we have also seen pakistan seriously address the problem of its own taliban, the pakistan taliban and and go after it in , way which we have never seen before. pakistan today is a unique country. it is a country that is a victim of terrorism. there are horrendous acts of terrorism being carried out in pakistan nearly every day. unfortunately the pakistani army , continues to be a patron of terrorism in other parts of the world and particularly patron of the afghan taliban. that calculation was going to be difficult to do, but i think that's one of the priorities that the next president is going to have to focus on when he or she thinks about what to do with the afghan-pakistan situation. michael: thank you. i'm going to put and have a -- go down the row and have a question for each of you. i think i will go to the colonel. let me go by way of asking him two or three minutes what he saw with the afghan forces. for those of you who don't study this thing full-time, let me remind you of the different numbers we're talking about. people can correct me if i get one wrong. but basically, th

there is a resurgent taliban effort. what we saw, which was a good thing because now the taliban is competing in warfare village to village with the same population. the people who picked up on that request for the afghan national security forces. the comment from the g2 is this is the best thing that can happen to us. we can sit back and watch them fight. so these forces had a problem holding checkpoint and problem holding district centers without a coalition effort. after the setbacks and significant national support from the government and reorganization of the national security apparatus, they were able to re-siege the objectives and places that were taken with difficulty. i looked around in the east where we were in manga hard, and all the other provinces in the east where the terrain is contentious and population has been compliant and the border sanctuary, very contentious area. why weren't the checkpoints being overrun? why wasn't large swaths of terrain being taken by the taliban and held in perpetuity? i got to

this is the taliban. the taliban. (applause). >> trevor: the taliban sees donald trump, and even they think he is crazy. they're like we may be serious, but donald-- terrorists but donald trump is going to end the world. have you not seen this? what are you thinking? you put him in charge, what are we going to have to below up, nothing, there is nothing for us. truthfully, the taliban wasn't really happy about anything that happened at the debates. >> in the end the taliban was disappointed because the canadian-- candidates did not discuss plans for their country. >> trevor: you see? americans and the taliban aren't so different after all. both complaining after the debates. i wonder if the taliban even planned to watch the debate in the firs place or maybe it's the same thing that happens in america. maybe they turn on the tv to watch something else that got preemed like jalalabad or something and they were like oh, damn, it's on every channel. we're just going to watch. they are like it's probably a great show. ever

that is to say from the taliban. i think that overall the taliban have thrown everything they could at the government for two years now, two fighting seasons, 2015 and 2016 and they have not succeeded. they did briefly take kundus but did not take any capital and afghan forces have been fighting back very effectively. given the effectiveness of the afghan defense forces, i think that the taliban have resorted to outrageous terrorist attacks in the cities, which, of course, garner enormous attention. but those are generally speaking against very soft targets. so i think that the people of afghanistan are genuinely concerned about the insurgency and i think they would see that as the first and foremost amongst the threats. it's also one of the reasons that there is such a yearning for peace in afghanistan? >> thank you very much. thanks for your service. >> thank you, senator. >> thank you. thank you for your t. a couple of years ago in the house, myself and another member on the government reform committee looked into

the taliban allied themselves with al qaeda they had military assistance to the taliban and the taliban allowed them to plan and exit and recruit and train on this territory. : >> pretending to be journalists and wanting to interview, but in fact we are working for al qaeda. and they blew themselves up. this was a favor that of al qaeda was doing for the television and it was an exchange for what they must have known that al qaeda leadership was coming which was an attack on the united states. by doing this favor they had hoped that in the coming crisis the taliban and it was a huge favor to get rid of the opposition that existed. in fact, the taliban taliban did not turn over al qaeda and osama bin laden after 9/11 when president bush gave him the option of either turnover al qaeda or the united states will attack the taliban. >> c-span: you referred earlier in our conversation that you are threatened and somebody tried to kill you? >> guest: quite a few times and during my career with iraq and afghanistan, it was always about this or that plot, but but one time the afghan authority ar

