iraq to u.s. backed militia leaders have said al qaeda is trying to bribe members of their group to return to the terrorist organization some officials in iraq say it is making a comeback partly due to the power vacuum and political instability of the war torn country and u.s. paid mercenaries called the sons of iraq and they fought on the side of coalition forces but now it seems as offering to pay them more once the americans leave the journalist who broke the story to my colleague shay said that it could be a big problem with militia. members defect. the sons of iraq were a group who were credited with helping stop the violent insurgency throughout two thousand and six two thousand and seven been hailed ever since by the americans as people who are a cornerstone of the future security for this country however as the americans prepare to lead their heritage over responsibility in managing the sons of iraq program to the iraqi government the iraqi government's commitment to the potomac predominantly sunni sons of iraq groups has not been strong in over recent months

of of disaster and killing in afghanistan and i'm in iraq. and i don't think we've gotten a sense that maybe got a sense of the disaster but i don't think we've got a sense of the real. the the political disaster the the behind the the human disaster in afghanistan that's what we can leak says has given us. i think it says to journalists. separate us separate yourselves from the world of authority and start becoming independent it's an extraordinary moment what about the internet in general do you think in terms of names that subclassing more traditional means you know like newspapers and document chains yes i do and i mean it shouldn't subvert them but it is and is doing that which really should compliment them. because you know the into my own journalistic habits change radically i used to get up in the morning and read all the newspapers now i go to my computer and log wrong. because that's where the that's where there's truth telling that kind of journalism. i think the agenda that comes through in so much so-called mainstream journalism i

big reason that al qaeda is making a stronghold back inside of iraq is because we fail i think i think the coalition forces of failed to realize what's making al qaeda grow al-qaeda is growing because of of continued presence the us and nato forces in the middle east i mean we have we have templi surrounded the middle east and bases in united arab emirates and saudi arabia and in iraq and afghanistan in kuwait and as a result of our bases being there the greater islamic world sees that and they see their their environment being taken over by what they see as occupiers no i don't personally i don't necessarily think that the united states wants to conquer and control all of the middle east but i think that we definitely want to demonstrate power there so we put in military bases there the big problem is that this hasn't appropriately assess the threat the threat is five to seven thousand militants and every day that we stay inside the middle east those militants have fuel to grow. let's take a look now at some other stories making headlines across the globe authorities in pakistan have

this talk is stirring a good deal of light on the future of iraq, isn't it jane, including that suicide bombing that killed 60 people on tuesday. and al-qaeda more active, because they know of these u.s. troops are withdrawing. what is washington feeling about that? >> the state department is on air, saying that work in iraq is not over. and the u.s. is very keen to protect the billion investment over the course of 7.5 years. and to see a significant return on the 4,500 lives lost. and what they are saying, that the american presence there will be far more supported one but responsibility of iraq rests firmly with the iraqi government. but the spokesman said that clearly there is a lot of violence in iraq. but not as at the peak of the war. and there are rivalries that still need to be handled. but will american presence will be focused far more on civilian support. >> yes, washington putting a good deal in the hands of the iraqi government. but that's an unstable government and going through negotiations to form that stable government. and that no

what country the us and the songs of iraq and fought on the side of the coalition forces but now it seems outside is going to paint them all. leave all the journalists who broke the story told my colleague to say if you think the mission has defects the sons of iraq were a group who were credited with helping stop the violent insurgency throughout two thousand and six two thousand and seven that's been high on ever since by the americans people who are a cornerstone of the future security of this country however as the americans prepare to leave the parent of a response. ability in managing the sons of iraq program to the iraqi government iraqi government's commitment to become a predominantly sunni sons of iraq groups has not been a stroll in over recent months it's a very sharp spate of attacks against sons of iraq meet is and militiamen and we're seeing some very disturbing reports recently about al qaida offering more money to today we've been receiving by the government and indeed some of those approaches being successful so we were told

