the situation in iraq has dramatically improved over the last few years. iraq is still very much post- conflict developing country facing considerable development challenges. the reduction and violence has created breathing room for the iraqis to begin building their democracy, restoring public institutions, and creating conditions for growth. continued support is required to further nurture the iraq a fledgling democracy and prove its ability to manage its own. usaid as supporting -- has supported efforts since 2003. the primary objective then was to restore essential infrastructure. in 2007, we shifted much of our resources to a stabilization program to complement the military and civilian search which began at that time. this program focused on community stabilization and in the district of response funds. usaid support is aligned with the agreement which outlines the political, economic, and security cooperation between the united states and iraq. the agreement focuses on sustainable development programs in several sectors and is characterized by increa

>> kurdistan region is the northern part of iraq. it is basically made up of three provinces similar to your states in the north -- but the area is administered by the kurdistan regional government. it encompasses parts of other governments as well. we have about 5 million kurds in iraq. >> how many people in iraq altogether? >> between 26 million to 28 million. we have not had a sense is in many years and we hope to have one soon which will give us more concrete numbers. >> so you are a round of 5 million. >> that would be a conservative estimate. >> we hear about that shia and we hear about the cities. do they have their own culture and language? >> we have our own ethnic identity. it is kurdish. we are kurds, but within that broad umbrella of an ethnic identity, there are various different religions. sunni muslim kurds and shiite muslim kurds. yet some who are christian and some who are jewish, but most of them are out of the country right now. we also have a large indigenous population which belongs to an ancient religion with tie

for over two decades, the sh >>> issue one, iraq is back! over 100 people wounded, over 20 killed this week in a deadly attack in a crowded market in central baghdad. bodies were strewn everywhere. the war in iraq just ended its eighth year, now the second longest war in u.s. history, second only to the afghanistan conflict. here's is a iraq war human toll, u.s. military. killed, 4421 american soldiers. injured, amputeed, wounded, mentally ill -- 31,922 americans. the u.s. military is still there, the number of u.s. troops in iraq now just short of 50,000. roughly the population of biloxi, mississippi. the u.s. military in iraq had been scheduled to leave iraq by december 31, 2011. secretary gates now says he wants them to stay. and he is trying to figure outs how he can get the iraqi government to "ask" the u.s. to stay in iraq. >> the iraq and we are talking about some kind of residual american presence in terms of helping them with beyond december of 2011. >> some believe that we are sinking our roots in iraq and all the signs point that w

the situation in iraq has dramatically improved over the past few years, but iraq is still very much opposed conflict developing country, facing considerable challenges. the reduction in violence has created the breathing room for iraqis to work on their democracy, restoring institutions and credit institutions for private sector led growth, but continued support is required to further nurture their fledgling democracy. there has been support since 2003. the primary objective then was to restore the central infrastructure for services. beginning in 2007, much of the resources were shifted to a stabilization program to complement the military and civilian search that began at that time. -- surge that began at that time. therefore reconstruction teams. it is currently aligned with the strategic framework agreement, which outlines the political, economic, and security operation in the united states and iraq. the agreement focuses on sustainable development in several seconds -- sectors and is characterized by host country ownership with the cost of these programs. mr. chairman, the key c

the domestic political costs in iraq of asking the u.s. to stay has left iraq's leadership pointing fingers and passing bucks and i saw that first hand when i was in iraq just last week. this cannot be where it ends. responsible leadership whether in the u.s. or in iraq cannot sacrifice hard earned strategic achievements for short-term political gains. we, iraqis, and americans, must not allow that to happen. this hearing is meant to been an opportunity for members to ask the administration what it seeks to achieve in iraq and how it plans to achieve it. however our goal should not be judged up or down the plans before us, it should be to fine that policy which will get us to where we need to go. the united states has spent nearly a decade securing and helping to build a foundation of a prosperous and democratic iraq, a premature withdraw risks squandering those gains. it would be a failure of colossal proportions to seize defeat from the jaws of victory and yet that is precisely what i fear may come to pass. and i will now yield to the gen

