lieutenant colonel pacheco said the war does affect training. >> if they're not ready to train or goto work ready to fly. >> reporter: the major question is when iraq will finally be safe enough to host the new air force. >> then you expect the pilots to actually fly a mission in iraq? >> as the commander, i have a lot of duties. >> reporter: the commander phil persell is on base. >> it allows them more opportunity to gain experience while here. >> reporter: the captain hama said the iraqi people need their help right now. >> they can't wait to see an f-16 actually flying over iraq to provide some cover. >> we actually were given clearance to show you captain hama's face he's from a well-known iraqi family. it's a conundrum here, without troops on the ground, they can't help the pilots or their new jets and that jeopardizes any iraqi led offensive against isis. >> margaret, who paid for those jets? >> the iraqi government did, $6.5 billion for 36 jets over time. >> great reporting. >>> coming up "interstellar" ,, ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ♪ >>> award-winning filmmaker christopher nolan