iraq's national security council has condemned american airstrikes on a powerful shia armed group and has warned it will rethink its relationship with the u.s. led coalition fighting eisel american warplanes hit 3 cut type hizbollah camps in iraq and 2 in syria killing at least $27.00 fighters and injuring $51.00 the group is allied with iran and has vowed revenge and all that if we are warning the united states as we warned before that there are legal presence means they are standing against the iraqi people and the iraqi people have the right to confront them with all types of resistance iraq's prime minister has called the attacks a breach of sovereignty when iran says its terrorism type hezbollah is part of the popular mobilization forces belong with the iraqi army helped to defeat arsenal but the u.s. says the strikes were a decisive response to threats by iranian backed forces against american personnel similar to fulton reports from anbar province. an unprecedented confrontation between the u.s. and iran on iraqi soil for the 1st time. i'm u.s. airstrikes targeting the bases of

impeachable of ski scheme this is president trump's phone call with selenski for which the national security council and the white house situation room staff prepared a call summary according to testimony from tim morrison at the n.s.c. this summary was accurate and complete and ses staff member lieutenant colonel alexander vinland testified that any omissions in the summary were not significant and that editing was not done maliciously president trump has declassified and released the call summary so the american people can review it and assess it for themselves i'll make a few points that seem to have gone under noticed the call summary reflects absolutely no pressure or conditionality. president selenski vocalize no concerns with the subject matters discussed and there is no indication of bribery store sion or other illegal conduct on the call the call summary shows president trump and president selenski engaged in pleasantries and cordiality. calls summary reveals laughter simply put the call is not the sinister mob shakedown that some democrats have described president trump raises concerns abo

and so this is just sort of concern, you know, in the white house and the national security council about exactly what he's up to. >> and what has giuliani said about this? he's told cnn he's no longer in kyiv. >> so i believe that is a recent development. as of earlier today, we understood that he was still there. giuliani says that he's just doing what he's always been doing for the past year and a half, which is representing his client, president trump. now, the real concern, i think, in the context of all of this is that what we know about giuliani is that he often travels and has a knack for traveling internationally to try to sort of school business deals. so the conflation of him trying to score business deals and also representing presidentrump is where that concern really comes into play in the top echelons of the trump administration, with the white house aides, with the national security council. that's a very fine line, and i think that's a real point of concern as well. >> erin banco, i appreciate it. here now, republican strategist wick r rick wilson joins us. what do you ma

this is president trump's phone call with zelensky for which the national security council and the white house situation room staff prepare to call summary. according to testimony from tim morrison, the summary was accurate and complete. lieutenant colonel alexander vindman testified that any omissions in the summary were not significant and that editing was not done maliciously. president trump has declassified and released the call summaries of the american people can review it and assess it for themselves. i will make a few points that seem to have gone under noticed. the call summary reflects absolutely no pressure or conditionality, president zelensky vocalized no concerns with the subject matters discussed. and there is no indication of bribery, extortion, or other illegal conduct on the call. of the call summary shows president trump and president zelensky engaged in pleasantries and cordiality's. the summary reveals laughter, simply put, not the sinister mob shakedown that some democrats have described. president trump raised his concerns about european allies paying their fair s

well the strike sparked protests in kirkuk and and iraq's national security council says it's reconsidering its relationship with the u.s. led coalition against eisel the u.s. secretary of state mike pompei oh called the strikes a decisive response to threats by iranian backed forces against u.s. personnel it's warned of further action to protect them if necessary. we'll be live in washington in a moment but 1st to mona fulton begins our coverage from iraq's anbar province where some u.s. troops are based. an unprecedented confrontation between the u.s.

department and national security officials who served republican and democratic presidents alike over decades who came to testify. in fact, four of president trump's own national security council staffers, hill, vindman, morrison and maguire came forward to report trump's scheme to nsc lawyers as soon as they learned of it, didn't they mr. goldman. >> morrison and vindman went to the lawyers as soon as they heard of it, yes. >> and that moved me a lot. because my father was a staffer on the national security council under president kennedy and he said the most important thing you can bring to work with you every day is your conscious. and he devoted his career to the idea people must speak truth to power when power becomes a clear and present danger to democracy and to the people. so i want to talk about two of the many honorable government witnesses who went under oath and stood up for the truth. mr. goldman. who is dr. fiona hill. >> was the senior director for the europe and russia director at the national security council until july of this year. >> and she was president trump's senior adviser on russia? >> correct. >> her family fled nazi german and soviet russia. >> i th