it is not quite like the sons of iraq. if you remember, that program was a very group. -- a varied group. some more insurgents and some or not. the aft and local police initiative focuses on individuals who want to stand up for their community and who are not part of the insurgency. i think their numbers are 6000 and i have been advised that we expect to be able to continue to expand that possibly to 10,000 by september. and the lessons learned category, the sons of iraq were never tied to the iraqi government. until quite late in the process. the prime minister made some undertakings to incorporate some into the security services and provide employment for others for the afghan local police have started out linked to the ministry of the interior. you've got all three of those in play. all three afghan-supported afghan-lead, which i believe is important, clearly we would like to see the real integration process move more quickly. if confirmed, that is something that will have my focus because it can be a, as it was in iraq,

the domestic political cost in iraq of asking the u.s. tuesday has left iraq's leadership pointing fingers and passing bucks, and i saw that firsthand when i was in iraq just last week. this cannot be where it ends. responsible leadership, whether in the u.s. or in iraq, cannot sacrifice hard earned strategic achievements for short-term political gains. we, iraqis, and americans must not allow that to happen. this hearing is meant to be an opportunity for members to ask the administration what it seeks to achieve in iraq and how it plans to achieve it. however, our goal today should not simply be to judge up or down the plans presented before us. it should be defined that policy which will get us to where we need to go. the united states has spent nearly a decade securing and helping to build a foundation of a prosperous and democratic iraq, a premature withdrawal risks squandering those games. it would be a failure of colossal proportions to seize defeat from the jaws of victory, and yet that is precisely what i fear may come to pass. and

the u.s. has built dozens of military bases in iraq in two thousand and eight the u.s. and iraqi governments signed an agreement that states that all foreign troops should leave the country by two thousand and eleven. the agreement also says that the u.s. will not seek permanent basis or a permanent military presence in iraq. obama secretary of defense robert gates though has stated that even after two thousand and eleven he expects to see several tens of thousands of american troops as part of a residual force in iraq. hence many fear that iraq may be used as a launching pad for future wars in the region. often in fact bases created in response to an imminent threat have ended up becoming permanent jeggo garcia for example born in the context of the cold war is still operational and has played a crucial role in the iraq war for the fade to a myth. i study physiatrist idea that you know the island is not safe for that people are to go if they are to return they are but the thing is americans are living they are paying to they have to fill up they i and i i and. are you

management over the increased number of contractors. force-iraq our primary contracting team is located in washington drawing on the headquarters expertise and in iraq there are multiple levels of technical oversight depending upon the contract and complexity. since we charge the bureau a 1% fee for all contracting services, we have the resources to surge and a tired 102 additional staff. the private security contractors to protect our diplomats and high risk environment perform any central a legitimate function that enables american diplomacy to be conducted where it is most needed. as under secretary, i worked to enhance the state oversight. diplomatic security is further developed its plan for oversight and operational control of the personnel. for the world wide protective services contract has increased staffing to more than 200 direct hire personnel to ensure contract compliance of approximately 5,000 contractors. the key elements of the plans are outlined in my written testimony, so why only note briefly that on lessons learned we believe i

the country talking point link iraq to iran i believe there is now the number one clinton maker in iraq that's bad enough but a lot of these pentagon pundits were making big money from defense contracts based on the t.v. on the radio. kerry analysts have ties to military contractors people who could possibly be making money or most would consider that a potential conflict of interest maybe not even potential at the same time reporters who did ask hard questions were punished by the white house luckily their managers stood by them reporter jonathan landay covered the speech dick cheney gave in august two thousand and two to the veterans of foreign wars many of us are convinced that saddam hussein will acquire nuclear weapons. that was based on absolutely nothing it was as if it was pulled out of thin air there was absolutely no intelligence no evidence whatsoever for that assertion so landi and more and began writing about forty intelligence about how there was no link between iraq and al qaeda about failed policies that series of stories one station of people in the pentagon trying to s