of u.s. engagement in iraq. it will drawdown to 2000 forces and it will change our mission from combat to stability. it's in recognition of this change that we will also take the name of the mission from operation rescue freedom to operation new dawn. i have a mother with that name on it. i think i'm the first one to have it -- i have a mug with that name on it. we are focused on a transition to a civilian-led mission in iraq. contrary to some narrative's, this transition is not a strategic disengagement from iraq. it is not. instead, it signals a transformation in the nature of our engagement in iraq and our bilateral relationship with iraq, is shifting the emphasis from security and military to the civilian side. at stake is not only ensuring that stability in iraq indoors as we continue to draw down and that iraqi government continues to build capabilities to meet the needs of its own people, but also to make every effort to consolidate a joint goal we shared with the iraqis, that is to build a long-term strat

saddam hussein's former deputy has accused president obama of quote leaving iraq to the wolves saying u.s. troops should stay now given the troop pullout at the end of this month surely it's not the right time for the americans to leave. but there are remarkable words for saddam hussein's chief to be calling for the americans to be starting he said that there was a massive mistake made to come here to invade in the first place but to leave iraq like this would indeed in his words be feeding the countries of the world. nothing is stable here there is a security vacuum there is no stability in the near future at all there is a vicious political stalemate and the few tenets that this is he is built on the army perhaps the police force and a couple of other things like that which could potentially take the country secure in the future certainly not ready to do so now so his words were a direct challenge to the white house which is that the job is done and that the institutions are ready to take over including the army and that iraq the foundations of the new iraq have been laid if you loo

others have had three or four tours of iraq. >> it feels good about to head home. at that none of us got hurt and we are going home. >> it has been a costly war. almost 4500 americans lost their lives, countless more iraqis. the official monetary cost to the u.s. taxpayer, one trillion dollars. >> it has been a searing experience, the engagement of iraq combined with afghanistan will make us think twice about undertaking a similar enterprise any time in the near future. >> a suicide attack in baghdad this week. iraq's army commander once the americans to stay another 10 years. iraq cannot cope alone, he says. president obama says that all american troops will be out of iraq by the end of next year. many will end up in afghanistan. the iraq conflict is not exactly over. al qaeda is getting stronger. sunni militants are threatening to rejoin the insurgency. the united states will still help the iraqi government, but as one u.s. officer said, this is no longer america's war. >>> reports suggest the state department and the u.s. is close to announcing the launch of dire

out of iraq. we're trying to do it in a way where we stand up the iraqi military. the program we are on so far as pulling our troops out. that is the plan also for afghanistan. train the military so that they handle the problem with al qaeda. in terms of the budgetary process, every spending bill under our constitution originates in the house. since the current speaker became speaker, for the last four years, the argument i made earlier, it is five years ago, i was concerned with the budget deficit at $162 billion. but during those four years we have seen this budget, the spending, go up to where the deficit is not 10 times what it was. my other concern is with the sheer growth of the size of government. we will go now to the next question. >> thank you, congressman rooyce. as a small businessman, i think you can understand our concern over taxes and our concerns. liberal politics and liberal media have done a good job of demonizing the businesses and the rich. they have done this by consistently

implements, than large numbers of americans -- and iraq implodes, and the large numbers of americans will go back? >> there's always the possibility, of course. in the case of al-qaeda, as an organization, they are at their lowest level ever in iraq. i would not call it an insurgency anymore. it is still a threat. it can still mount attacks. it can still inject itself into iraqi politics and in a deeply negative way. it is nowhere close to the level where it might threaten the long-term existence of iraq, of which is where we were a couple years ago. >> thank you very much indeed. >> thank you. >> the merkel may not be recognized, but that -- the miracle may not be recognized, but that is not discouraging the faithful. in 1981, six teenagers said they saw the virgin mary on what is now called apparition hill, and some claim she still appears regularly. this is all taking place in a country where a faith is equated -- is equivalent to ethnic identity. our correspondent returns to explore this phenomenon. >> yes, jesus loves me. jesus loves

sons of iraq leader who said that one hundred of his members. i have not turned up for the last two months to pick up salaries he says that can only mean one thing being paid by the enemy so if you're not going to be good news for washington d.c. and capitol hill that. saddam hussein's former deputy has accused president obama of quote leaving iraq to the wolves saying u.s. troops should stay now given the troop pullout at the end of this month surely it's not the right time for the americans to leave. but there are remarkable words from saddam hussein's chief whip tend to be calling for the americans to be staying he said that there was a massive mistake made to come here to invade in the first place but to leave iraq like this would indeed in his words be feeding the countries of the world a saying that nothing is stable here there is a security vacuum there is no stability in the near future at all there is a vicious political stalemate and the few tenets that this is science he is built on the army perhaps the police force in a couple of oth