department and national security officials who served republican and democratic presidents alike, over decades, who came to testify. in fact, four of president trump's own national security council's staffers, hill, vindman, morrison, and mcguyer, came forward to report trump's scheme to nsc lawyers as soon as they learned it, didn't they, mr. goldman? >> morrison and vindman went to the lawyers as soon as they learned of it. yes. >> they went to thele lawyers. and that moved mey a lot becau my father was a staffer on the national security council under president kennedy. and he said the most important thing you can bring to work with you every day is your conscience. and he devoted his career to the idea that people must speak truth to power. when power becomes a clear and present danger to democracy and to the people. so i want to talk about two of the many honorable government witnesses who went under oath and stood up for the truth. mr. goldman, who is dr. fiona hill? >> dr. fiona hill was the senior director for the europe and russia directorate at the national security council until july of this year. >> and she was president trump's senior advisor on s russia? >> correct. >

this is president trump's phone call with zelensky for which the national security council and the white house situation room staff prepared a call summary. according to testimony from tim morrison at the nsc the summary was accurate and complete. lieutenant colonel alexander vindman testified that any omissions were not significant and any editing was not done maliciously. president trump has declassified and released the call summary so the american people can assess it and review it for themselves. i'llve make a few points that sm to have gone under noticed. the call summary reflects absolutely no pressure or conditionality. president zelensky vocalized no concerns with the subject matters discussed. there is no indication of bribery, extortion or other illegalhe conduct on the call. the call summary shows president trump and president zelensky engaged in pleasantries a and cordialities. the call is not the sinister mob shakedown that some democrats have described. president trump raised his concerns about european allies paying their fair share in security assistance to ukraine. a co

my father was a staffer on the national security council under president kennedy and he said the most important thing you can bring to work with you every day is your conscience. he devoted his career to the idea that people must be truth to power when power becomes a clear and present danger to democracy. and to the people. so i want to talk about two of the many honorable government witnesses who went under oath and stood up for the truth. mr. goldman, who is dr. fiona hill? >> the director of the national security council until this year. >> her family had fled both nazi germany and soviet russia. >> i think her family came from england. marie yovanovitch -- >> that was marie yovanovitch. dr. hill advisor lawyers july 11 and why did she go to report what she had learned? what motivated her? >> she was concerned that ambassador sondland and mick mulvaney were entering into essentially a transaction whereby the ukrainians would open up these investigations for president trump's political interests in return for getting the white house meeting that president trump had offered. >> i wa

he went to the national security council for two reason. number one, they were not on the call said he wanted to update them about it. he was concerned ifo, the call leaked out, how it would play in washington's polarized environment which is exactly what we have here. he was also concerned that it might affect bipartisan support in congress. they've traditionally been one of the few where republicans and democrats share interest and for good reason, he didn't want to craniums to get a distorted perception of what actually happened on the call because we are talking about eight lines of concerned in the amount of ambiguity. this meeting on may 23 there's a question i guess it's ambiguous but it's a question about whether when the president referred the delegatio delegatio the inauguration on the 20th. they come back and it's the secretary and senator johnson and a. is a path to invite him to the white house and they testified to this pretty definitively the president essentially doesn't order anybody to do anything. the president and they t

today to host a working lunch with the ambassadors on the united nations security council and our us ambassador for joining us and doing an extraordinary job at the united nations united states holds the presidency of the un security council for the month of december during lunch i will outline america's priorities of how we can best work to gather we have done this before and we have learned a lot it's been an interesting time for me today the nations face a range of security threats including terrorism drug trafficking illegal migration and the spread of chemical and biological weapons and we are working very hard on those problems especially the last three can be nothing more important taking action to confront these and other dangers and includes a behavior of the iranian regime that has killed hundreds and hundreds of people in a short period of time including protesters people are hearing what is going on i would like to see the media i get involved because it's not a good situation it's a horrible situation. it is something that is a big scandal it's killing a lot of people the