the taliban casualties are particularly severe. so far i think it is safe to say that the recruitment efforts have not been hampered and there has been some important advantages the afghan forces have right now, particularly the use of air power which gives them a big advantage and a morale boost over the taliban. the afghans now are fine 829, the afghan air force is conducting airstrikes and we have provided helicopters and 530s which are being used quite quite effectively. . . we think what's important in the near term is that the government afghanistan agree on what electoral reforms are absolutely necessary to conduct elections as soon as possible. there is a consensus that after the last, the 2014 election dayy are necessary and under consideration for electronic id cards. the question of constituencies and naturally constituencies raised questions of redistricting which is as controversial as in the united states, so these are important issues that we are going to have to get through that we think the important thing is for t

there is a resurgent taliban effort.hat we saw, which was a good thing because now the taliban is competing in warfare village to village with the same population. the people who picked up on that request for the afghan national security forces. the comment from the g2 is this is the best thing that can happen to us. we can sit back and watch them fight. so these forces had a problem holding checkpoint and problem holding district centers without a coalition effort. after the setbacks and significant national support from the government and reorganization of the national security apparatus, they were able to re-siege the objectives and places that were taken with difficulty. i looked around in the east where we were in manga hard, and all the other provinces in the east where the terrain is contentious and population has been compliant and the border sanctuary, very contentious area. why weren't the checkpoints being overrun? why wasn't large swaths of terrain being taken by the taliban and held in perpetuity? i got to t

-- the taliban. be ank there should approach at all stakeholders should be included in that negotiation. >> i'm a founding board member group inrgest women's afghanistan called afghanistan women for women and i have in a dod contractor supporting that. there seems to be an agreement that a political solution needs to happen. there's a large to satisfaction with the national unity government and there are talks of new elections. this is what i have heard from my afghan colleagues -- they say if there was a loya jirga today, they would scrap it entirely or call for new elections. i wanted to get your thoughts on that. what other solutions might work politically? if the u.s.say leaves us alone, we might create a new government, but if the a newnsists on government, it might continue. i went to get your thoughts on that. the misperceptions commonly repeated in afghanistan is a national unity government was foisted on afghanistan by the united states. we have to remember that there to resolve prior highly

it was said they financed the taliban in afghanistan. could they tell us what is the incentive of pakistan to fina nce the taliban? >> that is it. >> i think there should be a regional approach and all the stakeholders should be included in the negotiation. >> thank you. and now we will hear the last question, please. >> hello, i am a founding board member of the largest women's organization in afghanistan called afghanistan women for women, and i have been serving as a dod contractor. there seems to be in agreement that a political solution needs to happen. there is a large to satisfaction with the national -- there is a large dissatisfaction with the national unity government and there are talks of new elections. this is what i have heard from my afghan colleagues. they say if there was a loya jirga today, they would scrap it entirely or call for new elections. i wanted to get your thoughts on that. assuming that the nug is not working, what other solutions might work politically. the afghans say, if the u.s. leaves us alone, we might

you said that was a strong hold for the taliban, correct? >> it's the headquarters of the taliban. it's an open secret that the taliban are centered there, their leadership are there, they're directing some of the afghan insurgency from this town, which is pretty near the border between afghanistan and pakistan. another data point is just a few months ago in may, the leader of the taliban was killed in a u.s. drone strike. and the taliban suggesting that this was not going to go unanswered. here's a guy who travelled not only into quetta, but parts of afghanistan where the taliban had a big presence. a lot of opportunities to connect with terrorist groups over there. we don't know whether he did. the boston bombers went back to the caucuses, no evidence they connected with terrorist groups. we just -- they're going to have to find out. >> one thing to say here too, there were other factors here, his family had this lawsuit against their towns related to -- in 2011, related to their restaurant. it was open 24 hours, there are complaints in the neighborhood in this lawsuit, the famil

it's not just the taliban. al qaeda was active here and isis is one of the newest players on the scene here, and there are other militant groups as well. you better bet that u.s. investigators are reaching out to both afghan and pakistani officials to hear what they can say about his travels between these two governments -- these two countries. we've reached out to the afghan government, carol. they have so far declined to comment on this. the pakistani government, the spokesman for the foreign ministry, they've said, hey, this man was born in afghanistan. he's not our problem. carol? >> interesting. so, peter, all of that said, we're also learning from an official, you heard evan's report here, that rahami's pakistani wife left a few days before the bombing. with all that ivan said, what does this tell you, if anything? >> well, we don't know. in law school sometimes they say, you know, suicide or flight are usually a sign of potential guilt, but we just don't know. adding to what ivan is reporting, i mean, th

