you heard mike viqueira. you were the man in riyadh. does it agree with what you saw when you were in place? >> absolutely, and the first issue is offering condolence. it's a wonderful tradition. three days after the passing. the fact that you have brought a delegation going back four different presidencies. people that knew king abdullah, sending a symbol of respect, and i am sure it was embraced and treasured by people there. there are substantive issues. and by other members of the delegation. they decide the intelligence community, and members of congress. again, they get a say in the relationship as well. it was a powerful signal. >> are the two countries really friends, or given the state of play in the world, do they simply get pushed into each other's arms. >> it is a great friendship between the saudi arabia and the u.s. government. absolutely. they have difficulternalent interest. for the most part saudi arabia has served the united states more than the other way around. if you look at the middle east, a country that has a lot

after six years the process continues. >> mike viqueira at the white house. thank you.otential solution is in the works to keep the department of homeland security operating. senate is saying they are willing to vote on a clean funding bill but want a separate vote to undue the president's executive actions on administration. the current funding bill has the provisions attached. if the approved the bill faces an uncertain future in the house. >> the race for major in chicago is heading for a run off. they got the most votes, but couldn't secure the 50% necessary to avoid a run off. the chicago board of elections says turn out was low and estimate well under hast the people eligible to vote bothered to show up >>> coming um. three years after zimbabwe killed tony martin the justice department will not pursue charges. we'll look at the civil rights case and the fall out. new information on a strain crash in california injuring dozens of people. tonight place make an arrest. >>> felony charms for a truck driver involved if a train crash. 28 hurt, four critic lick. a truck

mike viqueira has more. >> it's a controversial move with plenty of criticism. it will set the bar high on which countries will be allowed to acquire the weapons. the criteria still remains classified, but are speaking in a general sense, there's be denial. the armed drones they'll begin at the starting point where they'll not get if they make a compelling case as to why they need the technology if it must be used. requirements or restrictions that will be attached to this. it must be used in international law as self-defence or part of an international coalition and critics are scoffing at that noting that the united states is not always acted within the confines of international law. it is a big business no question about it. there's that element to it. $6 billion a year. increasing competition, notably in china and israel. but there are a number of companies in the united states who want to get in the business want to expand the business. perhaps the premiere manufacturer, general atopics. they wanted to transfer an unarmed drone, sell it to jordan and we lea

we'll check in with al jazeera's mike viqueira. it's still ahead on "inside story". >>> welcome back to "inside story". i'm ray suarez. the deadline to fund homeland security is 24 hours away. what agencies fall under the homeland security - customs, border protection, secret service, the coast guard, f.e.m.a. and the t.s.a. if the money runs outs it impacts pay checks, hiring, employee training and processing brands for state and local governments. if president obama is enjoying the predicament the assistantate majority leader seemed to have created for himself, he will not allow himself to say publicly. for the latest we are joined by mike viqueira. good to have you with us. good to be here. >> what is the latest from the various parties in play. >> here we are. it's a thursday even into the meeting. they meet the house republicans. you mention it's the g.o.p. leaders making, it's something that has been going on for some time, they haven't been able to bridge the divide. you know that the conservatives are irate over executive a

we'll check in with al jazeera's mike viqueira. it's still ahead on "inside story". >> sunday, the parents of captured american reporter austin tice. >> austin went missing in syria. >> campaigning for his release and maintaining hope. >> austin tice is alive. >> find him and get him home. >> a special "talk to al jazeera". sunday, 5:30 eastern. only on al jazeera america. >>> welcome back to "inside story". i'm ray suarez. the deadline to fund homeland security is 24 hours away. what agencies fall under the homeland security - customs, border protection, secret service, the coast guard, f.e.m.a. and the t.s.a. if the money runs outs it impacts pay checks, hiring, employee training and processing brands for state and local governments. if president obama is enjoying the predicament the assistantate majority leader seemed to have created for himself, he will not allow himself to say publicly. for the latest we are joined by mike viqueira. good to have you with us. good to be here. >> what is the latest from the various parties in pl