investigative committee questions from the defense and state department and the omb and the national security council about the president's decision to withhold aid, correct? >> correct. >> and would you like to play a clip of some of that evidence. >> from what you witnessed, did anybody in the national security community support with holding the assistance? >> no. >> i never heard anyone advocate for holding the aid. >> and the entire inner agency supported the continuation of the security answer, isn't that right? >> that is correct. >> i and others sat in astonish: the ukrainians were fighting russians and counted ott not only the training and weapons but at -- but the assurance of of u.s. support. >> am i crecked that the witnesses that appeared before your committee confirmed there was no credible explanation for with holding the military aid and that it was in fact against our national security interest to do so? >> everyone agreed it was against our national security interest to do so. the only explanation that any witness provided was mr. sandy who said that he heard from rob blair i believe

think that would give to development through the foreign office is anyway delivered by the national security councilthe national security council co—ordinates britain's foreign policy, defence, diplomacy and development, and that is the right place to get co—ordination between these three departments, not by mixing them together. so let me expand on this question of foreign policy and global strategy for britain in the borisjohnson era. you will be very mindful, because you care about these things, that dozens of britain's most senior former ambassadors and diplomats signed a joint letter for the times before the election, in the autumn, early autumn, saying that they regarded brexit as an act of self—harm, and a massive diminution of britain's power and influence in the world. the same sorts of things that i have been told by sirjohn major, former prime minister in your party, also by lord heseltine, former senior minister in your party. everybody that expresses that worries about the ability of britain, post—brexit, to project power and influence. well, i originally voted to remain, but i am a dem

this is president trump's phone call with zelensky for which the national security council and the white house situation room staff prepared a call summary. according to testify from tim morrison at the nfc, the summary was accurate and complete. nsc staff member colonel alex vindman testified that any omissions in the summary were not significant and that editing was not done maliciously. president trump has declassified and released the call summary so the american people can review it and assess it for themselves. i'll make a few points that seem to have gone undernoticed. the call summary reflects absolutely no pressure or conditionality. president zelensky vocalized in concerns with the subject matter discussed. and there is no indication of bribery, extortion or other illegal conduct on the call. the call summary shows president trump and president zelensky engaged in pleasantries and cordialities. the call reveals laughter. put simply, it is not the shakedown that some democrats have described. president trump raised his concerns about european allies paying their fair share in se

mcmasters made a comment that he didn't want to of his employees national security council ever mention the word holdover. because somebody was hired by the obama administration and rid of them gotten yet didn't mean they were holdovers. they're government employees. they're holdovers, and he should have never been in the position was. spent time trying to undermine could.sident as best he but as of march of this year, our own speaker said, must be, quote, ompelling and overwhelmingly bipartisan. she's violating her own tatement if she has this go forward next week. judiciary r own chairman nadler said there must never be a narrowly voted by one of supported our major political parties and other. by the such would produce divisiveness in our politics and will call very uestion the legitimacy of our political institutions. know what, jerry nadler when he said ght that. they go through with that in the january, eeks or in whenever, it's going to do exactly what he said, which is jonathan -- professor will an turley said, produce even more divisiveness in this country and will call nto que

discussed the strikes with his national security council on monday the council is reconsidering iraq's relationship with the u.s. led coalition against eisel and plans to summon the u.s. ambassador in baghdad meanwhile there's been protests in the cities of kirkuk and bus or a against the u.s. operation demonstrators held up pictures of those killed saying the airstrikes were a violation of their sovereignty with some wonderful teen reports from iraq's anbar province where some u.s. troops are based. an unprecedented confrontation between the u.s. and iran on iraqi soil for the 1st time u.s. airstrikes targeting the bases of an iranian backed armed group killing and injuring dozens the operation in response to a series of rockets that struck military bases where u.s. personnel are stationed a u.s. contractor was killed in the most recent attack in care coke what we did was take a decisive response that makes clear what president trump has said for months and months and months which is that we will not stand for the islamic republic of iran to take actions to put american men and women

these technical issues very well, they will have to feed that into the government and the national security council sure they will want to come to a conclusion quickly based on very expert advice. you said quickly shortly back in may and isa said quickly shortly back in may and is a pointed out early, we are in december now and can ijust quote you on what the prime minister said today, we cannot prejudice when asked about huawei. we cannot prejudice our national security nor can we prejudice our ability to co—operate with other vital security partners. that sounds like he is veering towards the language of the us side. that there is a security threat and that even if the uk's analysis is that there is no security threat, the fact that our allies see a security threat means oui’ allies see a security threat means our ability to co—operate with then be impaired in intelligence if we we re be impaired in intelligence if we were to give huawei the 5g network and those grants, even of not on her own security and analysis, we would decide against. do you think they'll beafair decide against. do you think