taliban, not taliban.e like we've got somebody who's disaffected in several areas and decided for some reason it's time to move. >> i think investigators right now the picture emerging is somebody who might have a mix of ideologies that might have in1350ii inspired him. we sometimes immediately go to isis. so far nothing has emerged of the hallmarks of isis. usually these guys leave behind something. they're very proud of the isis claim and isis is usually very quick, especially if they've gotten something on social media saying we're doing this in the name of. we haven't seen any of those things. the more time that passes tells us that perhaps it's a little bit more complicated. >> yeah. they claimed a link to the -- >> minnesota. >> -- minnesota attack. they stopped that. deafening silence. at this point pretty unlikely that there was any isis link, any sort of communication back and forth. >> gentlemen, thanks so much for sharing all of your reporting with us. >>> all right. president obama is set to ma

he went to hot beds of taliban taliban and al-qaeda. and how we can get much better when picking up the signs of radical. indockations. -- ind is la nm . (announcer vo) that's right, keep rockin'. siriusxm's free listening event might be over, but now you can turn us back on with packages starting at $5.99 a month, plus fees. just call 855-874-7743 to keep hearing all the things that make you love taking the long way home. ♪ so call 855-874-7743 or visit siriusxm.com/getsxm to turn us back on. and up. but with your determination, and a domain, website and personal support from godaddy, you'll join millions who have gone from idea to success. start your success with a $2.99 dot com domain for the first year at godaddy dot com. ♪ ♪ don't just eat. mangia! bertolli >> there is brand news polls at this hour. and how close the race is beco mammoth university survey. and donald trump trailing by five points at 41 percent. and it shrinks from a month ago. and johnson has six percent and jill stein one percent. and breaking news out of californ

commander got expanded authorities this year to fight both isis and the taliban directly.again, u.s. forces aree fighting here, supported by american planes. but the afghans remain on thee front line. they have a new air force, but it will take years before its at full strength and capacity, and afghan ground forces continue to take punishing casualties. last year more than 5,500 died and 14,000 were wounded. casualties this year are up an estimated 20%. the price of defending a country they got back from the talibanom 15 years ago. for the pbs newshour, i'm jennifer glasse in kabul. >> woodruff: stay with us. coming up on the newshour: 15 what 9/11 memorials mean to victims' families in their own words. but first, the analysis of shields and brooks. that's syndicated columnist marn shields and "new york times" columnist david brooks. welcome to you both. it's good to see you again. let's talk about the presidential campaign. david, we saw the two candidates together at the same place this week but not at the same time at this televised forum that nbc sponsored. what did y

and the taliban said that that would not go unanswered.'ll be looking, as we have heard, at these international connections, the possibility that he got training overseas. and the fact that hmtd was used in the device takes it up a few notches in terms of sophistication on what we saw in the boston bombings just a few years ago. this was a more sophisticated, potentially more deadly device according to the information we're getting in, wolf. very, very disturbing details. >> very disturbing indeed. phil mudd. the fact that he visited afghanistan, that perhaps is not going to raise a lot of red flags. he was born there. his family was from afghanistan. but the fact that he went to pakistan, spent almost a year in pakistan, including in quetta, this sort of hot-bed of taliban activity. spent almost a year there. when he came back and his passport showed he had been gone for a long time, should it have raised flags? >> i don't think so. from an investigative perspective often we start the case and say shouldn't we have seen something, as you

we ask all of you, what were the previous leaders of the taliban and al qaeda residing. and where were they killed. and this very moment, where are the leaders of the taliban and haqani network cloectlocated? from where and how are terrorists being trained, equipped and financed during a full-scale war? we have repeatedly asked our neighboring country pakistan to destroy the known terrorist safe havens, but we, unfortunately, have yet to witness any change in the situation. afghanistan has always desired peaceful relations with all countries of the region. however, the government of national unity reserves the right to do whatever is necessary for the defense and protection of our people. we have also kept open the doors of peace and negotiations for those taliban elements and other groups who are willing to give up violence, return to peaceful life and adhere to our constitution. in this connection, a peace agreement is about to be signed between our government and the islamic party that will be an important step for progress in our peace process. we believe that the qu

