with the marines at camp leatherneck, camp bastion, and it was really inspiring since i represent parris island, marine corps station, to see the dedication of our marines. i am particularly appreciative of the both of you are doing, because i'm the co-chair of the afghan caucus. i visit the country nine times. i have great respect for president karzai for the defense minister, abdul warnock, i have faith in ambassador michael berry and certainly general mcchrystal and general petraeus. so i feel like we have an extraordinary team of people there. firsthand, my former national guard unit, serve for a year in afghanistan, led by general bob livingston, and i visited with the troops from south carolina every three months. and i found out that there was an extraordinary relationsrelationship between american forces and the people of afghanistan to the point where they identified each other as brothers, american and afghan brothers. so i'm hopeful, perfect, no. but i'm very hopeful. with that, the ever-changing situation, what is the status of cross-border collaboration between afghanistan and paki

it was inspiring since i represent parris island to see the dedication of the marines.i particularly appreciate what both of you are doing because i'm the co-chair of the afghan caucus visited the country nine times i have great respect for president karzai for the defense minister or and of general mcchrystal and petraeus we have an extraordinary team there. firsthand my former national guard unit, the infantry brigade of the national guard searched for a year in afghanistan led by general bob livingston and i visited with the troops from south carolina every three months and i found there was an extraordinary relationship between american forces and the people of afghanistan to the point they identify each other as brothers, american and afghan brothers so i'm hopeful. perfect, no but very helpful. with that, the ever-changing situation. what is the status of the cross border collaboration between afghanistan and pakistan and have there been significant changes in the past year? >> thank you, mr. wilson. we were here with of the committee last week to talk about pakis

it was inspiring since i represent parris island to see the dedication of the marines.i particularly appreciate what both of you are doing because i'm the co-chair of the afghan caucus visited the country nine times i have great respect for president karzai for the defense minister or and of general mcchrystal and petraeus we have an extraordinary team there. firsthand my former national guard unit, the infantry brigade of the national guard searched for a year in afghanistan led by general bob livingston and i visited with the troops from south carolina every three months and i found there was an extraordinary relationship between american forces and the people of afghanistan to the point they identify each other as brothers, american and afghan brothers so i'm hopeful. perfect, no but very helpful. with that, the ever-changing situation. what is the status of the cross border collaboration between afghanistan and pakistan and have there been significant changes in the past year? >> thank you, mr. wilson. we were here with of the committee last week to talk about pakis

when i found out back in the 1980's, when we were at parris island, that contractors were going to be taking over the jobs that the military did every day, i was horrified. knew it was not going to be a good idea. and it has not been fruitful to our success as a country. it has caused a lot of problems. and i really think that when our military comes home that they should be paid well. no one has mentioned the amount of people in the military that are on welfare. the numbers are great. so we should be ashamed as a country that we would be willing to allow bankers to make the type money that they do, sports stars, etc., but when our military is getting some type of raise, and most people that have called have agreed that they don't make enough. we laugh at it. and to the man who's making $700 a month and his mom $1,000, that is poverty rate. we can do better as a country for our military and for our citizenry. thank you. host: a couple of minutes to talk to you about our "newsmakers" program. this week's guest is senator dick durbin, majority whip. amongst the discussions he had with r

[applause] and as i joined the united states marine corps reserve, i was stationed at parris island, and then i served a six-year commitment. i was able to reach the rank of sergeant, and i was honorably discharged. i am proud of my service in the united states. -- the united states marine corps. i am it more proud that my eldest son, matthew, is serving in the united states marine corps reserve. i am just one of thousands of people across connecticut, and across the country who served in the national guard, or the reserve, or on active duty. and thousands of members of the national guard, and the reserves of us -- they are now serving and sacrificing a brought in iraq and afghanistan. and throughout my time in public service, i have been proud to stand up for the veterans at all branches of the military. i am proud of the veterans who are staying with me today -- standing with me today. i have attended dozens of military events every year, and they know that i routinely describe my pride in having served in the united states marine corps reserve? . vietnam. -- in the united states m