groups has not been a strong recent months it's a very sharp spate of attacks against sons of iraq i mean it is and militia men and we're seeing some very disturbing reports recently about offering more money to. be receiving by the government and indeed some of those. approach is being successful so we're told yesterday we spoke to one. sons of iraq leader who said that one hundred of his members have not turned up for the last two months to pick up salaries he says that can only mean one thing being paid by the enemy so if you're not going to be good news for washington d.c. and capitol hill that. saddam hussein's former deputy who's accused president obama of quote leaving iraq to the wolves saying u.s. troops should stay now given the troop pullout at the end of this month surely it's not the right time for the americans to leave. but there are remarkable words for saddam hussein's chief with tend to be calling for the americans to be starting he said there was a massive mistake made to come here to invade in the first place but to leave iraq like this would indeed in his words b

as chairman of unmovic, you had overall responsibility for the inspection process in iraq. the process itself ran, we understand, from 27 november, 2002 until 18 march, 2003, just two days before the commencement of military action. we hope to look today at some detail about the inspection process, the context in which it took place and the stage it had reached by the time the inspectors were withdrawn from iraq on 18 march, 2003. now i say on every occasion and i repeat it this afternoon, we recognize that witnesses give evidence based on their recollection of events and we of course check what we hear against papers to which we have access and which we are still receiving. i remind every witness on each occasion you will later be asked to sign a transcript of the evidence to the effect that the evidence they have given is truthful, fair and accurate. with those preliminaries out of the way i will ask sir martin to gilbert to open the questions. martin? >> dr. blix, we would like to begin by looking at the history of inspections in iraq and in particular the legacy of the u

the people of iraq and how much they can continue to endure in terms of hardship they have endured so far. the root cause of instability is the palestinian-arab problem. if that is resolved, much can happen. >> that is in essence what i was trying to say. he was far more clear about it. i believe deceased husband; is that years ago. >> first of all, throughout all the conflicts and confrontations between for example the united states and iraq, he forever -- he never defended the occupation of kuwait. he condemned it and called for withdrawal of iraqi forces from kuwait but he did emphasize the importance of considering the needs and potential damage to the people of iraq. if there were a military rather than a diplomatic solution. >> you know the administration here has heralded the arrival of democracy and they feel that democracy for loss of justification weapons of mass destruction then democracy works for us. i asked your husband where will democracy end here. he said to me this. the king has the three elements of government. the

role to the stability of iraq. he spoke at a forum hosted by the denver world affairs council for about an hour. >> good evening. my name is kim. we're going to have a discussion. i am on the boards of iie. i'm taking the place of karen this evening as your hostess. we have c-span with us this evening. they will be taping uninterrupted. during the question and answer time, after the speakers, we would ask that you please come up to the microphone to ask your question, but do not touch the microphone. also, to watch the people in line and tried to keep it down to four people in line at a time. if there are more, kuwait and we will try to get to your question as soon as the next person is done. -- wait. you have evaluation forms on your chairs. please fill them out. we appreciate that. if you're not a member of iie, take the opportunity to join, because we would love to have you be able to join us at more these kinds of events with these kinds of speakers. with that, i would also ask that you please remember to turn o

iran does not want the united states to be successful in iraq or other parts of the middle east. should there be a violent confrontation between the united states and iran, it will be fought in iraq. this is the main reason, in my opinion, american troops are still there. there are additional troops in to wait, catarrh, and other parts of the region. -- in kuqait, qatar, and other parts of the region. pessimists say the country is on the verge of collapse because the ethnic populations are not willing to live together peacefully. >> thank you very much for that. the u.s. invasion into iraq seriously damaged its relations with the islamic world. it also undermined america's standing among many european allies who were otherwise staunch supporters of u.s. foreign policy. the bush administration exacerbated those wounds by brushing off european opposition. as for the reasons for going to war, weapons of mass destruction, it was european skeptics like the german chancellor and russian president who proved to be right in the end. there were among many europeans who refused to believe s

