through the u.s.-iraq strategic framework agreement, we also have a platform for future cooperation and counter- terrorism in naval and air defense, and in joint exercises. we will work with the iraqis to pursue those efforts. let me briefly walk through obviously some of the major challenges that have already been quite out. that will confront iraq and mention why i believe iraq is at a stage when it is able to deal with the uncertainty. with our continuing long-term relationship, i think they can deal with these issues. i expect we will see extremists, including al qaeda in iraq and the iranian-backed militant groups that will continue to plan and continue to carry out periodic high-profile attacks. while these groups remain capable of conducting these types of attacks, they do not enjoy widespread support among iraqi population, and more importantly, the iraqis have developed some of the most capable counter-terrorism forces in the region. they have been active against iranian-backed militants in recent

iraq. they've been separated from their families for months and years of the time and many will bear the scars of this conflict for the rest of their lives. over 4400 u.s. personnel have been killed and nearly 32,000 wounded in iraq and the direct cost of operation iraqi freedom total over $800 billion. we owe an enhanced debt of gratitude to our military men and women and their families. the administration sought to reach an agreement with the iraqi government for military trainers to remain in iraq after december 31st. however, those negotiations reached in and passed on the issue of legal immunity for the troops. that is protection from prosecution and iraqi courts. once it became clear that the government of iraq was not prepared to grant service men and women the same legal protection that they have had under the 2008 security agreement, and the same legal protection that the u.s. military has under agreements with other countries in the region. president obama decided that all u.s. milita

from the u.s.-iraq strategic framework agreement, we also have a platform for future cooperation and counterterrorism and naval and air defense and in joint exercises and we will work with the iraqi to pursue those efforts. let me briefly walk through some of the major challenges that have already been pointed out that will confront iraq and mention why i believe iraq is at a stage when it is able to deal with them certainly with our continuing long-term relationship i think they can deal with these issues. first is the challenge of extremism. i expect that we will see extremists including al qaeda and iraq and the fact militant groups that will continue to plan and carry out high-profile attacks. while the kurds remain capable of conducting these type of tax, they do not enjoy widespread support among the iraqi population, and more importantly, they have developed some of the most capable counterterrorism forces in the region. they've been active against the i iranian-backed militant in recent months,

as required under the 2008 u.s. iraq security agreement agreed to buy a george to the bush and prime minister al-maliki. the film of our obligation under the 2008 agreement represents a bipartisan u.s. policies set by republican president carried through to completion through the democratic successor per u.s. forces is on track to meet the legal deadline for the withdrawal of the remaining u.s. military forces and the equipment. as of today there are around 30,000 u.s. military personnel in iraq, down from a peak of 160,000 during the surge in 2007. at the beginning of operation new dodd, the united states had 92 basis in iraq, after the closure we're down at "tales for little rascals." the defense to park their property has declined from 2 million pieces of equipment, as september 1 year-ago, around 600,000 pieces of equipment out. we'll arrive at this point* after a point* five years of conflict and a great sacrifice by our servicemen and women coming families, american people. many men and women in uniform have served

that the course of events in iraq that seemed to be underway was reversed and the situation ended uph more happily than or at least came to be a better situation than it appeared it was going to be and that those gains are what are at risk now if the pullout proves to be too soon. >> bill: absolutely. it's a balancing act. >> it is. but, remember this, a peaceful iraq allied basically with the united states in that part of the middle east is an important strategic asset. and the presence of american troops there would be a triage asset as well there is a lot at stake here and a lot to be lost despite the fact that you may feel, as others do, that the whole thing wasn't worth a candle. that doesn't mean it's a good idea to throw away what was gained. no if it's true that president obama could have gotten a deal, that the iraqis wouldn't try any u.s. soldiers that got out of line or trumped up charges against them. he should have stayed. we are never going to know that are we? we are never going to know it. >> history does not disclose its alternatives. that's always try. >> right. ver