by -- taliban. by that i think we awed to think about carrying out operations in other parts of pakistan in the few tumplete we do not need to have the tempo of operations that we had against al qaeda in pack stafpblet we're not going to destroy the afghan taliban through drone operations, nor should we try to, but we should try to disrupt and seriously dismantle the sanctuaries and safe haven. in essence we ought to take the safety out of the safe haven. i think that's one recommendation i would make to the next president. the second would also be an offensive operation. mullah monsour's passport was conif i stated. it was provided to him by the pakistani arm, a false name. inside it showed he had made 18 trips from karachi to dubai over the course of the last five years and several other trips to bahrain and probably to other gulf states. what was the purpose of 18 trips to dubai? afghan tal bye ban told us. fundraising. -- taliban told us. fundraising. . so fundraising is in drug smuggling. the b

you reached out the the taliban and the taliban says "we don't know who this person is." ivan watson, thank you far in kabul. david yanberry is joining me. he's a retired police officer who lived next door to the suspect and his family for several years in new jersey. thank you so much david for joining me. . you're welcome. >> when's the last time you saw him. >> about 2011. >> what was he like, behaviorally? >> very quiet boy. it's a shock he did this. i can't imagine what happened. >> when you would have run ins with him, have conversations with him, would he engage you? was he more reclusive? give me more detail. >> we just talked about his family a little bit, his brothers. he once asked about going into law enforcement. he wanted to go to college. he wasn't really interested in his father's business, he wanted another career. very pleasant boy. i can't believe it. >> i was just going to say he was studying criminal justice so that would make sense if he wanted to go into law enforcement though it doesn't make sense if he did what he's accused of doing. also, david,

now, it's important to note that the taliban, the group that's been fighting the u.s. here in afghanistan for some 15 years, we've spoken with a taliban spokesman who's denied any links whatsoever to rahami or to the bombings on saturday in new jersey and in new york. and we do know from its past record that the taliban is often very quick to claim responsibility for deadly attacks carried out here in kabul, and in other parts of afghanistan. the areas where rahami traveled, yes, he went to quetta, a pakistani border town that is known to be a de facto headquarters for the leadership of the afghan taliban across the border in pakistan, but it's also home to many, many afghans going back to 1980s and the soviet occupation of afghanistan. it's important to note, also, wolf, that while the taliban may be denying links to rahami, there are many other militant jihadi groups that are active both on the afghan and pakistani sides of the border including al qaeda, including more recently isis. we have not heard from those organizations yet. we've reached out to the afghan and

the united states, the leader of the taliban in may, the taliban saying that wouldn't go unanswered.his is somebody that has traveled in these areas. no known connection at this point to any overseas terrorist group. this reminds me a lot of the case of faisal shahzad, times square attempted bomber in may 2010 who tried to blow up his car a few blocks from here on that date. somebody who wasn't on the radar screen of law enforcement agencies and also had that extensive travel pattern in pakistan. he was directed to launch his attack by the pakistani taliban. so it's possible that there is some kind of overseas terrorism connection, because of that trouble pattern, if there is one, we're looking more at taliban groups, al qaeda, probably than isis, because they have a much less great presence over there. >> a lot still to learn. paul cruickshank, thank you. philip mudd as well. peter bergen. >>> coming up, i'm going to speak to a man a lot of people are calling a hero, the businessowner who called police. he saw the suspect sleeping in the doorway of his bar. recognized him from watch

afghan border with pakistan, a remote taliban-held region nicknamed the valley of dealt by the bullet battered battalions stationed there. 42 american servicemen lost their lives in that valley. hundreds more wounded. >> where's it coming from? >> i don't know. dude, behind me. >> reporter: in the show, it looks like you guys are sitting ducks, incoming fire all the time. was it actually that bad? >> yeah. we were at the bottom of a valley. the taliban could just creep right over the peak of a mo and rpgs on us and disappear into the mountains like it was nothing. >> reporter: were people getting hit by shrapnel while eating lunch, taking showers? >> yeah, all the time. >> reporter: six years later, kyle boucher is one of the stars of "taking fire" along with his close friend and fellow soldier, j.j. mccool. j.j. was the first to rig his helmet with cameras. for the series the department of defense had the final signoff on what made the cut. >> this was filmed by us. we didn't have reporters out there, journalists. >> reporter: their pov footage tells the raw story of a year on the fr