nation i want to turn to another expert that's turned to this to feel dr fiona hill the national security council senior director in the trump administration and she's going to explain what happened but it struck me one yesterday when you cut up on the screen just someone's e-mails on who was on these e-mails and he said these that people need to know that he was absolutely right because he was being involved in a domestic political errand and we were being involved in national security foreign policy and those 2 things had just. and that tells you what the evidence shows the president put his own domestic political interests over the nation's national security and foreign policy a president cannot abuse his power to secure an election he cannot do that at the expense of the american people that is impeachable offense the president has tried to make excuses for his conduct why it's not wrongful or corrupt or an abuse of power but the truth holds together it makes sense is consistent with the evidence when so much is offering excuse that is not true it is not consistent with the evidence it does n

called it a clear violation of its sovereignty prime minister martin called together his national security council on monday to discuss the strikes it's reconsidering iraq's relationship but the u.s. led coalition against eisel and plans to summon the u.s. ambassador in baghdad u.s. secretary of state mike pompei o says that sunday's strikes were in response to threats by iranian backed forces against u.s. personnel meanwhile iraqis in the city of kirkuk and for a protest against the u.s. operation demonstrators held up pictures of those killed in the airstrikes calling the strikes a violation of their sovereignty to have an update from washington in a moment but 1st al-jazeera some out of 14 reports from iraq's anbar province where some u.s. troops troops are based. on precedented confrontation between the u.s. and iran on iraqi soil for the 1st time u.s. airstrikes targeting the bases of an iranian backed armed group killing and injuring dozens the operation in response to a series of rockets that struck military bases where u.s. personnel are stationed a u.s. contractor was killed in the most r

blare, john bolton and michael duffy, a associate director for security programs at the national security council. duffy is one of the officials who signed off on several of the documents on that aid freeze of $400 million in security aid to ukrai ukraine. this is the opening offer we're hearing from chuck schumer. schumer and mitch mcconnell are expected to sit down to discuss these requests from senate democrats and discuss how to move forward with a trial. but again, unless schumer can somehow get four senate republicans to join him in backing these rules for impeachment trial, mitch mcconnell will be the one who decides how this impeachment trial goes forward. mcconnell has made clear that any decisions he's coordinating with the white house. the white house counsel, pat cipollone in particular. there's no indication that the white house would allow any of the witnesses to actually come forward. dave? christine? >> jeremy diamond, thank you. >>> a freshman democratic lawmaker announcing plans to switch parties and becoming republican. now, six members of jeff van drew's staff have quit. he op

the foreign 0ffice to development through the foreign office is anyway delivered by the national security council this, stephen. the national security council co—ordinates written's foreign policy. defence, diplomacy and development, and that is the right place to get co—ordination between these three departments, not by mixing them together. so let me expand on this question of foreign—policy and global strategy foreign—policy and global strategy for britain in the borisjohnson era. you will be very mindful, because you ca re era. you will be very mindful, because you care about these things, that dozens of written's most senior former ambassadors and diplomats signed a joint letterfor former ambassadors and diplomats signed a joint letter for the times before the election in the autumn, early autumn, saying that they regarded exit as an act of self harm and a massive diminution of written's power and influence in the world. the same sorts of things that i have been told by sirjohn meijer, former prime minister in your party, also by lord heseltine, former senior minister in your party —— britai

any moment we will hear from president trump who is attending a lunch for the united nations security council at the white house, the meeting, the lunch, follows a momentous announcement from house speaker nancy pelosi today asking the house judiciary committee to draft articles of impeachment against president trump. >> if we allow a president to be above the law, we do so surely at the peril of our republic. in america no one is above the law. the facts are uncontested. the president abused his power for his own personal political benefit at the expense of our national security by withholding military aid and crucial oval office meeting in exchange for an announcement of an investigation into his political rival.n sadly, but with confidence and humility, with allegiance to our founders and a heart full of love for america, today i am asking our chairman to proceed with articles of impeachment. >> in response the white house says it, quote, looks forward to a fair trial in the senate and president trump lashing out on twitter saying this: the do not radical left democrats have just announced