mike viqueira has more on the congressional standoff. >> while no one is doubting they'll find a solution and there won't be a shutdown of the department of homeland security there is confusion on the republican side, raising eyebrows. you rule mitch mcconnell, the leader of the g.o.p. senate decided to move a bill to do nothing. actions have been mixed. house of representatives don't want to go along with that. they met into the evening behind closed doors. there's no evident resolution of how they want to approach this. an item on the table, passing a continuing resolution. keeping the department of homeland security open for another three weeks while they work again to hash it out. it doesn't address the underlying conflict between the tea party and leadership which does not want to shut down the government. they think it will hurt them politically. particularly heading into an election year where they want to demonstrate they have the ability to govern. a lot of question marks heading into friday. it appears that one way or the other the department of homeland security will avoid a sh

mike viqueira is live for us at the white house. good to see you. the president was criticized ahead of the summit for not addressing this issue head on, but he certainly surprised some folks today. >> reporter: well, he did tony, and this being washington, the events takes on all kinds of meaning that had nothing to do with the original countering violent extremism as it was billed. tomorrow the international session with many coming to the state department will president obama will speak again. you're right the president leading up to this had been hit by criticism from principally conservatives and he was reluctant to use the phrase islamic terrorists when talking about the attacks. some of the brutal killings we've seen most recently in libya, for example the attacks in denmark canada, france, and elsewhere. while the president has been walking a fine line between the critics and not wanting to offend all muslims, not to single out muslims. he spent a great deal of time defending muslims and their faith, but this is what the president said in di

mike viqueira joins us from the white house. is this the latest incident in a complicated relationship? >> good evening, president obama and israeli prime minister binyamin netanyahu have had a famously frosty relationship. the latest clash burst into public view at a time of incredibly delicate international diplomacy. >> there were reports he was having second thoughts. instead israeli prime minister binyamin netanyahu is doubling down. >> i'm going to the united states not because i seek a confrontation with the president, but because i must fulfil my obligation to speak up on a matter that affects the very survival of my country. >> binyamin netanyahu backed it up with a storm of tweets one reading "i intend to speak in the u.s. congress because congress night have an important role in the deal with iran. binyamin netanyahu's peach to congress is set for march 3rd, three weeks before the deadline for agreement. that is as president obama stood alongside angela merkel on monday is why binyamin netanyahu will not come to the w

mike viqueira has more from washington. >> reporter: in a sense, this was inevitable. as the number of measles cases grow, the question is whether parents should be able to keep their children from getting vaccinations has become a geo political football. with them stubbling to find an answer. for a panel of top government experts, there's no dispute getting your kids immunized is the right thing to do. >> you have one of the most highly effective vaccines against any virus and you have a highly contagious disease measles, that can have serious complications, so it's a slam dunk. >> but do parents have the right to refuse the vaccinations for their children? for those calling it individual liberty, against others, who cite the responsibility to keep a community free of exposure. rapid paul, a medical doctor, and gop contender for president, warned of dangers. >> i heard of many tragic cases of walking talking children, who wound up with mental disorders after vaccines. >> but those linking vaccines to autism, have been debunked time and time again from research. hillar

. >> mike viqueira at the white house >>> the obama administration is trying to find a solution to the blocked immigration action. the justice department will file in the fifth circuit court. for work permits and deferred deportations affecting 5 million undocumented. hours ago the secretary, before an estimate visit - carter plans to visit troops and meet with afghan commanders. 10,000 u.s. troops are in afghanistan >>> iraqi forces are hoping to retake the north city of mosul. it's the u.s. military's decision to release the tails of that offensive that are in question. jamie mcintyre has more. >> a city of many thousands of people is a large city. retaking it will begin in april or may and require 25,000 iraqi forces. many aspects of future combat that level of detail seemed to take the white house by surprise. >> i'm wondering why detail this in advance? doesn't that play book and make it easier for i.s.i.l. to prepare and defend themselves against an attack. >> it there may have been differing news reports on this. >> reporter: the pentagon is talking about retaking mosul. pointed

