[laughter] >> general trainor is a marine, joined the marine corps after world war ii. served in korea in combat. was a battalion commander in vietnam. he ended up making the rank of three stars and retiring. he's been a successful writer. he and michael gordon have written a couple of books on iraq. general petraeus is the commander of centcom. and we all know for those who served together, he was the commander of multiforces in iraq from september 2007 to when he assumed central command. so with that sir, thank you very much for coming today. appreciate you taking the time. the floor is yours. >> thanks a lot, bob. >> thanks for that mercifully brief instruction. i've had this conference on the calendar for a number of months. and it's a topic that's very good, very timely. and very important. and i applaud bob, what you and your team have done in pulling it together. i feel privilege to be on this panel. it's great to be a panel of one with my marine on any flank here. congratulations as well, bob, you've just taken over the command of the intellectual center of the

general trainor is a marine who joined the marine corps after world war two. he served in korea in combat. he ended up making the rank of three-star and retiring. he has been an educator and a successful writer. general protest is the commander of syncom, and we all know he was the commander of multinational forces in iraq from february 2017 when he a coup -- to when he assumed command of central command. i appreciate you taking the time. >> thanks for being here and for that mercifully brief introduction. i have had this calendar -- this conference on the calendar for a number of months, and it think it is a topic that is very timely and very important. good, very timely. and very important. and i applaud bob, what you and your team have done in pulling it together. i feel privilege to be on this panel. it's great to be a panel of one with my marine on any flank here. congratulations as well, bob, you've just taken over the command of the intellectual center of the universe there, the marine corps university. and i commend you for that and commend the marine