the number of troop convictions for theft during u.s. military campaigns in iraq and afghanistan hits the record high as billions of dollars are reportedly wasted and stolen by those by the majority of it all out still walking free. american counterterrorism expert darkens diana ross tells us here at r.t. why he thinks the u.s. is actually losing the war on terror and why washington's policies in the fight against terrorism directed the interview it's now. america's war on terrorism going on for ten years now there seems to be no end in sight some experts think terrorists are actually winning that world i'm joined by color terrorism expert gardens in ross the man who wrote a book titled bin laden's legacy why we're still losing the war on terror why it's a great thing i mean your whole talking about it just give us some key points about why you think the u.s. is losing the war on terror i think the need to look at is the u.s. is capacity to stop terrorist attacks as well as its resilience in the face of an attack compared with the end user ability to strike the pr

the iraq channel, and it has a much larger viewing percentageship than the rest of the channel. it's a primary source of information in iraq whereas alhurra pan-arab is alternative. it plays a slightly different role, and i see it continuing. >> host: are you required to present the official government position on issues 234 iraq or across -- in iraq or across the middle east in alhurra? >> guest: no, there's no requirement. our purpose, our mission, is to describe journalistically the votes of the day. there's nothing saying we have to present american foreign policy, but that's a huge reason why we exist because people want to know what is the american position? they want it explained. they want to know how it came about. they want to know is it yiewn fied? they want all those answers they don't get from local media. it's not a requirement in that legislative sense, but that's why we exist -- to give the people the information that they want, and information in a way that they can rely on. >> guest: alhurra came under fire in the past for running hezbollah speeches and from pla

it is the primary source of information in iraq. it plays a slightly different role. >> are you required to present the official government position on issues in iraq and across the middle east? >> there is no requirement. our purpose, our mission is to describe, journalistically, the dance of the day -- the events of the day. that is why we exist. people want to know what is the american position. they want it explained. they want to know what it is unified. it is not a requirement in that legislative sense. but that is why we exist, to give people information that they want and information in an way they can rely on. >> alhurra has come under fire in the past for employing a top executives that did not know arabic or were not familiar with arabic media. alhurra has a difficult path. how do you find your talent and make sure they do not fall on either side of that tricky path? >> recruitment is a difficult issue. we do not pay the kind of salaries our competitors can pay out there. they probably know some of the channels that will b

at the lead up to the iraq war. very good that there could have been political spin to try to make it more saleable to the public but when one looks at the lead up the estimates given for how much it would cost were rather low and estimates you had officials talking about how the reconstruction of iraq could pay for itself that iraq could sell oil on the market they could have still rode reconstruction so it is i think that people just didn't. foresee what ended up happening in terms of this massive insurgency taking hold it's the law of unintended consequences that particularly when you have an enemy in a certain area you have to be wary that whatever action is needed taking in other theaters especially one that could have to protect attracting jihad which was noted in advance that could end up snowballing and end up backfire against you and that's what happened in iraq ok let's take media another campaign and really who care isn't because in any way contribute to graining the u.s. economically or is it just the war

the number of troops convictions who are staffed during u.s. military campaigns in iraq and afghanistan hits a record high as billions of dollars are reportedly wasted and stolen but those behind a majority of it are still walking free. so take a look what's happening in the world of sports and a farmer joins us now in the studio with the latest and there's been a satisfying win for one of the country's greatest fighters. has long reign supreme in martial arts mixed martial arts got a crucial wins over an american rival to moscow last night and he did it in front of prime minister putin as well to end a run of three consecutive defeats are we going to get paid with that so he's a bit of a legend i would go to details and i'm. hello there good to have you company in these other headlines the last emperor returns russia's mixed martial arts king theodore a good meal yang beats america montana in front of twenty thousand fans to dismiss talk of retirement. plus on the double whammy case bracy spartak single off the motif so you know we go from the russian premier league. i'

forces as they prepared to withdraw. >> this must be the busiest military truck stop in iraq. long convoys had southward out of the country. after nine years, the presence is coming to an end. the war has cost america over $700 billion, and as they pack up, some are asked the question, was this worth it? >> the cooperation really brought civilization back to a tolerable level. the difference, i am proud every day. >> that pride and optimism -- the cost has been far greater. conservative estimates exceed 100,000. people live with the daily fear of violence and the infrastructure is in tatters. >> we have no water, no reconstruction, no nothing. this is destroyed. >> there is a hope for democracy and freedom of speech. the protest swept the most of the iraq world. >> the attention of the world was focused elsewhere in the middle east and the protests on baghdad -- these were dispersed by force. this is now free of demonstrators, many of whom have given up. in the face of being arrested. >> this is torturing, the same way of the previous regime. and the country has not changed. >>

