sunny or is it zero sum game providing weapons to mr maliki in the way of su twenty five fighter bombers so he can bomb isis without sharing power that's the key question dr freeman that's a very odd juxtaposition either russia that's what america wants or it's zero sum game but you mentioned some common interests here and i agree with you that it's not only. in russia's and america's common interests to fight counter terror and you know we also have iran israel turkey saudi arabia they all have somewhat overlapping security interests there which is a very i thing. art and probably even a unique situation but this situation could be viewed as both a challenge a major political challenge as a major opportunity how do you see that well let's take them one by one in the case of iran the united states and russia cooperate in the p five plus one the issue now is how many centrifuges the iranians are going to have. is it in russia's interest to see a nuclear armed iran probably not is in the immersion interest of a nuclear armed iran definitely not so there are areas of common interest the que

mr. maliki. they know mr. hese days doesn't enjoy enough support to sustain a stable government. >> thanks for joining us with your analysis from baghdad. . want to bring you details of a leaked official document in france about alleged al qaeda plot one year ago to blow up the eiffel tower and other landmarks this. document says a nigerian national was in internet contact with an islamist about bombing several landmarks and nightclubs. the french government started a new anti-terrorism bill. >>> let's bring you up to date on business. aaron has that for us. >> big promises, a big budget. tough challenges because there are huge issueses facing asia's third largest economy. good to see you. hello there. bitter medicine, what is what modi has warned his country needs to get the economy back on track. back in may, he gave promises of reform. today we found out what that medicine was when his finance minister arun jaitley delivered the first budget. it's weak economic growth. he told parliament india's economy woul

mr. maliki of accusing them of harboring what he calls extremists.s faltering diplomacy is having on effect on that areas economy. >> reporter: erbil international airport cargo terminal is practically empty. the overairport which serves the kurdish region is as well. on wednesday the government banned cargo plains from landing here. although it isn't the busiest of airports on a normal day, this hangar would be filled with goods, with things that are heat sensitive like medications for example. those would be put up on these shelves to be loaded on trucks, but as you can see the shelves are empty. bagdad accuses them of turning the city of erbil into a base for rebel fighters. >> translator: we will not be silent about erbil. it is a base for the islamic state and terrorist organizations. [ technical difficulties ] >> just the latest in a series of attacks in that area, which has forced many people to decide they will be safer elsewhere. >> reporter: it seems that these people were looking for supplies. they came here at night, burned this classroom

mr. maliki to leave the scene. >> reporter: former iraqi prime minister, ayad allawi, has added his voice to the chorus of those calling for maliki's resignation. >> if he says on i think there will be a lot of significant problems in the country and a lot of troubles. and i believe that iraq would go the route of dismemberment. >> reporter: for now, iraq is still iraq but its future won't just depend on these soldiers, it also hinges on these lawmakers and their ability to find common ground in the face of a common threat. craig dale, nhk world. >>> israeli military jets have launched an attack against targets in the gaza strip. palestinian authorities say at least 24 people were wounded when bombs hit their homes. an nhk reporter in the area says large explosions could be heard for several hours early tuesday morning. the attack comes after more than 60 rockets hit israel from gaza. israeli commanders say they ordered the bombing to prevent terror attacks against their citizens. they reportedly gave advance warning to people in the homes that were targeted. members of the islamic fundam

mr. maliki has proven that iraq is a failed state.herefore if there are people that care about the future of our country, they have to get together and find a new way out. >> that was the foreign minister of the region in kurdistan. right. who's along side me? aaron. brics? >> absolutely. summit kicks on and off brazil. you helped me with that name. thanks tim. hello there. known as the brazil, russia, india, china, south africa, brics companies. o'neal formally of goldman sachs thought of a way with a global future economy. now they're on the point of creating a new financial institution if they can agree to sign up at this summit in brazil this week. the five countries will create a new development bank, a challenger to the world bank. to the ranks of other similarly focused agencies. an interesting concept. let's go to our correspondent andrew. great to have you on "gmt." andrew, we've already got the world bank. we've got the asian development bank, other development banks. does the world need another one? >> arguably yes. the foc

