rights investigation is now underway. interviews have been conducted for the last several days. and the president noted the vast majority of citizens were there peacefully and executing their constitutional rights, but he noted there were some in the crowd who were agitators looking for trouble. >> while i understand the passions and anger that arise over the death of michael brown. giving in to that anger by looting or carrying guns and even attacking the police only raises tensions and stirs chaos. it undermines rather than advancing justice. >> now randall this is the second time the president has spoken about the ev

mike viqueira has more. is serious mike. >> yeah. >> this is tricky territory for the president. >> well, you are absolutely right. and a lot of people are starting to use that phrase that the presidents is swears will not happen and that is mission creep. he announced he would be undertaking the air strikes with u.s. aircraft. then we learn there have been bombers deployed from a neighboring country. we learned that the president -- he said he wanted to protect american interests and personnel not only in the bagdad embassy, but also at the consulate in erbil. and then the prevent of what the president called a massacre. and now we learned of the 68 air strikes that u.s. forces have undertaken, 35 of them, more than half have been around the dam. so at the same time the president lauds the progress on the battlefield enabled by the u.s. air strikes. there are also concerns now and the president had to send another note to congress notifying them of the operations around the dam, there are concerns now that t

mike viqueira reports from washington. >> four days into the bombing campaign, a surprising order from president barack obama thursday night, and now he's ordering more advisors. there's 450 american military advisors. chuck hagel, the secretary of defense stopped at camp pendle tonne, announcing to the marines that 130 more advisors would be sent into country, marines and special operations forces. chuck hagel, and ever initial, when talking about the situation in iraq and the american role was careful to stress there would be no combat mission to american personnel. >> it follows president obama's criteria, that this is not an extension of a role for the united states other are than to find ways to assist and help advise the iraqi security forces. >> these are tactical air strikes, not meant to turn back pt military gains on the batsle field, but to protect american lives and interest. there's an american consulate in the capital of erbil, as well as the minorities trapped on the mountainside. officials stressing this is not a military campaign, no combat troops on the ground, even a

mike viqueira reports from washington. >> the u.s. military today announcing that u.s. military air strikes continue in iraq, around the mosul dam, a vital facility, six strikes bringing the title to 90. half of which, 57 have been around the mosul dam. trying to give the peshmerga worses and ricky forces... >> the american stated policy is the same, to protect american interests and facilities inside iraq. there's a dramatic escalation of the rhetoric in the wake of a brutal beheading of james foley released by islamic state forces. chuck hagel, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, general martin dempsey held a briefing at the white house, and chuck hagel talked in ex-placement and dramatic terms -- explicit and dramatic terms about islamic state. >> they are behind a terrorist group. they marry ideology, a sophistication of strategic and tactical military prowess. this is behind anything we have seen. they are well funded. we must prepare for anything. the only way to do that is take a cold steels hard look at it and get ready. >> at the state department they sa

mike viqueira has more on that. >> four days into the bombing campaign in kurdistan and trying to repel the islamic state is group, they want to see what kind of effect this has had on the rebel fighters, and the capable of the peshmerga, the armed winning of the kurdistan republic in iraq. secretary chuck hagel, saying that there would be 70 advisers in addition to the advisers already there. chuck hagel landing at camp pendelton after going to australia, made the announcement to a group of marines there. >> the president has authorized me to send up to 130 new members up to northern iraq, in the erbil area to take a closer look, and give a more in-depth assessment of where we can continue to help the iraqis with what they're doing. and the threats that they are now dealing with. >> . >> there's an obligation for every administration official when they're talking about a military presence in iraq to say they will not be in a combat role. chuck hagel repeated it several types. >>> first the airstrikes, and then the advisers, and what next? >> well, the pentagon has maintained all along,

mike viqueira joins us live. >> what did the president have to say about all of this? >> after the event of the last four days, the last 24-48 hours, the president gave words to what many of us feel after viewing the images of unrest and violence on the streets of ferguson. he says emotions are raw in ferguson. the president met with his attorney-general eric holder, talked about the need to balance public safety with a right of the public to protest, and assemble. he spoke with the governor, the development jay nix squon, called him a good -- nixon, called him a good man, a fine governor. the president says it's time to take a step back and find a way to come together. let's listen. >> there is never an excuse of violence against police or those that use it as a cover for vandalism or looting. there's also no excuse for police to use excessive force against peaceful protests or throw protesters in gaol for exercising first amendment rights. here in the united states of america police should not welly or arrest journalists who are trying to do their squibs, and report

mike viqueira has been following this story from washington. >> appearing before the press, rick perry called the charges outrageous, trumped up by political enemies. >> we do not settle political differences with indictments in this country. >> friday, an austin grand yourie charged perry with abuse of official capacity and conversion. both felonnize. >> you've been arrested with dwi. >> reporter: the threat began last year when rosemary lem ber, a democrat for the state capital of austin was arrested for drunk-driving. she pled guilty and lead 45 days in prison. leading perry to declare her unfit for office. unless resigning he would veto $7.5 million for the public integrity unit which she lead. she didn't quit, perry went through with his threat. that led the grand jury to charge him with abuse of power. he was defiant. >> i said early on that i was going to clearly veto those dollars as long as they had someone in that office who i lost confidence in. and i did what i said i would do. >> reporter: perry has not ruled out a run for president in 2016, after the 2012 run collapse sai

