this important milestone, we're also moving into a new phase in the relationship between the united states and iraq. >> it cost the united states a foreign in blood and treasure. thousands of american lives, hundreds of billions of dollars. now after nearly nine years, the end of the iraq war is in sight. the united states and iraq were unable to reach an agreement on immunity for u.s. forces going forward so president obama is ordering all troops out of iraq by the end of this year. our white house correspondent dan lothian has more on the surprise announcement that came forward on friday. since then, a lot of people have been wondering, why couldn't the obama administration negotiate an agreement with the government in baghdad, the baghdad of nuri al maliki that would have allowed some u.s. troops, maybe 3,000, 5,000, some u.s. personnel, one in as many as 15,000. what was the stumbling block that prevented a continued u.s. military presence in iraq? >> well, wolf, i think that is a very important question that's being asked. why in fact did the u.s. not want to keep more of a presence past that

deadline what's your feeling why it is washington want to stay in iraq who benefits from it i myself i'm not sure why the united states has spent and continues to spend so much money in iraq i think one of the old sayings when you're in a hole the first thing you do is stop digging does apply. united states has said but i don't want benefits from it so one does not need iraqi people they made it clear that they don't you know they but they but do they have a say when their government gets all of that money from diggle i think it's actually you know i don't think any of the money is going to the iraqi people i think a lot of the money their government is going to government leaders i think a lot of the money just disappears no one knows where billions of dollars actually physically actually went however it is interesting to note that iraq is planning to buy a lot of weapons from the united states and iraq is hoping to buy a number of f. sixteen s they already have bought and will continue to buy and one change from us all of these are very expensive toys and more importantly come with very long tails each of these tanks requires mai

iraq train and equip its forces. again, just as we offer training and assistance to countries around the world. after all, there will be some difficult days ahead for iraq and the united statesst as iraqis have persevered through war, i am confident that they can build a future worthy of their history as a cradle of civilization. here at home, the coming months will be another season of home comings. across america, our servicemen and women will be re-united with their families. today i can say that our troops in iraq will definitely be home for the holidays. this december will be a time to reflect on all that we've been through in this war. i'll join the american people in paying tribute to the more than 1 million americans who have served in iraq. we'll honor our many wounded warriors and the nearly 4,500 american patriots and their iraqi an coalition partners who gave their lives to this effort. and finally, i would note that the end of war in iraq reflects a larger transition. the tide of war is receding. the draw-down in iraq allowed us to refocus our fight against al qaeda and achieve major victories against its leadership, including osama bin laden. now, as we remove

home knowing they've achooufed a lasting victory and that we can ensure for the long-term that iraq will be a reliable and strong alley of the united states. by pulling out so precipitously, we have opened up iraq to some of those same dangerous influences that face the few government in libya. >> let's talk about the election. michele bachmann making some news that her entire new hampshire staff has resigned. what have you heard about those reports and how will that impact the race in the granite state? >> well, i'm not sure what's happening inside the michele bachmann campaign. i can tell you that mitt romney is campaigning around the country in the early states such as new hampshire. he'll be there today. mitt believes strongly in the new hampshire political tradition of reaching out to every voter, holding town hall meetings there. he's been doing that since the beginning of this campaign. he's 100% committed to this process and he'll continue with that going forward until january. >> i can't let you leave without talking about herman cain. he continues to be ahead in national polls against mitt romney. at one point, he was considered

now, it is also in keeping with a deal that was struck between the united states and iraq back in 2008 when george w. bush was president. now, all combat troops left iraq in 2010 with noncombat forces remaining. but in recent months, there's been a lot of discussions about exactly how many troops to leave in the country after that end of the year deadline. at issue, should a few thousand troops stay to help iraqis with the transition to train and prepare for that? the major sticking point was that the iraq parliament could not guarantee legal immunity. president obama didn't address that issue during his remark owes friday, but said he spoke to prime minister mall key by korns call on friday and they are both now on the same page. >> even as we mark this important milestone, we are moving into a new phase in the relationship between the united states and iraq. as i told prime minister maliki, we will continue discussions on how we might help iraq train their forces. today, i can say that our troops in iraq will definitely be home for the holidays. >>> now, as part of thor those ongoing