nations, thank you, you are doing fantastically well. the united states holds the rotating presidency of the un security council for the month of december. during our lunch i will outline america's priorities and ask our distinguished guests from other nations how we can best work to gather. and it has been quite an interesting time for me. today our nations face a range of shared security threats including terrorism, cyber attack, the spread of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and we are working very hard on those problems especially the last three. the council must take action to confront these and other dangers facing the world. it also includes a behavior of the iranian regime which has killed hundreds and hundreds of people in a very short period of time. people aren't hearing what is going on, would like to see what is happening. it is a horrible situation. it is something that is going to be a big scandal throughout the world very soon. they are killing a lot of people interesting thousands of their own citizens in a brutal crackdown in recent weeks because they are protesting. i think the media should get involved in that

committees question witnesses from the defense department, state department, omb, white house and national security council about the president's decision to withhold aid, correct? i would like to play a clip of some of that evidence. >> from what you witnessed, did anybody in the national security community support withholding the assistance? >> no. >> i never heard anyone advocate for holding the aide. >> the entire agency support of the continuation of the security assistance, isn't that right? >> that is correct. >> i and others sat in astonishment, ukrainians were fighting russians and counted on not only the training and weapons but also the assurance of u.s. support. >> am i correct that the witnesses that appeared before your committee confirmed there was no credible explanation for withholding the military aide and that it was in fact against our national security interest to do so? >> he had said that he heard from rob blair, the assistant that their reason was because of other countries donations or contributions to ukraine, but that was only in september and of course, there were no further com

the national security council says it's going to resign gets relationship with the u.s. led coalition force the u.s. response. well the u.s. certainly hopes that that will not be the case u.s. officials that have given background briefings on monday have not directly responded to that but they have been saying that this is not an attack on iraq or the iraqi government they say this is definitely a retaliatory strike by the u.s. for what they say are attacks rocket attacks that are coming within iraq from armed groups backed by iran other u.s. officials have said that they have counted as many as 11 rocket attacks from iran back to groups within iraq against iraqi military installations where there are u.s. personnel in recent days one on friday that killed a u.s. contractor and wounded 4 u.s. service members so from the washington perspective from the pentagon from the white house senior officials there saying that these rocket attacks now on sunday were in retaliation to those attacks and that they hope that this deescalate the situation moving forward now there certain

ergogan , sir, is what did after the president without the president, without consulting the national security council said we're pulling out of syria. it is my opinion. that was moment that erdogan said ok. i can do this. over the course of the next six, sevenings eight months he planned out and it led to the series of events you have described and i think it is accurate. we had over 3,000 troops in syria when the president made that announcement. by the time we got to all that you just described, that number was way down. it was way down. i'm sorry to say this bluntly. it was way down not because it was in the national security interests of the united states for it to be way down. it was way down because the president was trying to fulfill a campaign promise and he did not consult the pentagon before made that announcement and started us down this path. i'm very sympathetic. once we started down that path, you guys had to figure out how to make it work. you really worked hard at it. i know secretary dunn did as well. he desperately tried to find partners blocked fill in for us leaving. there were on

discussed the attacks with his national security council on monday it's reconsidering iraq's relationship with the u.s. led coalition against eisel and plans to summon the u.s. ambassador in baghdad washington says that sunday's strikes were in response to threats by radio and backed forces against u.s. personnel a former chairman of japan's car giant dishonors arrived in lebanon saying that he's escaped in justice and political person in persecution colace god was arrested in tokyo in 2018 over allegations of financial misconduct that he denies he was released from custody under strict bail conditions including not being allowed to leave the country. pro-democracy activists are celebrating what they say is a turning point in sudan's history 29 members of the security forces have been sentenced to death for the torture and murder of a protester schoolteacher ahmed kid was killed during protests that led to the ousting of president obama the shia but was claimed responsibility for a truck bomb attack in the somali capital that killed at least 80 people the armed group says that saturday's

the united states in iraq they were actually government condemn the airstrikes and iraq's national security council threatened to reconsider its relationship with the u.s. led coalition so this is a very serious political crisis and now these attack on the you ass embassy in a heavy heavy protected green zone so we have to assume that the protesters may have had at least tacit permission from the iraqi security forces so this is a serious situation now presidents trump is addressing. people in iraq saying that those who want freedom and who don't want to be dominated and controlled by iran this is your time so this can be clearly criticize in iraq will be probably criticized in iraq as an attempt to interfere in iraq's domestic affairs you alluded to donald trump blaming iran for mastermind be atop the embassy the relationship between the u.s. and iran is already quite structures how does this affect about. well we have to say that so far the you. showed some restraint and relied mostly on saying sions even after iran was accused of shutting down and american drone even after iran was accused of be