mike viqueira at the white house. so the senate has a deal, what about the house? >> it's all over but the shouting really. you called it a breakthrough. it's more of a break down in republican discipline exposing more of the divisions within that party between the conservative, the hardcore, the tea party folks who are irate and incensed with the executive order. calling it selective deportation deportation, in other words, reordering who will be deporting, the president saving 4 million were being deported. the republicans have called him anything from a dictate for a king, but they're not able to hold the line. here's the story they tried to withhold funding from the entire department of homeland security with implements to the immigration policy. then were willing to go to a shutdown. the deadline to refund that department this coming up friday at midnight. now john boehner and mitch mcconnell seeing the writing on the wall. the republicans in the house are digging in their heels. there could still be problems but it appears there is a solution on the horror ry

mike viqueira for us.thank you, sir. >>> another hurdle cleared today for president obama's nominee for attorney general. the senate judiciary committee voted to endorse loretta lynch. approved she would be the first african american woman in that position replacing retiring attorney general eric holder. >>> it is one of the biggest political events of the year and republican presidential hopefuls certainly know it. a few spoke today at cpac in maryland. michael shure is live for us in los angeles, and michael let's start here. senator ted cruz spoke about his strategy for 2016. let's have a listen. >> we bring together fiscal conservatives, and social conservatives, and national security conservatives. the way we get to 51% is we bring together conservatives and libertarians and evangelicals and women and young people and hispanics hispanics, and reagan democrats! [ cheers and applause ] >> and how do we do that? we do that fundamentally, by standing with the people and not with washington. >> okay. micha

. >> mike viqueira at the white house, thanks. security tighter than ever at shopping malls across the country in response to a video from al-shabab, acknowledge al qaeda-linked group in somali. the largest somali enclave is a few miles from the nation's largest mall. >> reporter: does the al-shabab methods resonate with the young people in the community? >> i'm afraid it does. al-shabab and i.s.i.s. have effective machines. >> reporter: this is a community under the microscope. in light of the threat to the minnesota mall of america, the largest shopping center people are on edge. >> there's a fear backlash. amongst everything it's simply struggling to get attention. >> it's not without reason. in 2013, they attacked the mall in nairobi, kenya. more than 60 people died. since 2007 more than 20 somali men have been recruited. the riverside neighbourhood is known as little mogadishu, home to thousands of somali americans. it is lined with ethnic shops and restaurants. shopkeepers said they just want to go about their business even

we begin with mike viqueira. he's at the white house for us. mike? >> reporter: tony, it was a rarest of occurrenses. ashton carter contradicted the president on a key issue. president obama had said that arming the ukrainian army in their fight against russian rebels in eastern ukraine could never work because no matter how much arms you give to the ukrainian army, they will never be a match to the russian army. ashton carter in his hearing said that that is actually a good idea. >> i think we need to support the ukrainians in defending themselves. the nature of those arms, i haven't conferred with our military or ukrainian leaders but i incline in the direction of providing with arms, including to getting what i'm sure your question is, lethal arms. >> now administration spokesmen spent the day back pedaling saying there is no change in u.s. policy and they would not be sending arms to ukraine any time soon. but that policy is now under consideration. >> the strategy for fighting isil also came and attack today at the hearing. how did carter handle

air strikes would continue there'll be no ground troops as mike viqueira reports, some in congress on both sides of the isle are not on board. >> the president said he has all the authorisation he needs. now he wants congress to weigh in. six months after ordering the air campaign again-i.s.i.l. president obama is asking congress for authorisation to fight. the president insisted no american ground combat troops would be deployed as part of a plan. local forces on the ground that know the country best are best positions to take the fight to i.s.i.l. that's what they are doing. one page in a 3-page proposal was a focus. the resolution: enduring operations raising alarm among those wary of the mission creep. there would be no combat roles for americans the president has said. >> i want to be clear american forces in iraq do not and will not have a combat mission. >> wednesday some democrats said they want stronger language. >> no one knows what an enduring offensive combat operation means, and deliberately drafted to be ambiguous. >> the white house conceived that point. the phrase appl

