what the tfg does control is the lone port to mogadishu. the two main airports and all of the central government buildings. it has clear control over one-third of the city and probably two-thirds of the city some of which is controlled by al-shabaab remains largely contested territory. we hope that as the tfg builds up its military forces that will be able to provide more security and exert more control over the city and demonstrate its capacity to protect the citizens of the country. we also hope that it will be more inclusive and reach out to other plans and so plans and to expand its political influence and also to be able to deliver services. but again i want to emphasize these are the responsibilities of the tfg. this is a somali problem primarily that has affected the region and to a certain extent the international community, the united states believes that the somalis and africans should in fact remain in the lead. this is not an american problem and we do not seek to americanize the conflict here. >> secretary carson, thank you. am

and in fact that legacy of lebanon, vietnam and mogadishu has been put to rest by a victory in iraq, a victory that would not have been achieved if the people that brought these debates to the floor 44 times in the 110th congress, resolutions that were designed to under fund, underfund or undermine our troops. now we have a victory in iraq that's being claimed by this administration who opposed it back then. i don't trust the judgment of people who have always been against armed conflict. i trust the judgment of the people that fight and win wars and the people that lead us through those wars that we fight and win. this is an american destiny question that is before us, and if we walk away from this conflict in afghanistan for any reason, america's destiny will forever be diminished and they will never take us seriously again. thank you, madam speaker. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. the gentleman from ohio is recognized. mr. kucinich: i yield two minutes to the gentleman from california, mr. farr. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from c

advisors from the united states government in mogadishu. so can you confirm whether there has been any visit, any sort of visit from the united states government, military advisors to somalia? and the third and final >> as you said, you do not want to americanize the somali tfg military operations. but in september 2009, we know that an operation by the united states government killed one of the al-qaida leaders in east africa in somalia. so how does these two arguments go along? >> let me respond to all three questions. i have not, in my office, received any formal or informal request from the tfg for airstrikes or operations in support of the offensive that may be underway right now. i have seen newspaper comments of tfg leaders responding to questions that have been posed to them about whether they would be willing to accept outside support. but we have not received any, i have not received any, my office has not received any requests for airstrikes or air support or people on the ground to assist the tfg in its operations. the tfg milit

of mogadishu is a work in progress.i'm not aware of the specifics. i'll have to come back with you, sir, with the specifics on what that current operation looks like. but to the degree, the tfg, transition federal government can, in fact, reexert control over mogadishu with the help of others. it's something we would look to do and support as well as the other provisions of the process that looked to instilling the governance, instilling governmental things that would serve the benefit of somali people to cause that situation to reverse itself. we look to participate with those who also support them, the other nations, and the neighbors who contribute to the mission, uganda, supporting their work and trying to lend a hand that they lend to the tfg and increasing stability. so those efforts are ongoing. it's an effort that i think we would certainly support, and we would look to do it in ways that add to stability in that part of the continent. >> let me go to the sudan, there's a lot of continuing concern here about the

parts of mogadishu is a work in progress. i'm not aware of the specifics. i'll have to come back to you, sir, but the specifics of what that chart operation looks like. but to the degree that tft, the traditional federation government re-exert control over mogadishu with the help of amazon and others i think it's something that we would like to do in support as well as the other provisions of the djibouti process that looked to instilling governments, instilling governmental things that would have big governance of the smaller people to preserve itself. we like to participate with those of also support them, the other nation, the neighbors who contribute to the amazon mission in particular, uganda, baroody, supporting their work and trying to lend a hand that they land to the pft and the increasing stability. so those efforts are ongoing. it's an effort that i think we would certainly support him what to do it in ways that add to stability that part of the continent. >> let me go to sudan. as you know, there's a lot of contin

of mogadishu is a work in progress.'m not aware of the specifics. i'll have to come back with you, sir, with the specifics on what that current operation looks like. but to the degree, the tfg, transition federal government can, in fact, reexert control over mogadishu with the help of others. it's something we would look to do and support as well as the other provisions of the process that looked to instilling the governance, instilling governmental things that would serve the benefit of somali people to cause that situation to reverse itself. we look to participate with those who also support them, the other nations, and the neighbors who contribute to the mission, uganda, supporting their work and trying to lend a hand that they lend to the tfg and increasing stability. so those efforts are ongoing. it's an effort that i think we would certainly support, and we would look to do it in ways that add to stability in that part of the continent. >> let me go to the sudan, there's a lot of continuing concern here about the

the mayor of mogadishu warned residents today to flee the battle zones. those are some of the day's main stories. i'll be back at the end of the program with a preview of what you'll find tonight on the newshour's web site. but for now, back to judy. >> woodruff: secretary of state clinton rebuked the israelis today over expanding jewish settlements on lands the palestinians claim. and street clashes broke out between the two sides. ray suarez has our report. >> suarez: the day began with palestinians confronting israeli police in jerusalem. trouble erupted despite a 48- hour israeli lockdown of the west bank, and barricades and checkpoints to restrict access to jerusalem's old city, site of revered shrines for three religions. the protesters were enraged by this week's announcements that israel would expand settlements on bitterly-disputed land in east jerusalem, and on the west bank. the u.s. also confronted the israelis today. >> the united states considered the announcement a deeply negative signal about israel's approach to the bilateral relationship

it is basically confined to a parts of mogadishu. main source of support is the african union troops, primarily from uganda, that are providing a lot of the logistical and back of support as tomthe somali's need. al shabab is a threat. it's more a into a sort of a al qaeda junior partner over the last year. but there is a growing sense that many of the somaliland's themselves are no longer willing to be intimidated by or give in to al shabab. they have been extremely brutal in their treatment of people. a lot of temptations and other kind of very barbaric punishments. they have stolen and diverted food aid and prevented it from getting to the people. so there's a gradual growth of opposition internally in somalia. but clearly our support for the african union mission and the additional help that our military is providing in terms of training is critical to the survival of the nascent government there,e in our hope that we can gain more ground. >> ? > >> mr. chairman, i would like to thank our witnesses, the secretaries, for being her

it is a shot was on the way to mogadishu when it came under pirate vessels.irst time in my experience, the private security that was on board thwart the pirates using small arms and pushed them back not one but two pirate attacks on that vessel. the e.u. forced were called in by the stress signal and swooped by helicopter to the scene and sunk one of those pirate vessels and they managed to take three pirates in custody. one was killed by those private security. very unusual and dramatic battle off the coast of somalia. >> david mckenzie. thanks for the update. >>> if you want to be safe, be more like israel. robert harding told congress he wants u.s. airport security to closely resemble security at israeli airports, especially the part where they engage passengers in conversations to try to identify terrorists. israeli security has been criticized for profiling passengers. >>> tsa considering installing devices in airports that can track your cell phones and pda. can tell them how long people are stuck at security check points and the information can be post

it is basically confined to a part of mogadishu. our main source of support is the african union troops, primarily from you gonna -- primarily from uganda, providing the back of support that they need. it is a threat and a very clear one and we see, unfortunately, it is morphing into a kind of al qaeda junior partner over the last year. but there is a growing sense that many people in somalia are no longer willing to be intimidated by or give in to them. they have been extremely brutal in their treatment of people. a lot of amputations and other very barbaric punishment. they have stolen and diverted food aid, preventing it from getting to people. there is a gradual growth of opposition internally and clearly our support for the african union commission and the additional help our military is providing in terms of trading -- in terms of training, is critical to the survival of the nascent government there and gain more ground by supporting it. >> mr. chairman, i would like to think our witnesses for being here and helping us fully u