host: general stephen townsend is our guest. phone lines are open for viewers to ask their questions. special line for iraq veterans, 202-748-8003. otherwise, democrats, 202-748-8001. republicans, 202-748-8001. independents, 202-748-8002. we're going to start with kendrick in lancaster, south carolina, an independent, and kendrick, bare with us. with a little bit of a delay as we talk to the general live from baghdad. go ahead with your question. caller: yes. can you hear me? host: go ahead, yeah. caller: thes definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, expecting a different result. i heard this before. we train the soldiers. we've been in iraq over 10 years. we're going to train them. and when they come to the fight, they throw down their weapons in iran. we've been there losing, losing lives, causing lives. will they fight the battle for them? they fight their own battle. we been training and assisting iraqis for over 10 years, and ain't nothing changed. they still got -- well, they got elite fighters. what i

. >> reporter: lieutenant general stephen townsend served here in northern iraq during the u.n. occupation 10 years ago and now the commander of the u.s. coalition against isis, visiting troops manning a battery of howitzers in the desert. >> here's inside the city right here. here's the east side of the city. >> reporter: a new generation of americans in iraq, this time around, aiding iraqi troops who will do most of the fighting on the front line. how tough a battle is this? >> um, this fight would challenge any army. this fight would challenge the >> reporter: but then he broke off our interview. they're about to fire over there? >> i think we might be about to fire. >> reporter: should we just have a look over there? because his men had isis in their sights. there are now around 6,000 u.s. troops in iraq-- >> man, that's motivational, isn't it? >> reporter: supporting over 40,000 iraqi fighters in the battle for mosul, an offensive crucified by president-elect trump for its lack of secrecy. >> whatever happened to the element of surprise? okay. we announce we're going after

we will be joined by stephen townsend. we will talk about efforts to defeat isis. we're also going to be joined by presidential transfer of power and how that process works. anders rasmussen will join us. he is a former nato secretary-general. natoll talk about u.s. -- relations. our show tomorrow begins at 7:00. have a great sunday. >> next, newsmakers with the u.s. surgeon general. the discussion on the future of law enforcement. after that, african-american leaders and activists discuss the future of civil rights protections in the next administration. our guest is the 19th surgeon general of the united states. for those of you who have not met him, for taking on this position he had a career at harvard medical school and in public health and technology. along with other officials, he works on it uniform health officers representing the united states in 800 offices around the world. we are here because you just released a report on addiction in america. we are going to talk about the message there. let me introduce to reporters. lauren is from the associated pre

next washington journal, lieutenant general stephen townsend, commanding general of the iraq combined joint task force joins us from baghdad to discuss the fight of isis in mosul. the president of the department for public service talks about donald trump preparations to take office in january and former nato secretary-general anders looks at relations in a trump presidency. we will take a cause and you can join the conversation on facebook and twitter as well. washington journal, live at 7:00 a.m. eastern on c-span. now, advocates for opioid recovery founders, newt gingrich, patrick kennedy, and van jones discuss why they joined forces to fight drug addiction. this is about one hour 20 minutes.

stephen townsend says the plan to take back mosul is working. said the plan to take low -- mosul is working. >> i don't see evidence that it is bogged down. >> wednesday isis held suburbs flynn warns mosul will not be a quick fix. >> we are looking into the next year. this should draw on for we know what chuck grassley has done for ethanol and what ethanol has done for iowa. i arabian oil. but, that's just the start. grassley's legislation has encouraged a new fuel made from cobs, not kernels. yep, corncobs made into fuel. right here in iowa. grassley works. week for local law enforcement, we wanted to share this picture from waterloo.students at george washington carver academy presented police chief dan trelka with a thank after a tough week for local law enforcement we want to share this picture from waterloo. students at george washington carver academy presented police cheif dan with a thank you signed and cupcakes in appreciation for all they do to protect and serve the community. we want to remind you fox 28 news is hosting a back the blu

host: general stephen townsend is our guest.hone lines are open for viewers to ask their questions. special line for iraq veterans, 202-748-8003. otherwise, democrats, 202-748-8001. republicans, 202-748-8001. independents, 202-748-8002. we're going to start with kendrick in lancaster, south carolina, an independent, and kendrick, bare with us. with a little bit of a delay as we talk to the general live from baghdad. go ahead with your question. caller: yes. can you hear me? host: go ahead, yeah. caller: thes definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, expecting a different result. i heard this before. we train the soldiers. we've been in iraq over 10 years. we're going to train them. and when they come to the fight, they throw down their weapons in iran. we've been there losing, losing ives, causing lives. will they fight the battle for them? they fight their own battle. we been training and assisting iraqis for over 10 years, and ain't nothing changed. they still got -- well, they got elite fighters. what i se

. >> on the next "washington journal," general stephen townsend shows the latest on the fight against isis, including efforts by iraqi forces to retake mosul. steir talks about the presidential transition process ahead of inauguration day. and head of that, a look at the future of u.s.-nato relations with a former nato secretary-general. we will also take your phone calls, tweets, and facebook comments. "washington journal" is live every day at 7:00 a.m. eastern on c-span. c-span -- where history unfolds daily. in 1979, c-span was created as a public service by america's cable television companies, and is brought to you today by your cable or satellite provider. we are asking students to participate in this year's studentcam documentary competition by telling us, what is the most urgent issue for our next president, donald trump, and the incoming congress to address in 2017. our competition is open to all middle school and high school students, grades six through 12. students can work alone or in a group of up to three to produce a documentary on the issue selected. a grand prize of $

next washington journal, lieutenant general stephen townsend, commanding general of the iraq combined joint task force joins us from baghdad to discuss the fight of isis in mosul. the president of the department for public service talks about donald trump preparations to take office in january and former nato secretary-general anders looks at relations in a trump presidency. we will take a cause and you can join the conversation on facebook and twitter as well. washington journal, live at 7:00 a.m. eastern on c-span. now, advocates for opioid recovery founders, newt gingrich, patrick kennedy, and van jones discuss why they joined forces to fight drug addiction. this is about one hour 20 minutes. >> hello. ms. satel: welcome everyone to aei. my name is sally satel. i am a resident scholar here. as we know from reading the headlines, on a near daily basis, there is news of the fact that america has one big drug problem. and in fact, overdose from opiates overdose deaths come , from heroin and narcotic pills, are now the number one cause of accidental death in this country. so what can p

washington journal, a special line for iraq veterans if you want to call in and talk to general stephen townsend, commanding general. that is the number four wreck veterans. iraqat is the number for veterans. independents -- as viewers are calling in, general, i want to talk a little bit about those in the front lines going into the city of muzzle. city of mosul. assets overtest there? who is proving to be the best in the city? >> well, the iraqi city forces or a broad type of force and capability. army,you have the iraqi with more than nine brigades involved in the operation right now. various states of training and readiness as you might imagine with any army. some of the best are up there osul right now. there are iraqi police. the elements are in various states of readiness. probably parts of them are better than some armies and federal police. policere local police, forces in the united states like them. mostly law and order. they are being rest to do some combat duty because of the situation but they are not really trained and equipped for that as much. there are neighborhoods in securing

we will be joined by stephen townsend.