that, of course, where you would find the taliban.ould find al qaeda elements right now. it is a reminder that it is not just isis at play here. >> that is right. we focused too much on isis because they fit the most significant and consistent spate of terror attacks around the world and they have the so-called caliphate and inspiring jihadis across the globe. this was a subsidiary of al qaeda until 2013 and 2014. right now, there is a global competition of the two brands. al qaeda is trying to match isis. hit for hit. terror attack for terror attack. in fact, in syria, the problem once isis is destroyed or pushed out, is the rise of they now claim to be a former al qaeda franchise, but no one believes that. are they plans international terror operations? you know the group when we went to war in syria. they were one of the initial targets. if this guy was in afghanistan or pakistan, it is more al qaeda related more than isis inspired. >> if he was radicalized. >> people don't travel to quetta, pakistan to take a tourist view or for t

or was he building relationships with the taliban? and learning how to do this and how to eventually be radicalized. going to the broader question of, what is just him that the taliban or al qaeda or whoever may have trained him send him back to act alone or repeated multiple times into what we have as basically a terrorist cell which these two men may or may not be part of. that's up to the fbi to determine, but if there's a broader cell that is something we need to know because we need to wrap up the rest of the cell and find out where other cells are, too. >> just got, a new image, picture. mike mccall, chairman of the house homeland security put it up pap bloody journal found at the scene of one of these bombings in which this individual wrote out ahmad khan rahami, the alleged terrorist, who's now under arrest, wrote out all sorts of allegiances, if you will, praise for anwar awlaki, for example. the al qaeda leader killed in a u.s. drone strike. american born, about four, five, six years ago. also wrote about the boston marathon

he was actually directed and trained by the pakistani taliban. they taught him how to build those explosives. he wasn't on the radar screen either of u.s. law enforcement agencies when he came back here to the united states. and just like this bomber acted alone in actually going operational with this plot, a lot of similarities with this one. but they're still trying to figure out all this international travel. the bombs, the pressure cookers, we're talking about a bomb mixture with aluminum powder, ammonium nitrate. and it's something that is pretty tricky to make unless up got some overseas training. we've seen a few exceptions to that in islamic terrorists cases on both sides of the atlantic but not many exceptions and that could be a pointer to some kind of training overseas. you need to be taught generally how to make these things, to tinker with them, to experiment, to make sure you've got it right. >> so this suspect, this rahami, bob, he had family in afghanistan, so was there any reason for authorities here to suspect why he visited tha

they set up this patrol base and they got attacked every morning by the taliban. t morning attacks, machine gun fires, rpgs and stuff like that. so they called -- they used us -- our ruled of engagement were different. we didn't have to get shot at to shoot back, and if we did get shot we could shoot back. they used us, me and any sniper team. signed up with to marine corps, element 25 or something. we and my spotter and two of the marine snipers, waited all night, nothing was happening and it's the most boring thing you can experience. everyone glory identifies the whole sniper thing of sitting out in middle of nowhere and it's real cool. no, probably went through a pack of cigarettes in 30 minutes trying to stay away, and i counted so many sheep. a really boring time. sun starts to rise and i could see movement nevin and the marine corps were coming through to clear out the village. see this guy pop around a corner, about 35 meters from this hum vive that was coming through. was half a mile away, and dropped that guy. this big firefight happened. so hot that day

was he perhaps trained by the taliban there.ormer high school sweetheart learning he was a dead beat father, didn't like america and didn't like gays either. learning more about his family and their views about america. check out his brother's facebook post. here's a picture from the facebook page, i bring the man who desired death azar dentally as you desire life from khalid bin walid. they never connected them. >> we reported a domestic incident some time ago. that was the allegations were recanted. i don't have any other information. >> lots of focus on this place first american fried chicken. make of that name what you will. it is owned by rahami's father. he apparently worked there and lived above there. they raided that place and had bomb dogs. so many unanswered questions. even though the fbic says they are not looking for any one else, big questions here, did he have any help planting these devices, did he have any help making these devices? what inspired him online? was he communicating with terrorist groups about these

we ask all of you, what were the previous leaders of the taliban and al qaeda residing. and where were they killed. and this very moment, where are the leaders of the taliban and haqani network cloelocated? from where and how are terrorists being trained, equipped and financed during a full-scale war? we have repeatedly asked our neighboring country pakistan to destroy the known terrorist safe havens, but we, unfortunately, have yet to witness any change in the situation. afghanistan has always desired peaceful relations with all countries of the region. however, the government of national unity reserves the right to do whatever is necessary for the defense and protection of our people. we have also kept open the doors of peace and negotiations for those taliban elements and other groups who are willing to give up violence, return to peaceful life and adhere to our constitution. in this connection, a peace agreement is about to be signed between our government and the islamic party that will be an important step for progress in our peace process. we believe that the quad