crisis for the united states in iraq iraq government condemned those airstrikes and iraq's national security council even threatened to rethink its relationship with the ass led coalition and now the attack on the u.s. embassy in the havel the protected green zone so we have to assume that the protestant smile must have had at least a tacit permission from the iraqi security officials so we're dealing here with the serious political crisis didn't pass the potential of still king and american is in the country and handing an advantage to iran and its competition for more influence in iraq and as we heard the u.s. president donald trump he blames iran for masterminding the attack the relationship between the u.s. and iran is already fractious how does this affect. well i think so far and despite the existing tensions to ask strategy has been to rely on sanctions and more in last to miro iran's activities and president from has repeatedly repeatedly said that your ass is not looking for a new and novel conflict in the middle east however we have to say that with this very unstable situation on the grou

crisis for the united states in iraq the iraqi government condemned those airstrikes iraq's national security council has even threatened to reconsider its relationship with the u.s. led coalition so this is some serious cry as a stance has a potential of stalking and americanism in the country and u.s. president trump is blaming iran for masterminding the attack on the embassy will the already tense relationship between the u.s. and iran deteriorate even further because of this. well they could of course we should say that president trump has promised his space to tease going to end america's wars that he's going to bring back us troops and he has repeatedly said today that the u.s. is not looking for any new conflict in the middle east so that could be a reason that the u.s. did not respond with military force to iran was accused of shooting down an american drone after iran was accused of launching an attack on saudi oil production but iran is a centerpiece of the trump of many through asian foreign poll c. and the trial of ministration is clearly blaming iran from what is going right now in iraq

in the dark after a massive storm broke power lines and covered others with ice iceland's national security council has been holding an emergency meeting on how to deal with the crisis. new zealand's police chief has praised the military mission that recovered the bodies of 6 people who died during the volcanic eruption on for caare white island commission mike bush said the team members showed absolute courage in an unpredictable and challenging environment 2 bodies remain on the island all together at least 16 people died and dozens more were severely injured in the eruption. the recovery operation began at 1st light on friday when 2 haiti copses essential fulfill cari island and the ever present threat of another eruption. it's all just about 4 hours to recover 6 bodies which they airlifted to a naval base will and get off the coast. 2 more bodies could not be found. police said another operation would be launched to find them we do believe that at least one of them is in the water. we other one we're on shore so the only 2 possibilities one is still on the island and we have a good will by 2 or

quickly condemned not only by iran or russia but also by the iraqi government you racks national security council has threatened to reconsider its relationship with the you asked that call it. there are still thousands of u.s. troops contractors and other personnel in iraq and around the region so now with pro-u. runyan militias threatening to retaliate the key question is will the american airstrikes 10 don't the cycle of violence or escalate it and from washington let's take a look now at some of the other stories making news around the world. libya's interim president has expelled top mexican and spanish diplomats allegations they were attempting to help form a bolivian officials to flee the country libyans have sought refuge in the mexican embassy since the change of government spying has expelled bolivian diplomats in response. has arrived in lebanon after leaving japan on the unknown circumstances was under house arrest in tokyo awaiting trial on charges of hiding income and financial misconduct which he denies holds jools french and lebanese citizenship. india is experience what's experien

were quickly condemned not only by iran or russia but also by the iraqi government iraq's national security council has threatened to reconsider its relationship with the you asked that coalition there are still thousands of u.s. troops contractors and personnel in iraq and around the region so now with pro-u. runyan militias threatening to retaliate the key question is will the american strikes 10 don't the cycle of violence or escalate it and from washington now let's take a look at some of the other stories making news around the world libya's interim president has expelled top mexican and spanish diplomats about allegations they were attempting to hope for mobility and officials to flee the country libyans have sought refuge in the mexican embassy since a change of government spending has exposed libyan diplomats in response. to the family of a man accused of stabbing 5 people in a rabbi's home in new york so he has a long history of mental illness in a statement the family's lawyer said the suspect grafton thomas had not experienced any and he's met a few times in the past. india is experience