mr. maliki get the votes? he has 300 seats in parliament. he can become prime minister, yes. is that set? no, that is democracy. we will have to wait and let it take its shape. problem for prime minister maliki? i would say, no. premierlenge behind the position is much more than political issues. the political class is new to democracy, new to governing. they are taking their time through that. and i would say that the issue should never be personalized. solution to blame somebody and say, well, it's his problem. that is unfair and unrealistic. and i would even say, unachievable. and you would say, the person who has 100 seats should not even put his name forward? i would say we need to work through the process. and i would say that personalizing it would not benefit anyone. it is easy to blame. i think that is a bit unfair. >> one more question and then we will open it up. the iraqi parliament met yesterday to first agree on a speaker, which did not happen. on, i would imagine they also need to agree on a president. from what we are seeing the tendency among the kurds to ,it

mr. maliki. >> that remains on the government's shoulder to see -- or to act in order to put that in practice>> all right, let's leave it there for now. >> now the u.k. has a new foreign secretary poll hing the surprise resinate of will with i am hague on monday. william hague has been replaced in the polls by former defense secretary. make will now become the leader of the lower half of parliament before retiring next year. the new cabinet featuring more women. >> and the prime minister bid to win the next general election in 2015. it is nearly 40 years since i started being a political activist and appearing at party conferences, so that is a full generation of being involved in politics. tramming the word, meeting, sometimes challenging the big decision makers. tech savvy the war in syria. and the political upheaval of ukraine. but he was made foreign secretary in the years poll hing the the war, which some say effects the response to other crisis. >> me had hoped to lead the country at 1 point. >> we are looking forward to the second balance tomorrow. not taking anything for granted. >> b

mr. maliki. let's have everybody involved in the government, iraqis understand the iraq of two weeks ago is no longer the iraq of today and is never going to be again. lou: will it be a state divided in three, that is the sunnis, the shia and the kurds? >> bigger than that. i think the kurds in the north, which are pro-american, they have got a strong military, a thriving economy, and they're stable and at peace, that could be an american ally. that could be its own separate state because it is wealthy and has got oil. the other two parts of iraq, shiite part of iraq that is already iran's sock puppet. maliki, he is really taking his orders from iran. so it is not going to be shiite iraq, it will be shiite iran-iraq. then on other side the al qaeda isis group, they will marry up with rebel groups. borders don't mean anything anymore. they have moved past that. that is what the al qaeda-isis group, when they say they're establishing a caliphate, that is what that means. borders don't count for the

mr. maliki. awesomeously, he is so -- he has so ostracized the sunni and kurdish community, but on top of that his decision to go to the military -- he just put his son -- for those of you who saw that -- his son is now in charge of the military in iraq. he has gone to the officer corps and removed a competent officers and instead put in his friend. any of those friends have no takes brains whatsoever. the troops have no confidence in the officer corps as a consequence of the decision to sack the senior officers. you have an individual here who go, andp down, who must you saw health the stony -- al -sistani, you saw the shia religious leader explained the necessity of an to stepping down, that is absolutely true. he has got to go, and then cohesively, the iranian state is a viable iran institution if you are inclusive with the different ethnic groups in the country. and religious groups in the country, it is very unfortunate that more pressure was not fun have throughout the process, and he has e

mr. maliki. and obviously, he has sos that sized the sunni community and kurdish community, but on top of that, his decisions to go through the military -- he just put his son, for those of you who saw that, his son is now in charge of the military in iraq. well, as you know, he's gone through the officer corps and removed the competent officers and instead put in his friends. many of those friends had no experience whatsoever. the troops had no confidence in the officer corps as a consequence of his decision to sack the senior officers. so, you know, you have an individual here who hues step down -- who must step down, who must go. and you saw al-sistani, you saw the shia religious leader explain the necessity of him stepping down. that is absolutely true. he's got to go. and then cohesively the iranian state can be put, you know, then iran is a viable institution if you're inclusive with the different ethnic groups in the country. and religious groups in the country. it's very unfortunate that