the u.s. mission in iraq. it is our responsibility to seek answers to many of the fundamental questions that have been raised. according to figures, the total number of diplomatic security agents deployed worldwide is about 720. does ds have adequate resources and numbers to manage the contractors worldwide? as u.s. forces drawdown in iraq, does the transition plan a sam that the iraqi government and its military forces are ready to support and protect the u.s. civilian mission? given that december 31, 2011, it is a hard deadline for withdrawal of all u.s. forces, it -- is it adequately prepared? are the training standards sufficient to meet the risks and dangers in iraq? is the content of training before agents and other foreign service personnel? s the iraq transition plan's elements correctly balanced? is this planet realistic and sustainable? if so, are the preparations in place? the american foreign service has a long and honorable tradition of serving wherever and whenever it is called upon to do so, what

ambassador at the height of the iraq war, it's all too familiar. >> it's illusions of how to get

the administration. have a conflict. in iraq were to time timing pictures saddam hussein put his biological weapons laboratories in trucks little turned out to be true awesomely instead of providing clarity on the single most rainham issue of our generation the press only created confusion it is smoking gun is an interesting phrase six years after the attacks on new york's. early in the pentagon the newsweek poll showed forty one percent of americans thought saddam hussein was directly terrorist and i don't think we are assured that i know i didn't say that there was a direct connection between september eleventh and saddam hussein nobody's ever suggested that the attacks of september the eleventh were ordered by iraq no wonder the news media has lost the public trust they want to make policy choices based on truth and what i heard is that people didn't really quite feel that the mainstream media in the media as we most of us experience. was truth telling group fairness and accuracy in reporting did a. study of two weeks around

the u.s. is supposed to leave iraq by the end of the year but it seems that that line is not final. he gives all kinds of contradictory statements for instance not long ago he said that anyone who would buy for us land army in the middle of a major conflict from hell is headed there where the same time. he's done everything i can alone over several times to baghdad and leave nouri al maliki government. but please please put us soldiers day after the deadline at the end of this year the pentagon says big spec the wreckage government will ask them to stay beyond their scheduled december thirty first departure date but with the announced troop withdrawals from iraq and afghanistan the u.s. started actively waging a different kind of warfare what they call and intelligent war one that's waged with drones without sacrificing the lives of their soldiers in countries like pakistan yemen and libya and many say that's the major shift that happened in military operations under robert gates a shift that some say can only lead to more destruction of. the united states has increased the intensit

>> no, no. >> rose: when iraq invaded... >> no, late 1990s well after the first iraq w. the democratic congress, house, and senate pass red jet stream change legislation. clinton signed it, agreeing with it, and it was the policy of the united states that saddam hussein was a regime that should be changed. that was the policy of the united states. >> rose: that was one thing. it's another policy to overthrow. sdup >>nd you say why and i would say for exactly same reasons t congress passed the resolution authorizing the president to engage in the war with iraq. the that the u.n. passed 17 resolutions. there was an absolute conviction on the part of our intelligence people, on the part of the president, on the part of the congress, the leading people in the congress who saw exactly same intelligence that in fact saddam hussein's contentions th he had nuclear weapons... >> rose: if you had know he wouldn't have had nuear weapons would you have been opposed to an invasion of iraq? >> you know, you can't go back and say that because we di't have that information. >> rose: but

the name of peace. after. them or might their army throughout iraq at the. moment we all stay united in the struggle and i'm confident we can prevail. you are not i want another or if we don't speak out against the first of our lands we will never be able to change the world. and i'm of course if you're here. and we have to keep our camera. that's the only way we can prevail. and i have my biggest fan. and i did our path as one of her existence not terrorism. we're here to provide a safe and secure environment for everybody regardless of what if they put they are in to make sure that people have the freedom of movement the kids can go to school that people go to work and people can sleep safely and we would like to see kosovo to bella to continue to grow and there will be a point where a force no longer needed and we look forward to that day. the questions and nothing else to get everything you needed. to. hungry for the full story we've got it first hand the biggest issues get a human voice face to face with the news makers. in india auntie's available in t