all controlled by the taliban. by other radicals. so that's inherently suspicious and if i were immigrations, i would have done more than a secondary check. i would have asked him precisely what he was doing there and ask him for his phone and the rest of it because if you can't answer those questions, something's terribly wrong. i think this guy slipped through the net here. >> tim, would you agree? we also know at one point he was over there for almost a full year. it wasn't like it was a quick in and out visit. a full year in a place, of course, where there are terrorists and terror training camps. >> that's exactly what's there, erin. i agree with bob. there's literally no other reason to go there. even if you have family there, it's much safer to have your family meet you in a third location that would not be considered a terrorist stronghold, but instead, he spends a year in these areas that are nothing but terrorist strongholds. whether it's the taliban or now isis in that area. so, you know, obviously our screening processes

the taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack, and the defense ministry killed 35 people, and those attacks also claimed by the taliban. >>> with the labor day behind us, the presidential election campaign, traditionally considered the final stretch, but not many boaters -- voters remain undecided. but anything is possible.>> reporter: good morning. this is the final stretch, and election day is just about two months away. a lot can happen in these final weeks, and most of the national polls show this is within the margin of error.>> reporter: hillary clinton, post-labor day push means traveling on a new airplane, and at one point parked almost alongside donald trump's arrived in ohio.>> i am so happy to have all of you here. >> reporter: after nine months, clinton ventures to the back of the plane and finally takes questions, some focusing on the email controversy. >> i take legislation seriously. the fact that i cannot remember certain meetings on whether they have occurred does not in any way effect the commitment that i have and still have to the treatment of classified ma

i can hear the taliban's footsteps. and right before i did that i look over my left shoulder andnd i see a good friend of mine he comes running in he's been on the gunfire for about a thousand meters or so. he is coming in to save us he slides in with his team inserts laying down massive firepower. that allowed us to back him. he popped smoke.he r it really did work in our favor. i did a few more targets a few feet away to 200 yards away. five minutes after that i'm leading the element out and then this is a ravine off to our rear and the taliban had underground entrenchment systems they popped out of the ground 25 feet away from us and started to ambushed us. the first thing i did i just dove headfirst into this chest high ravine. we started to fight them back. i kept hearing this loud pop noise at that my eardrum had been busted or something that was just bullets snapping over my shoulder. i edge off to the right side. immediately following that i heard my best friend screaming for his mom.screfo i look over it sprayi

they said at this patrol base and to attack every morning by the taliban. mortar attacks, machine gun fire. they called, they used us, our engagement was different. of engagement a little bit different. we didn't have to get shot at all the time we would always shoot back. they utilized us. with the marine corps. we set out all night. me and my spotter and two of the marine snipers nothing was happening. it was the most boring thing we will ever experience. of sitting out in the middle of nowhere i can sum a sheep it was a really boring time. the sun started to rise and i could see movement out in the village and the marine corps they were coming to clear out the village. about 35 meters from the humvee that was coming through. i was half a mile away and dropped that guy. the firefight happened i'm sweating. the bottom of my bids start to melt. they found our position. i met up with my 75th ranger regiment guys. we planned this mission. we have to finish doing our thing. we went out and started off at 3:00 or 4:00 in the morning. we walked for a few hours t

learned that in the last few years, he went to afghanistan, the country where he was born, and the taliban stronghold of pakistan. a longtime official said he married his wife in 2011 while in pakistan and returned to pakistan for an entire year from 2013 to 2014. the official says after that, or during his time, he filled out paperwork for his wife to come to the u.s. it was approved. he later contacted a new jersey congressman in 2014, saying he was having issues getting his wife to the u.s. she apparently had become pregnant and couldn't get her immigration visa until after she had the baby. we don't know, anderson, if she ever came to the u.s., but she's certainly someone officials want to speak with. >> was he on law enforcement's radar? so we're told at this point that he wasn't on law enforcement's radar, as a suspected terrorist. in fact, both times, when he returned from pakistan and afghanistan, in 2011 and 2014, he underwent secondary screening, because of where he had traveled to, and both times, he told immigration officials that he was just visiting family. and apparently gav