mr. maliki is for himself and doing his best to try to have a third term as prime minister. of course that's what most palestinians aim for, to stay into power. one might add if one had the larger interest of iraq at heart, he could -- as a very statesman like thing step down in favor of someone else. he has a very narrow view of what democracy, if you can still call it that, entails, which shia and the majority and the shiite rule and i'm the ruler to have shiites. there is no question that his very narrow view of how it ought to work has badly antagonized the great majority of the sunni iraqi arabs. it is not just isis that has been able to score those gains in the west. it has been because turnover much broader disillusionment with the regime. in all of those senses he is not a very good partner at all, which isn't to say we should continue the business with him. he sf he continues as prime minister, we will have to do business with him. what we have to keep foremost in mind is that the united states does not have an interest in taking sides or being seen to take sides in

mr. maliki. awesomeously, he is so -- he has so ostracized the sunni and kurdish community, but on top of that his decision to go to the military -- he just put his son -- for those of you who saw that -- his son is now in charge of the military in iraq. he has gone to the officer corps and removed a competent officers and instead put in his friend. any of those friends have no takes brains whatsoever. the troops have no confidence in the officer corps as a consequence of the decision to sack the senior officers. you have an individual here who go, andp down, who must you saw health the stony -- al -sistani, you saw the shia religious leader explained the necessity of an to stepping down, that is absolutely true. he has got to go, and then cohesively, the iranian state is a viable iran institution if you are inclusive with the different ethnic groups in the country. and religious groups in the country, it is very unfortunate that more pressure was not fun have throughout the process, and he has e

mr. maliki is for himself. he's doing his best to try to have a third term as prime minister. of course, that's what most politicians aim for is to stay in power, although one might add that if one had the larger interest of iraq at heart, he could step down in favor of someone else. he has a view of what democracy, if you can still call it that, entails. and there's no question that his very narrow view of how it ought to work has badly antagonized the great majority of sunni iraqi arabs. it is not just isis or the islamic state that's been able to score those gains that so alarm us in the west. it's been because of the much broader disillusionment with the regime. in all those senses, he's not a very good partner at all which isn't to say we shouldn't do business with him and if he does continue as prime minister, we'll have to do business with him. but the thing we have to keep foremost in mind is that the united states definitely does not have an interest in taking sides or being seen to take sides in sectarian disputes and conflicts in this region. >> i think even if thos

mr. maliki remains in power in the groups cannot come together we have to start thinking about how we going to deal if we do have three separate entities. it will be in kurdistan and baghdad and effectively a taliban like islamic state that is ever more under the control or under the influence of iran. that's a huge new problem for us if we don't act very quickly. we need to act as quickly as we can. >> thank you mr. acting chairman. >> thank you mr. acting chairman and senator corker thank you for -- i will focus my comments on the iraqi security forces and first i would like to start with several operations -- observations. time improves to the benefit of fisa's wildly assessed they maintained the momentum. they grow stronger as a whole when the population intensifies. isis has established control across the contiguous area in both syria and iraq and as we discussed in the previous panel must be considered as an iraqi syria front. this isis is a former regional threat. what is most frightening is as they swept into iraq they continue their expansion into syria. they did not have to -- all

mr. maliki's party would agree on a different prime minister, not of course the elections, but in the interest of preserving the iraqi state, would you envision that scenario where is the prime minister name something quick >> i'm unaware of any agreement for the next prime minister. they have not talked about the naming and it is they want to eat and see the candidacy of the speaker, the president be. when they get the votes, he has 700,000 votes plessey has 108th in a 300 parliament. his sister? they'll have to wait for the democratic process in shape. is the problem prime minister maliki? the problems we have are the personnel or whether it is beyond the position and fundamental issues. the political class are new to democracy company to governing and they are taking time for that. i would say the issue is never to be personalized. it's an easy solution to blame some ready and say it's his problem. that is unfair and unrealistic or even unachievable and a society to not even have the challenge of putting his name forward. i think we need to go through the process. it may result in prime min