forces as they prepared to withdraw. >> this must be the busiest military truck stop in iraq. long convoys had southward out of the country. after nine years, the presence is coming to an end. the war has cost america over $700 billion, and as they pack up, some are asked the question, was this worth it? >> the cooperation really brought civilization back to a tolerable level. the difference, i am proud every day. >> that pride and optimism -- the cost has been far greater. conservative estimates exceed 100,000. people live with the daily fear of violence and the infrastructure is in tatters. >> we have no water, no reconstruction, no nothing. this is destroyed. >> there is a hope for democracy and freedom of speech. the protest swept the most of the iraq world. >> the attention of the world was focused elsewhere in the middle east and the protests on baghdad -- these were dispersed by force. this is now free of demonstrators, many of whom have given up. in the face of being arrested. >> this is torturing, the same way of the previous regime. and the country has not changed. >>

her she you know was supporting al qaeda giving them sanctuary the iraq war obviously. don't you agree with the word libya so so resilience is not something that becomes the end all and p.r. but i think it is it's an important part of what we do in the twenty first century because you're not going to there is no guarantee that terrorism can never struck again thank you. that is me. and move them to the creation of the food system the global food system is not created to be the leader of the world it's created to maximize the profits. you're not treating the actual physical grain. when you're trading promises for graeme to be delivered a month or six months or twelve months or eighteen months in the future. for is a model like light silver or gold it can be negotiated and accorded some degree and . place. water. possibly it's not traded now but it could be in the future. if. any is eat eat it. if you feed feed. meat. it's. just. that. it. the headlines on the protesters demanding that egypt's military leadership step down immediately greeted by tear gas and rubber bullets

the u.s. courts of iraq iraq you suing the u.s. army the u.s. army corps of engineers or other u.s. institutions because of disputes i think there are some limits to how much money can be stored in without evidence but more importantly than that. i think iraq and iraqis seem to be taking some steps towards requesting compensation for the destruction that happened in the country and this does have a lot of precedence i think iraq is involved. in a compensation system iraq is being five percent of its revenue to kuwait as compensation to the iraqi invasion of kuwait in one thousand nine hundred eighty one and this is we're talking about hundreds of billions of dollars worth of compensation to those iraqis who were killed injured displaced or to iraq as a nation that has been destroyed because of the twenty years war with the united states so it's a huge issue i think how does this issue though right affect the relationship between the u.s. and the iraqi people certainly i can't imagine that relationship is anywhere near good right now considering as you say you know before the u.s. cam

i think the corruption that i see when i go to iraq i see it on two different levels one of them is the corruption of the people who want to take commission for example which is very common in. people who are taking kickbacks from government spending or private spending it's extremely common to actually becoming a new norm in the country or that is a corruption of no accountability people who are spending u.s. taxpayers money or iraqi money have not accountability this spend tens of thousands of dollars on issues that are completely inappropriate whether it was about the u.s. diplomatic presence it or organizations affiliated with the u.s. diplomatic presence whether it was the iraqi government itself or contractors affiliated with the iraqi government unfortunately there is no accountability on how much money they have been spending in iraq so you go there and you see the amounts of money that are being spent are unbelievable and there is no one who ask any questions from the iraqi side or from the u.s. so let's talk about this proble

is a tool of anyone as i noted in the iraq war that i made very clear against the united states government being controlled by president bush that iraq did not have nuclear or any weapons of mass destruction bush went to war anyway so the i.a.e.a. is not a tool of united states look a war is coming unless iran's nuclear weapons program stop it's that simple and maybe from israel or maybe from the united states which i really admire from europe with your major speech you're assuming you're assuming that is i do please you or if you do sanctions now ok you show your you know it's going to get going and wreckers university go ahead there i.e. ed. that went against mr bush in iraq was headed by mr day and that very day in an interview in times magazine flatly said that iran has never had asked as he is concerned and nuclear program designed to large military zation so the same that went against mr bush the same now said that iran doesn't have that a military stationed program this is a complete knowledge rather see a as you know i lose your license is patrick going to imagine your personal tra