combat forces driving out of iraq tonight and our own richard engel, from a moving convoy, has an "nightly news" exclusive. >>> also tonight, the rising tide of anger in pakistan. our own ann curry is there as this flooding disaster spirals out of control. >>> d eggs are making hundreds of people sick. there's a massive recall to report tonight. >>> then and now. five years after the horrors of katrina, spike lee takes his cameras back to new orleans. >>> also, what it looks like to make sure someone's dream comes true. make sure someone's dream comes true. "nightly news" begins now. captions paid for by nbc-universal television >>> good evening. it's gone on longer than the civil war, longer than world war ii. tonight, u.s. combat troops are pulling out of iraq. it's been about seven and a half years since that first late-night air strike decimated the iraqi government and lit up american television screens. saddam hussein is now dead. the new iraqi government is still taking tentative steps, and the toll on the united states has been substantial. 4,415 american service members died in ir

combat troops are out of iraq. we'll have a live report from kuwait on this historic occasion. >>> and something stinks at san jose international airport. >>> good morning. thanks for joining us. i'm kris sanchez in for laura garcia-cannon. >> i'm garvin thomas in for brent. the top stories in a moment. first a check of traffic and weather. >> we are seeing a lighter volume of traffic overall. a lot of schools getting in session this week. a lot of folks i heard from said thursday is the day they're taking off. a lighter volume through livermore. westbound 580 holding at 17 minutes drive from the altamont pass over to the dublin interchange. that's better than we've seen all week. the bay bridge toll plaza, a light volume of traffic there. no metering lights registering yet. all the previous three days this week, it's been turned on by now. we have the low clouds hovering around. ria, this is a bit higher than i've seen in the past few days. >> there are clouds out there, but they're high. today we will be a couple

combat troops are out of iraq with a bay area soldier at the head of the convoy. hours ago, 4,000 soldiers from the 4th striker brigade drove out of iraq in their armored vehicles. they are in kuwait so is richard engle, the only american reporter embedded with them. >> reporter: the last american combat brigade has crossed out of iraq and here into kuwait. >> reporter: this was a historic phase, the end of the fighting part of the iraq war that began seven and a half years ago. there will be an official handover ceremony ending combat operations and beginning the new training mission on september 1st in iraq. but with the combat troops out, with the last american combat brigade leaving n many ways that transition began last night. the actual leave from iraq, the actual departure was very smooth. the soldiers, 440 in that final american combat patrol, got into their vehicles and drove out of the country. they left on the main highways. this was an operation that was coordinated with iraqi security forces. there was not a single shot fired. it just took a long driv

it's also important see our continued come of that on this transition in iraq in terms of our enduring commitment both to iraq and the broad region. building the strong civilian partnership with a sovereign independent nation of iraq consistent with our principles of respect, mutual interest and mutual responsibility and our commitment to iraq and the region is strong lasting. we will of course continue to enga the policy and as our military in iraq will te the necessary steps to ensure on an ongoing basis security engagement in the region but will be strong and capable and able to support the stability of the region and the security of our friends and partners as well as protecting our own national interest. this is an important set of work ahead i think we looked at the last 18 months for satisfaction and appreciation particularly efforts afire iraqi partners. >> thank you, jim. >> thank you, jim for that kind introduction. these have been busy weeks and there was a thought maybe a week in iraq that this was not the best time for it but frankly we decided it was so important to get t

commander for the northern third of iraq says two years of joint u.s.-iraqi combat operations have cut attacks here by 90% to only 10 to 15 a week. but he says the days of joint combat missions are over. >> there is a little apprehension, certainly as i engage pie counterparts, general officers in the iraqi security force. they have all said we would like you to remain here. they're confident in their abilities, but they've become accustomed to operating with us and confident in our abilities. >> warner: at the main u.s. base in mozul, more than the searing august heat explains the near empty roadways. troop numbers here are half of what they once were . but the remaining soldiers are busy. some are protecting the state department civilian reconstruction team. who must leave the secure compound to work in local iraqi communities on everything from agricultural projects to judicial ethics. and hovering over the base and the surrounding city, giant white surveillance blimps that collect critical intelligence. >> the bigger picture up here is a shot from a