mr. maliki, i don't think he appreciates it. as the iraqis continue to work to determine their future i am asking you what role can the kurds continue to play and should the united states acknowledged that the kurds should have a significant amount of autonomy? i think they have earned it and i wonder what the administration's position is vis-À-vis the kurds and more autonomy for the kurds? >> thank you senator. we are in a very active conversation with all the kurdish leaders about their future. there are some realities that they are grappling with the ge geo-strategic realities and the economic realities. they need $14 billion to sustain themselves operationally. they share the budget this year which is pending is about $17 billion. we think there is a deal there within the constitutional framework that is in the best interest of the kurds and also our interests both in northern iraq and iraq as a whole. however since this crisis began and we recognize we are dealing with new realities on the ground that we have to recognize a

mr. maliki is for himself and doing his best to try to have a third term as prime minister. of course that's what most palestinians aim for, to stay into power. one might add if one had the larger interest of iraq at heart, he could -- as a very statesman like thing step down in favor of someone else. he has a very narrow view of what democracy, if you can still call it that, entails, which shia and the majority and the shiite rule and i'm the ruler to have shiites. there is no question that his very narrow view of how it ought to work has badly antagonized the great majority of the sunni iraqi arabs. it is not just isis that has been able to score those gains in the west. it has been because turnover much broader disillusionment with the regime. in all of those senses he is not a very good partner at all, which isn't to say we should continue the business with him. he sf he continues as prime minister, we will have to do business with him. what we have to keep foremost in mind is that the united states does not have an interest in taking sides or being seen to take sides in

mr. maliki i don't think he appreciates it. as the iraqis continue to work to determine their future, i'm asking you what role can the kurds continue to play and should the united states acknowledge that the kurds should have significant amount of autonomy? i think they've earned it, and i wondered what the administration position is vis-a-vis the kurds and more autonomy for the kurds. >> thank you, senator. we're in a very active conversation with all of the kurds about their future. there's some realities they're grappling with, the geostrategic and geographic realities. they need about $14 approximately to sustain themselves operationally. their share of the budget this year which is pending in baghdad is about $17 billion. we think there is a deal there within the constitutional framework that is in the best interests of the kurds and also our interests both in northern iraq and iraq as a whole. however, since this crisis began -- and we recognize we're dealing with no realities that we have to recognize -- flew realities t

mr. maliki, i don't think he appreciates it. as the iraqis continued to work to determine their future, i'm asking you, what role can the kurds continue to play? and should the united states acknowledge that the kurds should have a significant amount of autonomy? i think they earned it, i wondered what the administration position is, vis-a-vis the kurds and more autonomy for the kurds. >> thank you, senator. we're in a very active conversation with the -- all the kurdish leaders about their future. there is some realities that they're grappling with, the geostrategy iic realities and economic realities. they need about $14 billion to sustain themselves operationally. their share of the budget this year, which is pending in baghdad, is about $17 billion. we think there is a deal there within the constitutional framework that is in the best interests of the kurds and also our interests both in northern iraq and iraq as a whole. however, since this crisis began, and we recognize we are dealing with new realities on the ground that

mr. maliki remains in power, if the groups can not come together we'll have to start how do we deal if we three separate entities, a kurdistan that will be a magnet for kurds throughout the region, a effectively taliban-like islamic state in in the middle of the lt haven'tef and iraq ever more unr the control or under the influence of iran. that is huge new problem for us if we don't act real quickly. my bottom line today, sir, we need n to act as quickly as we can. >> thank you, ambassador jeffrey. general barbero. >> thanksi you, mr. acting chairman,qu ranking member cork. thank you for the opportunity to discuss this situation in iraq and some options moving forward. i will focus my comments on the security sector, iraqi security forces and recommendations therein. i would like to start with several observations on the current situation. time accrues to the benefit of isis. while we assesses they maintain momentum and they grow stronger and hold on the population intensifies. isis established control across a contiguous area in both syria and iraq. as we discussed in a previous panel w