the headquarters for the afghan taliban in 2011. and then travelled there again in 2013. he stayed for almost a year. do you see this, as of right now, as a possible intelligence failure? >> possible? yeah. i have a couple of questions, all right. you stab somebody and you're not in jail? he stabbed somebody and it sounds like beat up his mother as well, and he's not in jail? how long did he spend in jail? the other question i have -- and this is a more troubling question -- almost every major attack we have had in our country has been previously investigated by the fbi, and the fbi closes the investigation. so i have been going around and around with the fbi on this because, when the orlando killer was investigated, they closed the investigation prematurely saying we did not deem him to be a credible threat. i even asked them, in retrospect did you make a mistake? and they were like, oh, no, given the facts we made the connect decision. no they didn't. they made a bad decision. and they made a bad decision here. the boston bombers they interviewed them in advance. 9/11,

in 2011, rahami spent several weeks in a taliban stronghold. it was there he married a pakistani woman. the u.s. approving her entry into the country in 2012, but it's unclear whether she ever made it to the u.s. >> he was a very friendly guy. you'd never suspect this. terrified. he's hiding in plain sight. you would have never known. >> reporter: rahami underwent secondary screenings returning to the u.s. because of the area he visited but was never flagged. the bombing suspect had a run-in with the law before. rahami was arrested in 2014 on weapons and aggravated assault charges, though a grand jury declined to indict him. his countfamily came to the cou seeking asylum decades ago. now they own a fried chicken restaurant in elizabeth, new jersey, and they live above it. >> this place has been in operation many years. >> reporter: the rahami family claimed to be the victims of discrimination and harassment in this 2011 lawsuit against the city of elizabeth and its police department. the suit alleging that a neighbor told them muslims don't bel

the taliban could just creep right over the peak of a mountain, drop some small arms fire and rpgs on us, disappear into the mountains like it was nothing. >> reporter: were people getting hit by fire or shrapnel while taking showers, eating lunch? screaming overhead. it's awesome. >> reporter: six years later kyle boucher is one of the stars of "taking fire." along with his close friend and fellow soldier j.j. mccool. >> holy cow. these rounds are hitting inches away from me. >> reporter: mccool was the first in the platoon to rig his helmet with cameras. suffice it to say the trend took off. for this series the department of defense did have the f sign-off on what footage made the cut. >> this was filmed by us. we didn't have reporters out there, journalists. >> reporter: their pov footage tells the raw story of a year on the front lines. the panic -- >> we've only got two rockets left. >> reporter: the adrenaline. >> whoa. they're still shooting. >> reporter: and some pretty funny pranks. >> candy has always been you didn't really have to try and hide something from anyone else bec

they are taliban-esque. conservatives have been december invited from the college speaks events due toking -- due to, quote, security concerns. the protesters are allowed to do whatever they want and because the colleges will do whatever they have to do when the students disrupt events. namely, arrest them and make them spend the i'm in the clank. the colleges throw their hands up and say there is nothing we can do the they say they are making a choice. colleges seem to be making a calculation about what will result in less bad pr. accusations of sensorship or the photos of officers removing an unruly protestor who just pulled a fire alarm or attempted to assault a controversial speaker. for now this is the only kind of speaker that's allowed on campus. >> she was say nothing more hate speech on campus. what do you think here, matt? >> we have seen in the last five years there was a spike -- political correctness never died on campus. we just stopped paying attention to it. >> we thought it died? >> after --

the taliban has claimed responsibility. on monday, a bomb on the roadside near the ministry building in the capital kabul exploded. police officers and civilians gathered at the site to see what had happened, and then a second blast was set off by a suicide bomber. government officials say those killed include police and military officers. the majority of u.s.-led international forces withdrew from afghanistan at the end of 2014. since that time, the taliban has been steadily increasing attacks opposing a major threat to afghan government forces. >>> multiple explosions in syria have killed over 50 people. the islamic state militant group has claimed the attacks through the news agency. on monday morning the city on the mediterranean coast was hit by a car bombing. around the same time blasts in far-flung parts of the country including the outskirts of the capital damascus and a city near the borders with turkey and iraq. a britain-based human rights watchdog says there were six separate attacks killing a total of at least