questioned witnesses from the defense department, state department, omb, white house and national security council about the president's decision to withhold aid, correct? >> correct. >> and i'd like to play a clip of some of that evidence. >> from what you witnesses, did anybody in the national security community support withholding the assistance? >> no. >> i never heard anyone advocate for holding the aid. >> and the entire interagency supported the continuation of this security assistance, isn't that right? >> that is correct. >> i and others sat in astonishment. ukrainians were fighting russians and counted on not only the training and weapons, but also the assurance of u.s. support. >> am i correct that the witnesses that appeared before your committee confirmed that there was no credible explanation for withholding the military aid and that it was, in fact, against our national security interests do so? >> everyone agreed it was against our national security interests to do so. the only explanation that any witness provided was mr. sandy who said he had heard from rob blair, i believe, the

national security advisor and secretary of state. those advisors detailed to the national security council are no longer allowed to participate. it results in, one official telling me a small circle of loyalists in all discussions and reflects the fear and distrust gripping this white house. this has been called the vindman rule after lieutenant colonel vindman detailed to the counsel as an expert. i was told by an official if zelensky was called tomorrow he would no longer be allowed on that call. these transcripts of these calls are no longer being disseminated in the same way. mid-level officials no longer access the same way. you have essentially two parallel tracks the president on a call with his klose advisor could be pushing one policy or another. the people in charge of maintaining that relationship with those ares on that region on a day-to-day basis, they don't know what is being said and they are working on others policies. you could end up with a muddled chaotic policy. kellyanne, the advisor said she is all for limiting the number of officials on these presidential phone calls. >> very disturbing allegations inde

nations. thank you very much. you're doing fantastically well. the united states holds the rotating presidency of the u.n. security council for the month of december. during our lunch i will outline america's priorities and ask our distinguished guests from other nations how we can best work together. they have a lot of great ideas. we've done this before. we've learned a lot and it's been really quite an interesting time for me. today our nations face a range of shared security threats, including terrorism, drug trafficking, illegal migration, cyberattack and the spread of milk chemical and biological weapons, and we're working very hard on those problems, especially the last three. there can be nothing more important. the council must take action to confront these and other dangers facing the world. that also includes the behavior of the iranian regime, which has killed hundreds and hundreds of people in a very short period of time. they're killing protesters. they turned down their internet system. people aren't hearing what's going on. i would like to see the media get involved in that and go in and see what's happeni

this is concern in the white house and the national security council about what he's up to. >> what has giuliani said about this. he said he's no longer in kiev. >> i believe that's a recent development. as of earlier today we understood he was still there. giuliani said he's doing what he has been doing which is representing his client, president trump. the real concern, i think, in the context of this is that what we know about giuliani is he often travels internationally to try to score business deals. the conflation between him trying to score business deals and representing president trump is where the concern comes into play in the top echelons and that's a very fine line. that's a real point of concern as well. >> appreciate it. thanks very much for the reporting. here republican strategist rick wilson is joining us. he's the author of the book everything trump touches dies. what is he doing here? is he trying to get attention? is this good for the president? >> i think one thing rudy is doing is deeply undermining the president's defense that nothing he did was wrong and this wa

i was 32 years old named assistant secretary of state i started in government at the national security council with you and affairs and i ran the africa office and i don't think i appreciated it at the time with the mother of a three -month-old child trying to win the trust and confidence in predominately white and male career and i struggled during that period making significant mistakes with friends and mentors who took me aside and said you will screw up and i talk about with great affection like the congressman who in the second term of the clinton administration worked with me in the african bureau but was clinton's special envoy and a fellow political appointee with enormous knowledge and experience it as i write in the book he took me out to lunch one year in the job to a really crappy chinese restaurant at the state department. [laughter] he sat me down and said you're smart you have the support of the secretary and the president but you are about to fail you are too impatient to hardcharging and not taking the input and the experience and the knowledge and i want to see you succeed. t

from the national security council company went to the state department. there is a wonderful passage in your book. you were very candid about yourself, which is fascinating. this is what you wrote. my reputation from the nsc as i was about to discover had preceded me. i'm why was eventually told, i was perceived as smart, dynamic, decisive, and bureaucratically skilled, and if. but also, rash, demanding inpatient, hardheaded and unafraid of confrontation. also autocratic, micromanaging. so what does that tell us about your backs are they right and what parts were they right about? >> i think that they were right i had the privilege starting at the staff at 28 megabytes 32 i had been elevated to assistant secretary of state that meant i was responsible for all the seas all the ambassadors and 48 sub-saharan african countries. i was probably 20 to 30 years younger than the most senior ambassadors reporting to me. they had come up in the career and they werecurvierand they were mostly male and mostly white and saw me as wrong for the job to put it mildly and