. >> is it true we'll see a parliament ceded or mr nouri al-maliki named here. let's talk about the islamic state. let's understand what the islamic state represents to the united states. there's a question about whether that would be a harbour for terrorists. >> it would be. this is classic al qaeda by another name. al qaeda sought sanctuary and safe haech in ungoverned areas from where they can project power around the world. that's what they are trying to do, they've done it before in south sudan. that with would be an existential threat to the region, europe and the united states. >> does it represent a change in what the former i.s.i.l. is reaching for, its aims? >> it's the next step. i.s.i.l. is a fighting force. the islamic state is geography. it's a geographical area, and it's an area where they'll set up their own government, taxation and sharia law. >> what does it represent to the rest of the region. >> it's a tremendous concern of the monarchies in the region, it offers an alternative vision to the sunni countries and the sunni population in the reg

mr. chairman. >> thank you very much. maliki hasn't done a good job, has he? he hasn't done a good job, has he? he has made things worse, hasn't he? >> we have serious concerns with the government of iraq. we had a new election and they're establish ago a new government. that's where the process stands right now and whether or not the prime minister can achieve a third term is something that remains in question. >> so we have not, however, officially suggested that he leave or have we unofficially suggested to him that it might be time for him to visit some of his money in dubai? >> let me also just back up, in fairness to the government of iraq. they also face a tremendously difficult situation. the 30 days before they had an election in iraq, 53 suicide bombers were in iraq, blowing up mosques, marketplaces, parades, fairgrounds, playgrounds. they're going to face extreme difficult. isil is trying to tear apart the political fabric of the country. >> he has not provided the leadership that could overcome what could be inherent problems having a country calle

mr. chairman. >> thank you very much. maliki hasn't done a good job, has he? he hasn't done a good job, has he? he has made things worse, hasn't he? >> we have serious concerns with the government of iraq. we had a new election and they're establish ago a new government. that's where the process stands right now and whether or not the prime minister can achieve a third term is something that remains in question. >> so we have not, however, officially suggested that he leave or have we unofficially suggested to him that it might be time for him to visit some of his money in dubai? >> let me also just back up, in fairness to the government of iraq. they also face a tremendously difficult situation. the 30 days before they had an election in iraq, 53 suicide bombers were in iraq, blowing up mosques, marketplaces, parades, fairgrounds, playgrounds. they're going to face extreme difficult. isil is trying to tear apart the political fabric of the country. >> he has not provided the leadership that could overcome what could be inherent problems having a country calle

mr. mcgurk, again, i agree with you. that ought to be how it works. the maliki government has significantly alienated huge swaths of its own country. and in the process has opened the door for reseptivity to isis. but they've lost a huge amount of political goodwill, if they ever had it, amongst their own countrymen. how do you restore that in a time frame that stabilizes the situation and forcefully push back isis? >> we had to make sure the election happened and happened on time. that's something we focused very hard on over the last eight to ten months. the election did happen. it was a credible election. again, 14 million iraqis turned out to vote. they're now forming their government on their constitutional timeline. they chose a speaker. that kicked off a timeline for 30 days to choose a president. once there's a president, there's a 15-day clock to name a prime minister, then 30 days to form a cabinet. the iraqis will get through this process along their timeline and will come out of it with a new government. again, we remain hopeful that that government