i had one year in the army serving active duty when i returned from iraq i was extremely angry all the time my coworkers could not stand that's how angry i was and i did not know why. it took me probably two years of going through the never ending cycle of going through depression and. anger anxiety. isolation totally cutting off friends and family and camping out on my earth to remind out a time and just not moving not leaving my house not wanting to be around people. it was to me it was a bigger worry when i came home and like a couple years before i really something's not right here you know because i i was i was i was that it you know i was supposed to be strong and nothing could possibly be wrong with me but there was and there is and i still struggle with it today. you know there's i go to therapy i go this group therapy i take medication i. you know am an involved in all these organizations and yet i'm still fighting a war within myself now if i. go ahead and or the pattern welders that are still active duty i'm buying i'm fighting for them from war right and and to not read the

one of the reasons the reason for that primary one for the invasion of iraq is to ensure us control over the major energy resources of the world the embassy that's being built inside baghdad is a city like no other embassy in history or in the world they're not building the embassy. in syria rag in the huge bases around with an intention to leave their building with an intention to maintain control. since two thousand and three the us has built dozens of military bases in iraq in two thousand and eight the us and iraqi governments signed an agreement that states that all foreign troops should leave the country by two thousand and eleven. the agreement also says that the u.s. will not seek permanent basis or a permanent military presence in iraq. obama secretary of defense robert gates though has stated that even after two thousand and eleven he expects to see several tens of thousands of american troops as part of a residual force in iraq hence many fear that iraq may be used as a launching pad for future wars in the region. offered in fact basis created in response to an imminent threat

the road to war in iraq took some strange turn stranger than a detour to the west african country of these your reports which do hold government accountable like this can cost a lot of money from a team of people that looks into research and travel and production just to air one eight minute story to build a nuclear bomb explode they've largely been replaced with coverage like this that costs very little anna nicole smith's last interview that means profits for shareholders and divert attention. you know whatever happened to investigative reporting and i think part of what happened is corporatization of the media it's the bottom line so the first thing you do is you fire a quarter of the newsroom or half the newsroom so you don't even have the reporters that go out there and to get the story it's you know how can you get a quick and i can tell you it's a lot cheaper to have two people arguing on t.v. from you know you know polarized point of view than actual reporters out there digging up the story and saying ok america here's the facts you decide maybe. this is the. media consolidat

and we do have solid evidence of the presence in iraq. will create a member there was a pattern the relationship the went back at least a decade iraq and al qaeda was a lot of obvious deception at a time when it was crucial for our country which was right after nine eleven they felt that they had be to be super patriots and support the government no matter what they gave up their one weapon which with skepticism out of the news shows the key to the administration will. be to have a conflict. of an iraqi order to time and time again years saddam hussein quote is biologically weapons laboratories in trucks little turned out to be true constantly instead of providing clarity on the single most fine issue of our generation the press only created confusion it is smoking gun is an interesting phrase six years after the attacks on new york's. early in the head of a newsweek poll showed forty one percent of americans saddam hussein was directly terrorist and i don't think we are or should least i know i didn't say there was a direct connection bet

should not be involved in any of the work for its and we should withdraw our troops and our money from iraq afghanistan and libya now one time this was an idea that was. radical on the fringe even and it's one that must be registering more and more turns out that ron paul won the straw poll there and while it was barely a contest six hundred twelve to the next in line candidate jon huntsman score three hundred eighty two perceived front runner mitt romney just seventy four votes ron paul in an interview this morning on the today show is that as he has an idea about why he's getting so much the port especially from the young people it's analysts under cleared unwinnable wars dumped on the young people and also the financial crisis that we have related to the foreign policy it we're dumping that then on the young people and that's why the next generation the current young people between the age of fifteen and twenty five or thirty they're with me because they're getting dumped on and that to me is the big issue so i brought jake back into this discussion and i also asked him why the general c