combat forces now out of iraq, there are new questions about the future of u.s. involvement in the region. first of tonight, a conversation about the future of iraq with david frankel, pulitzer prize- winning author of with the "washington post" and also author of the prize-winning text "the good soldiers." also, award winning movie maker john landau stops by. this began, a select release of "avatar" will be released. that is coming up right now. >> all i know is his name is james, and he needs extra help with his reading. >> i am james. >> yes. >> to everyone making a difference, you help us all live better. >> nationwide insurance proudly supports tavis smiley. tavis and nationwide insurance, working to improve financial literacy and the economic empowerment that comes with it. >> ♪ nationwide is on your side ♪ >> and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. [captioning made possible by ♪ tavis: david frankel is a pulitzer prize-winning reporter and author of the "washington post" was best selling -- whose best-selling book is out

they represented a threat to the viability of the government of iraq. we judge that neither of those things are capable today. they did not controlled territory and do not represent a strategic threat to the viability of the government. that is a huge change from the darkest days of 2006 and 2007. most noticeably in most optimistically, is the ability for them to roll with the punches. if you remember what it used to be like in 2006, he would get a bombing on tuesday and 50 civilians might be killed. the next day 50 sunni men would show up in the landfill with bullet holes in their head. the cycle would be repeated over and over again. which do not see that cycle happening now. do not get me wrong, we want to start the cycle again. the reason why they killed so many civilians is the one that are rocky -- they want the iraqi people to turn on themselves. they have no intention of turning back to the levels of violence that we have seen before. we also see this in terms of the shiite militia threat. if your member from the 2006 and 2007 time, the biggest t

they can use their weapons and with the backing of the u.s. and iraq keep people, they will be affected if. tavis: those american troops there are engaged in advise and assist. what does this mean? >> they are assisting in the execution of the operations. reminding them how to coordinate air and artillery, calling in for artillery support in a specific case where the iraqis cannot do it. it might be in terms of doing a training to say let's go over our weapons skills. now to change frequencies on the radio, how to refuel at the appropriate time. there are a lot of nuts and bolts training. tavis: there are a lot of americans concerned that this drawdown means many soldiers will come home for a little while and be shipped off to afghanistan. how realistic is that? >> that is very likely some soldiers will go on a repetitive tor. -- repetitive tour. that is a function not only of our military but also the fact we are caught between the insecurities of pakistan and insecurities of india, which are playing them sells out on the ground in afghanistan. tavis:

, a consequence of iraq -- perhaps an attempt to put pressure on the spanish government to withdraw its forces from iraq. were there other attacks that specific political effect, particularly to put pressure on governments to withdraw from iraq? >> so many plots, i wrote them down to remind myself because it is three years since i retired. i think we felt that madrid was significant because of its timing. i think that there are a number of other plots which may have had that political motive ultimately but i can't immediately recall one that we were as confident as that about. >> could i just ask you, you said the timing of the madrid plot. is that because there was a new spanish government recently elected? >> no, it was during the elections. >> it was on the eve of the election. >> it was related to that political situation? >> well, it looked likely to be. and of course the spanish government, if you recall, rushed to attribute it to eta. i have some sympathy with my spanish colleagues because whenever an attack happened or was about to happen, we were pressed very qu

margaret warner has our report from iraq. >> warner: the targets of today's wave of violence: iraq's local government and police forces. no one claimed responsibility. the deadliest attack was in kut, 100 miles southeast of baghdad. a suicide bomber blew up his car inside a security barrier near the town's local council and police station. 19 people were killed-- 15 of them policemen, and 90 others were wounded. baghdad was also hit hard. in the city's qahira neighborhood, a suicide bomber detonated a car bomb near a police station, bringing down the concrete blast wall protecting the building. the explosion killed 15, including six policemen and nine civilians. more than 50 were wounded, many trapped under the rubble of nearby houses. in central baghdad, a roadside bomb exploded in the karrada neighborhood, wounding three. another car bomb went off in the tobchi area, killing three and wounding a dozen more. local residents expressed frustration. >> ( translated ): i d't know what is going on in the country. where is the protection, where are the security troops? the car bomb passed