might help iraq trained and equipped its forces, again, just as we are getting training and assistance to countries around war. there will be some difficult days ahead for iraq's, and united states will continue have an interest in an iraq that is stable, secure, and self- reliant. just as the iraqis have persevered through war, i'm confident they can build a future or the other history as -- were the of their history s the cradle of civilization. here at home, in the coming months, there will be another season of homecomings. across america, our service men and service women will be united with their families. today i can say that our troops in iraq will definitely be home for the holidays. this december will be a time to reflect on all that we have been through in this war. i will join the american people and pay tribute to the more than 1 million americans who have served in iraq and we honor our many wounded warriors and the patriots and the iraqi and coalition partners who gave their lives for this effort. i would note that the end of war in iraq reflexed a larger transition. the tide of war is receding. the drop down in iraq allow us to refocus our fight against al qaeda a

iraq train andquip its forsts. again, just as we offer training and assistance to countries around the world. after all, there will be some difficult days ahead for iraq. and the united states will continue to have an interest in an iraq that is stable, secure and self-reliant. >> rose: the president pointed out today that this ending of the war in iraq for u.s. troops is the fulfillment of a campaign promise he made during the 2008 campaign. we'll have more about the implications of this for the united states and for the future of the relationship between iraq and the united states next week. steve case is here, he'she founder and former c.e.o. of aol, now of revolution health and srt-up america, a public private partnership aimed at po meeting entrepreneurship. earlier this month case reported to president obama-- obama on job creation. we want to talk about that and i am pleased to have him back at the table. that is sort of the gamut of what you are doing since you left aol. >> yeah, it has been a decade. i stepped down as the c.e.o. of aol a decade ago and spent mos of my time with revolution backing consumer companies that are entrepreneurial and have the potential to

iraq train and equip its forces. again, just as we offer training and assistance to countries around the world. after all, there will be some difficult days ahead for iraq. and the united statesinue to have an interest in an iraq that is stable, secure, and self-reliant. just as iraqis have persevered through war, i'm confident that they can build a future worthy of a history as cradle of a civilization. here at home, the coming months will be another season of homecomings. across america, our servicemen and women will be reunited with their families. today, i can say that our troops in iraq will definitely be home for the holidays. >> home for the holidays. you hear that? music to the ears. i know so many american families there and the withdrawal has been a promise since the president's campaign but today it is official. multiple cnn correspondents are working this story for us. let's begin with jessica yellin. it's official. the war is ending. >> reporter: that's right, brooke. and the president emphasized -- sorry. there's a lot of construction here. the president emphasized repeatedly that is he making good in this on his campaign promise. that was a theme throughout his

discussions on how we might help train and equip iraq's forces, like we help train forces around the world. there will be difficult days ahead for iraq. and the united statesontinue to have an interest in an iraq that is stable, secure and self-reliant. just as iraqis have persevered through war, i'm confident they can build a future worthy of their history as a cradle of civilization. here at home the coming months will be another season of homecomings. across america, our service men and women will be reunited with their families. today i can say that our troops in iraq will definitely be home for the holidays. this december will be a time to reflect on all that we've been through in this war. i'll join the american people in paying tribute to the more than 1 million americans who have served in iraq. we'll honor our many wounded warriors and the nearly 4,500 american patriots, and their iraqi and coalition partners who gave their lives to this effort. finally, i would note that the end of war in iraq reflects a larger transition. the tide of war is receding. the drawndown in iraq allowed us to refocus or fight against al qaeda and achieve major victorie

now the question is, can the united states and iraq deal on these sensitive issues as co-partners. >> particularly as iran continues most likely to exert influence in iraq. >> i think the answer is, we can't, because there isn't a single unity that's called iraq now in any case. if anything, this demonstrates the strength of muqtada al sadr, the strength of iran, and i think the possibility that there might be another civil war, quite frankly. it demonstrates, if nothing else, that the president of iraq is not necessarily in control of his own country. >> and when you talk again, whether it's to the stratfor people and people like yourself that look at iraq, it is clear that the northwest corner of iraq is largely a kurdish population that on and off has danced around the idea of saying, why are we iraq when we might as well be southeast turkey. and there's a mountain range behind us anyway. i'm not even iraq -- i'm t turkish, i don't think i'm iraqi today. and then the sunni/shia issue. does anybody on our side of the fence at the pentagon or elsewhere even know what the stability of

and his government is doing in iraq right now? refusing to have this new status of forces agreement with the united states, supporting iran in terms of syria and other ibs? you understand the concern given the huge investment america has made in iraq? >> i understand the concern because we live it here. we take the steps necessary to protect this country, to support our troops on the ground in iraq, but no matter how many times you assert it, wolf, the idea that somehow we have not gotten the s.o.f.a. we sought is no more true this third time than the first two times you asserted it. we made an agreement today over the course of the last several weeks, with the iraqis on the kind of relationship we want to see going forward. the kind of secure, strengthened partnership that will serve as a model of the region for years to come. >> the president's deputy national security adviser speaking with me from the white house. much more on the president's announcement announcing the end of the war in iraq. other news we're following as well. is joe biden open to running for president of the united states down the road? candy crowley is just