the streets. and now. u.s. troops are in iraq and afghanistan and libya and syria are not enough and what are they going to be enough united states of america this week let's talk about that we think about. the americans as being. the world police. good or bad. i don't know but troops there if there is something you want to grow your resources. security or resource. for example with mcdonald's we're number one in the world. the world we can still do it even the. best. we can do it why is that so important to be number one. has to be one of the one. yes i don't think there's any altieri motive. no oil interest no economic interest. what do we want to accomplish. just. to waste the money and the lives of young people you know that you think is maybe another reason that we're doing it of course they want reason all you or. i don't think it's logical i. think there's a big disconnect between what governments are thinking and what they think we want and what we're letting them know that we once. had maybe our priorities aren't the sam

we saw this in the run-up to the iraq war. the american people by and large trusted the bush administration. not to say there aren't some americans to distrusted, but most trusted him. he was there to tell a handful of lies that helped get us into the war. >> host: john mearsheimer, we often hear about the special relationship between the u.s. and england. given the special status of the relationship, are there lies told between these two nations as well? bill clinton perricos. >> guest: i looked very carefully at the relationship. and then i know a great deal about the bush bellaire relationship because both of them were involved in dragging their countries into war against iraq in march of 2003. i think in both cases, but the case of tony blair and the case of george w. bush, there is evidence that they told a handful of wise to the public. there is no evidence that they told lies to each other. in paris, they worked and enhanced to drag the added states and britain into the war. >> host: did you read this before we. ♪ >> gue

that thought leads to our third main topic, the defense to stay transition in iraq and afghanistan. concerns about the plan, timeliness, resources and risk of those transitions have been in previous hearings and into special reports to congress. unfortunately, our concerns remain very much alive. and they are reinforced by the department of state inspector general's report released just last week. on october 1 of this year, state will take over responsibility for the u.s. presence in iraq as u.s. troops bring their drawback to essentially zero by december 31, 2011. we have noted that this transition requires that state take on our contract for hundreds of functions ranging from medical care and air transport, to construction and pest control, all of which expand its presence outside of baghdad. much of this work involves contracting, including contracting for thousands of new private security employees. the department's new ig report, however, tells us about, oh, several key decisions have not been made. some plans cannot be finalized, and progress is slipping in a number of areas, e

veterans against the war which was to bring the troops on from iraq i honored the policy to stay on message many of the lefties not here's one particularly offensive example. you want. and. this does not represent me this does not represent iraq veterans against the war and this does not represent a principled anti-war position. it seems that despite being co-opted discredited by infiltrators and then abandoned by supporters after obama took office we stood firm on the right side of history and i prevailed with public opinion but there are still tens of thousands of troops in iraq pissing your tax dollars into the sand and there's still troops with post-traumatic stress disorder being sent back for multiple tours so i support iraq veterans against the wars current effort operation recovery a campaign to stop the deployment of traumatized troops and while iraq veterans against the war will never be as relevant as it could have been they are still doing good work and i encourage veterans to check out i v w dot org if not i v w please make your voice heard as a veteran you coul

it's a town called darna and back when we were covering the surge in iraq and the al-qaeda in iraq and the suicide bombers that was in iraq there was a very intelligence find at the time where they found all the paperwork of all the bombers who were detonating themselves in iraq and they found that 19% of them -- they kept very good logs and details and home phone numbers and addresses of these suicide bombers. 19% of them came from one village, one town in libya. and they didn't know why. the u.s. military didn't know why. and my colleague kevin perano of "newsweek" went to darna two years ago, three years ago in 2008 and he documented a very anti americ anti-american atmosphere and he showed how al-qaeda was recruiting in this libyan town and there are a lot of libyan recruits in afghanistan fighting against american forces in afghanistan. so these are things that have to be watched because a chaotic libya -- if libya turns into a somali where it's basically a failed regime, that is a very dangerous situation in the current war against al-qaeda. >> before let you go, jennifer, just b