mike viqueira has followed this story from washington. >> we don't settle political differences with indictments in this country. >> he is charged with abuse of official capacity. >> you've been arrested for d.w.i. >> the threat of events a that led to the charges began last year when a democratic was arrested for drunk driving. lenburg pled guilty and served 45 days in prison. that led perito declare her unfit for office. unless she resigned, he vowed to veto money for the funding. that led to his charge of abuse of power. he was defiant. >> i said early on that i was going to clearly veto those dollars as long as they had someone in that office who i'd lost confidence in, and i did exactly what i said i would do. >> perry hasn't ruled out another run for president in 2016. after his 2012 run collapsed after a series of gaffes. >> let's see, i can't. i can't, sorry. oops. >> the question now, will the endictments hurt his chances for next time. many see the charges as political, brought bay prosecutor and grand jury in austin, liberal island in a sea of republican red and even david

mike viqueira joins us and what did the president say? >> given the images of violence and unrest over the last 48 hours. they reached the same conclusion when they said emotions are raw in ferguson after the shooting death of michael brown. he spoke with jay dixon. but also with eric holder, the attorney-general. they had a meeting. the president said, according to the white house, they spoke of the need to balance public safety with the right of peaceful protest. the president said there's no room for violence. the president we counting his conversation with jay nixon, a good man and a fine governor, and expressed concern over the violent images and the violence on the streets of ferguson that we have seen escalating. the president said we need to take a step back and find a way to get together. >> there is never an excuse for violence against police, or for those who would use this tragedy as a cover for vandalism or looting. there's also no excuse for police to use excessive force against peaceful protests, or throw protesters in gaol

let's bring in mike viqueira, live for us outside of the white house. let's see if i go through the highlights. there was a conversation about erbil and that the terrorists have been pushed back there. the mosul dam has been recaptured. iraqi and kurdish forces working together taking on i.s.i.s. fighters, i'm presuming in boats operations, and the -- in both operations and the president making the point to beat back effectively i.s.i.s., it will need an inclusive government led by haider al-abadi. >> well, that's right. there's a lot to unpack. on the two topics, let's you and i stick with iraq. the president has a decision point on iraq. initially it was "we are going to protect american people and american facilities" - the embassy in baghdad, a protective force was sent in this case it needed to be evacuated. and commencing air strikes when the islamic state was threatening the outskirts of erbil. kurdistan, erbil the capital of that region. it morphed into rescuing and averting a massacre of the ethnic and religious minority, the yazidi, and you re

. >> mike viqueira joins us live from washington. the president talked about what's happening in ferguson. >> the president taking a break from his vacation came out and it was interesting, a very measured, you might say subdued president obama didn't want to in flame the situation at all expressed the need to eliminate violence on both sides of police lines and he said what had become obvious over the course of the last 24-48 hours, that emotions were raw. the president did meet with his attorney general, eric holder and they talked about the balance between public safety and the right of the public to peacefully assemble. he had to phone call with the governor there, jay nixon just before the dramatic change in broach was announced that led to a more peaceful situation there tonight. the president stressed a need for everyone involved to take a step back and to find a way to come together. >> there is never an excuse for violence against police, or for those who would use this tragedy as a cover or vandalism or looting. there's als

al jazeera mike viqueira reports on what the indictment could mean for the 2016 white house contender. >> appearing before the press, governor rick perry called the charges outrageous, trumped up. we don't saddle political differences with indictments. a grand jury charged perwhere are with abuse of office. >> you have been arrested with dwi. >> the threat of events began last year, when a democrat and a district attorney for the county that includes the state capital of austin. he fled guilty, serving 45 days in prison, leading rick perry to declare her unfit for office: it would veto $7.5 million for her office. she wouldn't leave. rick perry went through with his threat, hence the abuse of power charge. rick perry was defiant on saturday. >> i said early on that i would veto the dollars, as long as they had someone in the office who i lost confidence in. i did what i said i would do. rick perry hasn't ruled out another one for president, after the 2012 run collapsed. let's say i can't. sorry. the question now, will the indictments hurt his chances for next time. republicans see the

. >> mike viqueira joins us now from washington. what is the administration saying about these hostages in syria? >> first of all, the administration is saying what essentially it always says in this situation particularly over the course of the last several days as the polite of the hostages has gone more dramatic with the explicit and dramatic murder of james feel leon camera, that the united states will do anything it can to secure their relief short of paying a ransom. the united states is considering airstrikes within syria. the president has been deliberating on this point. that would represent a change in policy, not just an escalation of what the united states is doing in iraq now, having commenced airstrikes for the stated purpose of protecting american lives, direct threats to american lives at the consulate in erbil and the embassy in baghdad. stephanie. >> mic, what is the u.s. response to reports that a second american may have been killed while fighting for the islamic state group. >> well, they're certainly not confir