help iraq train and equip its forces, again, just as we offer training and assistance to countries around the world. after all, there will be some difficult days ahead for iraq, and the united states will continue to have an interest in an iraq that is stable, secure and self-reliant. here at home, the coming months will be another season of homecomings. across america, our service men and women will be reunited with their families. today, i can say that our troops in iraq will definitely be home for the holidays. the tide of war is receding. the draw-down in iraq allowed us to refocus our fight against al qaeda and achieve major victories against its leadership, including osama bin laden. now, as we remove our last troops from iraq, we'll beginning to bring our troops home from afghanistan, where we'd begun a transition to afghan security and leadership. and as we welcome home our newest veterans, we'll never stop working to give them and their families the care, the benefits, and the opportunities that they have earned. this includes enlisting our veterans in the greatest challenge that we now face as a nation-- creating opportunity and jobs in this country, because after a deca

iraq train and equip its forces. again, just as we offered training and assistance to countries around the world. after all, there will be some difficult days ahead for iraq. and the united statescontinue to have an interest in an iraq that is stable, secure and be self-reliant. just as iraqis have persevered through war, i'm confident that they can build a future worthy of their history as a cradle of civilization. here at home the coming month will be another season of homecomings. across america our servicemen and women will be reunited with their families. today i can say that our troops in iraq will definitely be home for the holidays. this december will be a time to reflect on all that we have been through in this war. i'll join the american people in paying tribute to the more than one million americans who have served in iraq. we'll honor our many wounded warriors and the nearly 4500 american patriots and their iraqi and coalition partners who gave their lives to this effort. and finally, i would note that the end of war in iraq reflects a larger transition. the tide of war is receding. the drawdown in iraq allowed us to refocus our fight against al-qaeda and achieve ma

jot reason for this, in large part, the united states in iraq -- and iraq couldn't agree of granting immunity to the u.s. soldiers as the united states continued to have a force in iraq. the president said none of that today at the white house. gloss over the fact that this negotiation was a big part of the decision y. that was? >> i don't think he wanted to focus on that. clearly there were a lot of discussions on that immune etissue. it was a very sticky issue and it seems like they had the discussion and iraq said lessen, we're not going grant that, humanity and you're going to have to be on your own. >> it's friday, there is a lot of talk about the timing on this and the president comes out and makes this announcement. how much did yesterday's event in libya play into this white house wanting to capitalize on the momentum it has on foreign res? >> and there is a lost speculation. i am not so sure there is. if they had this immunity, the thing is whether this is a victory for presume a it's in january and in february, iraq has problems and there are attacks in iraq and that is goin

i think it's the right decision for both the united states and for iraq. work there will still be protected. and iraq is really coming together in terms of being a much more stable and secure country. so i think the president has made the right decision and one that furthers our national interest. >> as a vet yourself, this is one thing, you see a lot of guys who are going to come home, a lot of men and women made it out safe. a lot of people didn't. close to 4,600 people died in iraq. three times as many will come back with concussion, brain injuries. there's a huge human toll to this. and now we're sort of going away. isn't that a little bit bittersweet? >> i could see how some could characterize it as bittersweet. but i see it as a real success. the united states -- we toughed it out. there were some days where this conflict did not look like it was ever going to work out. and the united states pulled back together, regrouped, rethought our policy and ultimately it led to a much more stable and secure iraq. that's something that i think should be celebr

too weak and this could turn into a far worse situation in that country than when we first invaded it. how does iraq recover and become a stronger nation that is not dependent upon the united states>> that's a good question and over the course of nine years, it has been a huge cost for americans, what happened in iraq. it's a huge cost for iraqis. as many as 100,000 killed as a result of this violence. the governments supported by the u.s., not necessarily the most credible people. the people don't have strong confidence in their own institutions. the withdrawal of the u.s. and perhaps a softer engagement could perhaps mean that the iraqi people will have to take more accountability and support for their own destiny. >> let me play the comments made regarding obviously the tumultuous situation in that part of the region. let's play it. >> you can't keep snakes in the back yard and expect them only to bite your neighbors. eventually they turn on whoever has them in the back yard. >> is referring to the ha canny network. there was an informal meeting and she is warning pakistan you can't have this group and believe they will only turn on others. >> exactly. she is warning that the