maliki has started cutting -- pointing fingers. he accuses the kurds of hegeting terrorists, criticized that mr. the capital as a haven for those wishing to bring violence and disruption to iraq and its citizens. silent -- not be silenced -- if you want a real partnership you should give up the credibility to form a natural -- national stance. they are planning to carry out more operations. he has not shown us any evidence of national partnership. >> the help he is referring to -- and he has tapped the regional governor for what he calls a lack of willingness to form a true regional government. remarks like this are likely to stir tensions between kurdish and iraqi representatives within the country. they are scheduled to meet on sunday, and will be tasked with finding a consensus and forming the new government. this is a political burden that has left the country open to insurgency, with rebels overrunning vast swathes of the country. rebels have taken back of the north of baghdad which had been in the hands of jihadi insurgents. withrebels gain ground sporadic attacks around the country contin

mr. mcgurk, again, i agree with you. that ought to be how it works. the maliki government has significantly alienated huge swaths of its own country. and in the process has opened the door for receptivity to isis. that's one of the reasons they've had so little difficulty in addition to the collapse of the iraqi four divisions which we helped train and equip. but they've lost a huge amount of political goodwill, if they ever had it, amongst their own countrymen. how do you restore that in a time frame that stabilizes the situation and can forcefully push back isis? >> one way to deal with that was we had to make sure the election happened and happened on time. that's something we focused very hard on over the last eight to ten months. the election did happen. it was a credible election. again, 14 million iraqis turned out to vote. they're now forming their government on their constitutional timeline. they chose a speaker. that kicked off a timeline for 30 days to choose a president. once there's a president, there's a 15-day clock to name a prime minister, then

mr. perry of pennsylvania. >> thank you, madam chair. violation of u.s. and sanctions what support is the maliki government receiving from iran currently that you know of? >> the question of sanctions under those provisions something we're looking at closely because it's a very complicated question, actually. >> well tell me, what kind of material support you know of and then we'll try to figure it out from there. >> it's another question i'd like to follow-up with you in a closed session we can discuss in some detail. >> all right. do you do you know? >> sir, i really think in a closed session we can much more specifically answer your question. >> all right. i get your point. knowing that iran is supporting if insurgency in yemen, is the yemen model as sponsored in some sort by the president, is that realistic, viable for iraq? didn't that -- isn't that fairly complicated that iran is a essentially an add var,en enemy of the united states that we're barely working with on i treaty regarding their nuclear program which many americans, myself included, disagree with? what position do we put ourse

mr. malik he not present himself as prime minister. that is progress. the meeting is adjourned until tomorrow. it will take about a week. this is progress. >> you think maliki will accept that? >> this is a negotiation. a vest news is his own party has asked him to stand up. there will be more challenges. once the government forms they quick he begin to form policy that convinces the sunni to play ball and to join them rather than to continue to support. then there are security challenges which are by no means resolved. the iraqi army is consolidating. they have probably spread themselves thin through the initial success they had a couple weeks ago. reconfiguring their positions again. this is by no means the result. take part.y needs to >> are they too far away? you had until yesterday sunni militants near baghdad. they seem to be saying we are near your territory. >> the risk is it gets more out of hand. the other risk is if there is a surprise on the military front this could destabilize markets. so far the comment i would like to leave you with is there is not an imminent risk. companies in iraq and international companies don't appear to be sending dow

maliki, air strikes in iraq would be pointless, end quote. i ask unanimous consent to insert the article. the speaker pro tempore: without objection mr. mcgovern: at this time, i'd like to yield three minutes to the gentleman from new jersey, mr. holt. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from new jersey is recognized for three meant. mr. holt: thank you, madam speaker. i commend the authors of this resolution, representatives mcgovern, jones, and lee, for their leadership on this issue of war and peace. the topic of limiting our future military involvement in iraq deserves more than one hour. it deserves an entire legislative day to discuss this resolution and the larger question, the issue of the war making powers of congress. the history of our involvement in iraq and exactly how we came to this point is of paramount importance. in understanding why it's vital that the house pass this resolution. but since time is limited, let me come to the point. no more american soldiers should kill or be killed in iraq to redeem our past mistakes. the united states has spent years and billions of dollars trying to rebuild iraq's armed forces