is a tool of anyone as i noted in the iraq war that i made very clear against the united states government being controlled by president bush that iraq did not have nuclear or any weapons of mass destruction bush went to war anyway so the i.a.e.a. is not a tool of united states look a war is coming and less iran's nuclear weapons program stopped it's that simple and maybe from israel or maybe from the united states where you can see how you really get more from your with your mate just because you're assuming you're assuming that is tied directly to her because you do sanctions now ok. it's going to get going records university go ahead. that went against mr bush in iraq was headed by mr day and that very mr al about id in an interview in times magazine flatly said that iran has never had as far as he is concerned and nuclear program designed to laud military is ation so the same that went against mr bush that same now said that iran doesn't have that the military is a sham program this is a complete no the other say i.a.e.a. as you know i was there let's just listen patrick going to. trad

about regime that was supporting al qaeda giving them sanctuary the iraq war obviously. don't you agree with the word libya so so resilience is not something that you become is the end all and be all but i think it is it's an important part of what we do in the twenty first century because we're not going to guarantee that terrorism can never strike thank you you thank . journey the length of life. the desire for the best of things. the hunger that drowns out our inner world. the story of one man who returns home after years of alienation. the monks might pass on. them in. the atlantic just so. it's. just so. i am. smug. i am lucky. top stories this hour naughty protesters demanding egypt's military leadership step down immediately or greeted by to gas and rubber bullets in tahrir square official said these twenty four people have been killed since friday in the largest demonstration since febreze uprising that ousted president mubarak. last go round on the west accusing it of provoking violence in syria to some states call for the opposition to avoid dialogue with the go

he also knew sadam hussein wanted the bomb for iraq. vid albright served as a weapons inspector and now is the president of ice sis the institute for science and international security. >> during the iran iraq war they were seeking nuclear weapons and they provided iran with a starter kit so they could start with a sent try fuj program. >> they started meeting up with iran in revolutionary guard core and program officials in 1987 maybe a little earlier. >> he was at the institute of strategic studies. >> iranians talked with kahn he said i am a weapons artist i can give you everything for a nuclear weapons program. >> he had suppliers from around the world, switzerland, south africa and germany. >> he retired after the nuclear atomic energy agency or iaea in vienna. he personally investigated what kahn sold to iranians for 10 million. >> he provided them with centifuges, how you turn iranian into uranium. >> it was a 15 page document. >> iran's only answer and excuse is that oh how did that document get in there? we must have gotten that

situation in the case of iraq a lot of the intelligence was being driven by the u.s. and as you pointed out in your package earlier that's possible that that's still happening a good report that it's getting information from a number of different member states as well as doing its own research and this is the conclusions that it's strong on and you have to remember that. is the one driving these intelligence estimates rather than the u.s. now the u.s. has probably had a lot of this intelligence for longer than the. has and has probably had it longer but the one that's bringing the case out publicly is that. which is not the same as during the iraq war build up when it was the bush administration that was that was pushing the narrative into the headlines and using often flawed u.s. intelligence and exaggerating reports in order to build a case for war so they're different but at the same time i don't think that this new report. has created a cause for war that is going to get a lot of hopefully public approval you know we spoke about this issue yesterday also on our sh

the head of a man. it started with multinational forces, iraq, and then became the united states forces iraq. rted out with a large portion of the command was british back in 2003 and 2004. over time, the majority of the british troops have gone elsewhere and redeployed. it was a combined command in world war ii. we took from that lynch to describe our current patch. host: major general jeffrey buchanan joining us from baghdad. plano, texas, a republican. good morning. caller: good morning. please allow me to echo the many who have said thank you for your service and for the service of all those who report to you. i and my family have always been fiercely pro-military. in my mother's brother died during the battle of the bulge, world war ii. i personally lost two of my best buddies in vietnam. the problem i'm having of late, however, is that the country that i would have been willing to fight and even die for does not exist anymore. our national sovereignty has been surrendered to mexico. i would not be willing to be put in harm's way to protect 30 eight million illegal aliens in this country.