of u.s. combat troops from iraq is now well under way. but there are growing concerns about the reliability of the iraqi security force they leave behind. nbc's richard engel has our report, part of our special coverage of iraq, the long way out. >> reporter: in east baghdad, a security force created by the u.s. military still patrols. it operates like a neighborhood watch. at checkpoints and inspecting cars and markets. these men are part of a militia that was the brainchild of general david petraeus. when petraeus commanded the 2007 troop surge, he recruited, trained and paid 100,000 iraqis to fight al qaeda. many of them had once fought against american troops. but petraeus won them over. it was a turning point in the war. today the fighters remain loyal to petraeus. they even adopted as a logo the screaming eagle, the symbol of petraeus' old division, the 101st airborne. these iraqi forces were responsible for many of the gains associated with the u.s. troop surge. they fought with american soldiers, exchanged information and battled a

-led invasion of iraq began, it's now the beginning of the end of the american mission there. yesterday, the last u.s. combat brigade left iraq. although some combat troops do remain, according to the government, the departure marks a long-awaited milestone on the american war front. nbc's richard engel made the journey with the brigade and filed this report last night from the iraq/kuwait border. >> reporter: a short while ago we watched the last american combat troops cross through this gate, leaving iraq and entering here in kuwait. they were from the 4-2 stryker brigade based at ft. lewis in washington state. they call themselves the raiders, and now they have a special place in the history of the iraq war. >> we're going home! >> reporter: they were the last 440 american combat troops to leave iraq and enter kuwait. >> it feels great to know that we were -- that this battalion, the first of the 38th infantry, is the last unit to be in iraq, the last combat unit in iraq. >> reporter: the next stop for them is to go to an american military base here in kuwait and then begin

the border, out of iraq, into kuwait and the end of operation freedom. richard engle made the crossing with the fourth striker brigade and lieutenant steven dewitt. >> it's a good feeling. >> reporter: back home in san jose, dewitt's parents watched their son make it safely out of iraq. >> great knowing he's heading for home. we knew it would be early september. it looks like he's on track for that. >> reporter: the crossing came ahead of schedule before the president's august 31st deadline and seven years and five months after the war began. >> we have the element of surprise. >> reporter: 50,000 troops will remain behind to train iraq's security forces. but today, for these soldiers, it's the end here. >> we're going home! >> reporter: and the beginning of whatever comes next. some of those troops from the 4th striker brigade will be deployed again to afghanistan. the u.s. defense department is reporting 4,419 u.s. military deaths since the 2003 invasion. kristen dahlgren, nbc news, washington. >>> steven

the troops out of iraq, but what if we let some there? his independent iraqi state, it would be a good idea to leave some of the troops there to provide -- protect them from the theocracies surrounding them. but what is to stop them from attacking iraq like they did israel? if another one pops up, they might feel threatened and decide to attack. . the ethnic groups. they can be a bit of a buffer. but they are going to make clear that it will take place within the iraqi chain of command. that also goes with any possible basing beyond 2011. it would have to be something the sovereign government of iraq would want to have. there is one reason, they are concerned about iran or some other country. they might. it depends. the might feel more comfortable without that. we will have to say. host: some numbers from the associated press regarding troop levels in iraq. october, 2007, was a peak with 170,000 troops. now, back down to 70,000 troops. confirmed u.s. deaths -- those numbers from the associated press. caller: this is my first time calling.

iraq might turn? >> am i concerned about how they might turn? >> is there the danger of a coup in iraq? >> i don't think the issue of a coup is an issue that comes up or is on the table. i do not think that there is any scenario -- any realistic scenario that wouldnvolve that sort of problem. the kind of problem that they have it is continued terrorist attacks. do not believe that terrorists are using car bombs in killing wom and children because they're dissatisfied th the flow of government formation. i do believe that iraqis have an expectation that they wl have a government. frankly, it is the kind of place where they expect a strongish government. the longer that this goes on, the more people ask the question whether it is affecting the security situationut on the streets. i must say, the polic are working very hard. the army is working very hard. our forces are working very hard with the iraqi forces. i cannot personally. two examples where government formation is impeding the law- and-order efforts. but certainly one was to seek government fortion sooner rather than later, and sec