mr. chairman. they have their sights set on baghdad. ist cyst made up of bad outlaws and a hearing i held on this issue last week our witnesses were unanimous in the belief that prime minister maliki just cannot lead iraq out of this crisis. he needs to go. the sooner, the better. the united states should not strengthen maliki's hand for military assistance. that's not the answer. i want to know what the plan is to prevent the vise of isil. mending relations with the saudis would be a good place to start and finally they are still held hostage in iraq. i want to know why we have failed to settle them in third countries including our own while the u.s. has people in liberty have been murdered. i yield back. >> go to brad sherman from california, ranking member. >> we see emerging from beirut and infertile where militias loyal to ethnic or religious groups are more powerful than governments where there is warfare, but even when there is peace it's an unstable peace with militias in real control no matter what the map says by nation states. it's a three-way contest between the sunni, shiite alliance and extremist sunni. i believe that the shiite alliance led by iran is the glaeter th

mr. chairman. they have their sights set on baghdad. ist cyst made up of bad outlaws and a hearing i held on this issue last week our witnesses were unanimous in the belief that prime minister maliki just cannot lead iraq out of this crisis. he needs to go. the sooner, the better. the united states should not strengthen maliki's hand for military assistance. that's not the answer. i want to know what the plan is to prevent the vise of isil. mending relations with the saudis would be a good place to start and finally they are still held hostage in iraq. i want to know why we have failed to settle them in third countries including our own while the u.s. has people in liberty have been murdered. i yield back. >> go to brad sherman from california, ranking member. >> we see emerging from beirut and infertile where militias loyal to ethnic or religious groups are more powerful than governments where there is warfare, but even when there is peace it's an unstable peace with militias in real control no matter what the map says by nation states. it's a three-way contest between the sunni, shiite alliance and extremist sunni. i believe that the shiite alliance led by iran is the glaeter th

maliki, air strikes in iraq would be pointless. and imagine the civilian casualties. that would be associated with that. >> would the gentleman yield? govern i'd be happy to yield -- mr. mcgovern: i'd be pappy to yield to the gentleman. >> -- happy to yield to the gentleman. >> earlier you made a statement about there being no weapons of mass destruction in iraq. i would respectfully ask the gentleman to maybe rephrase that. there are mass graves in iraq. as somebody who -- mr. mcgovern: i reclaim my time. there were no weapons of mass destruction in iraq. the vice president of the united states, the president of the united states, the secretary of state came to congress and told us there were weapons of mass destruction. implied there were nuclear weapons of mass destruction. >> would the gentleman yield? mr. mcgovern: i'm not going to yield at this point. the bottom line -- and the deal was, it was a lie. 4,500 americans died. 500,000 iraqis died. we didn't pay for the war. we didn't pay for the war. the brave men and women who served our country, they paid, their families fade and -- paid and the rest of us were asked to do nothing. and what i am suggesting to eve

mr. speaker, is the time to debate our new engagement in iraq, before the heat of the moment when we can weigh the pros and cons of supporting the malika government or -- maliki government or whatever government is cobbled together should he step down. now, before we forced to take sides in a religious and sectarian war. now, before the next addition of more troops takes place and make no mistake, i firmly believe we will continue to send more troops and more military assets into this crisis. . now, mook, before we are forced to fire our first shots or drop our first bombs. now, mr. speaker, is when the house should debate and vote on this very serious matter. for those who say it is too early, too premature for this debate, i respectfully disagree. the longer we put off carrying out our constitutional responsibilities, the easier it becomes to just drift along. this is what congress has done over and over and over and over and it has to end, mr. speaker. congress must speak and congress must act. this resolution should have passed the house with direct -- this resolution should pose security questions no later than by the end of this year, nearly six months