you saw some of the most violent sectarian schisms in iraq. did you imagine you would get to this position five years later? >> i think there were moments in 2006, shortly after i left, when the country seem to be on the brink of absolute chaos. i did wonder in those days, it was a time when i was the director of national intelligence and i was working closely with president george w. bush, where we wondered how this was going to turn out and if it could be salvaged, with the surge and some very intelligent political and military strategies. we were able to help pull that country back from the greek. i do not think they want to go there. i really do not. -- we were able to help pull the country back from the brink. >> the former ambassador with some optimism in their. coming up on the program, looking to raise cash anyway achan. the highest bidder can on the part of history. today, the u.s. gave its highest civilian honor to four space pioneers. astronauts were bestowed the congressional medal, marking the first time it has been awarded to thos

what's the big question in iraq today. >> the big question is what has iraq become. the key point now is we're going to see what a post america iraq looks like much quicker than anybody thought. a the troop debateunfolded over the fall after you and i spoke it became clear that they could not get a deal for immunity for troops to stay. and despite the fact that just about every politician and military commander involved in that discussion did not think it was a good idea for the troops to leave. they couldn't get a deal. so now we're in a situation where the troops are going to be leaving sooner than anybody thought so we're going to have a chance to see what iraq has become on its own. >> charlie: what are the options. what kind of considerations are there? >> if you look at security, the troops haven't been doing a lot for security for a long time. just the argument their mere presen has been sort how far a buffer or a way to keep violence down. the other question is how does ma'am key govern after the american troops leave. what are t loyalties of the security forc

from the bottom up that money is literally hemorrhaging out of iraq money that was meant to help rebuild the nation after a decade of war so why is nothing being done to stop the corruption that's cost u.s. taxpayers billions of dollars. evening it is tuesday november twenty ninth eight pm in washington d.c. i'm christine for you're watching our team. well it's begin this hour with a deeper look into an industry that could be coming to a backyard near you i'm talking about the fracking industry and we've talked about fracking quite a few times here on r t i personally spent several days in a small town in pennsylvania called dimmick in which many of the people who live there say fracking has ruined their lives and we need a little refresher fracking is short for hydraulic fracturing or natural gas drilling now this is the process of releasing natural gas and oil from underground formations so drillers come in and use it stream we high pressure up to several million gallons of fluid made up of water sand and chemicals the process creates fractures in the rock that extend out from the well

the united states government controlled by president bush that iraq did not have nuclear or any weapons of mass destruction bush went to war anyway so the i.a.e.a. is not a tool of united states look a war is coming unless iran's nuclear weapons program stop it's that simple and maybe from israel or maybe from united states which are you really are from europe with your major spear you're assuming you're assuming that is i do please you or if you do sanctions now ok you sure you know it's going to get going records university go ahead. that went against mr bush in iraq was headed by mr day and that very mr al baghdadi in an interview in times magazine flatly said that iran has never had asked as he is concerned at a nuclear program designed to large militarisation so the same that went against mr bush that same i now said that iran doesn't have that military station program this is a complete military others say i.e. as you know a little jealous isn't patrick going to imagine for a personal tragedy and there's the chinaman which disagree london what we're seeing is kind of scaremongerin

the i.a.e.a. is a troll anyone as i noted in iraq what i made very clear against the united states government being controlled by president bush that iraq did not have nuclear or any weapons of mass destruction bush went to war anyway so the i.a.e.a. is not at all united states look a war is coming and less iran's nuclear weapons program stop it's that simple it may be from israel maybe from united states which are you really if you are from europe with your latest theory you're assuming that you're assuming that is politically jeweler if you do sanctions now ok you sure you know it's going to go and record university go ahead. that went against mr bush in iraq was headed by mr day and that very mr alibi day in an interview in times magazine flatly said that iran has never had past lives here is concerned and nuclear program designed to laud militarisation so the same that went against mr bush the same now that carter has said that iran doesn't have that military zation program this is a complete no the other side is you know i was a let's listen patrick going i imagine this is a tragedy and there'