. >> mike viqueira joining us from the white house. how are the u.s. officials reacting to this attack? >> the first thing that the pentagon officials are saying is between 300 and 400 american advisers on that base never heard a thing. they may have heard shots but they were certainly never under any danger. they were on the other end of the base which they say is a sprawling base. ever since the president announced they were sending these advisers into iraq, there has been skepticism and fear especially on the side of democrats that there would be mission creep. especially about events like this one. this will stoke that fear and republicans will say that americans are in harm's way they need to have a more robust pension there and take the fight to isil. then owe they did not come under direct attack, these americans there, between 300 to 400 advisers on the base, they were prepared to defend themselves if they had come into any danger. >> but like all american troops potentially in harm's way, they have the right obligation and responsibility to de

mike viqueira and washington >>> what would happen if you took pt fascinating thinking of free-con somics and ask them to hold their own summit. they did. professor of studies at massachusetts, and spoke at president obama's summit of women in terrorism. she said if have hope of growing extremism, we need to recognise how the face of terrorism is changing. let's ask how to fight extremism. >> thank you for being with us. you heard the skepticism there, that i don't know that the things do anything. people got to hear from you and others. let's talk about this. what is the changing face of terrorism that we need to be aware of. >> there's two things to say. the summit for the parts the press was not in was able to highlight the great successes of three pilot programs in boston and minnesota. although you might be skeptical. the fact is that we were able to see the countering violent extremism as it is happening, and we are able to think about the success stories. >> like what. what is one example of a success story? >> when you look at what is going on in europe and the lack of integration

mike viqueira has more. >> for a panel of top government experts, there's no dispute. getting your kids immunized is the right thing to do. >> it's clear you have one of the most highly effective vaccines against any virus, and you have a highly contagious disease, measles that can have serious complications. to me it's a slam dunk. >> do parents have the right to refuse the vaccines for their children. it's struck a deep political core. hitting those that call it a matter of liberty against others who sight a responsibility to keep them free. a medical doctor rand paul and g.o.p. contender warned of dangers. >> i heard of many tragic cases of walking, talking children who wound up with mental disorders after vaccines. >> lipping vaccines to disorders have been debunked time and time again by respected researchers. it brought ridicule from a rival. hillary clinton, who tweeted the science is clear. the earth is round skies blue and vaccines work. let's protect all our kids. late tuesday, paul tweeted this picture. saying he's getting a booster and blames the media for

mike viqueira has more from the white house. >> good evening, it was the rarest of circumstances in washington today. a presidential nominee contradicting the president he aims to serve in testimony at his confirmation hearing. president obama said arming the ukranian army in the fight against russian separatists was a bad idea after all no matter how many arms or weapons were given to the ukraine, they would never be a match for the russian army. today ashton carter head of defense, picked by president obama said it wasn't a bad idea. >> we need to support the ukrainians in defending themselves. the nature of those arms i can't say. i don't have - i haven't conferred with military or ukranian leaders. i . >> administration officials spent the rest of the afternoon back pedalling saying there was no change in the u.s. policy that the united states would not send weapons any time soon. it was reported that the policy is under consideration. there could be a change. the balance of the hearing was devoted to republican senators taking off after the obama administration on defense-related issues g

. >> reporter: mike viqueira live from the white house.hank you. >>> security drills at the mall of america today because of a video threat from the group al-shabab. hashem ahelbarra is in bloomington, minnesota this evening. how is the somalian american community reacting to this? >> reporter: it is used to being under the microscope a lot of this recruitment that has taken place over the last few years continues to bring attention, and it's something they brace for on a regular basis. the al-shabab mentioning a number of shopping malls including the mall of america which you see behind me. and leaders that we spoke to said ammons in the community have been getting calls from somali americans who are worried about a backlash that may occur as a result of a potential threat right here. >> as he said this is not new this focus on this community from al-shabab. so who specifically are they going after? the >> well richelle since 2007 about 22 somali men from this community have traveled overseas to somalia to join al-shabab. there have also

mike viqueira joins us now from washington. mike. >> reporter: good evening john. as the number of measles cases in this country continues to grow the question of whether parents have the right to keep their children from being vaccinated has become a political football for at least one 2016gop hopeful struggling for an answer. for experts there's no dispute, keeping kids immunized is the right thing to do. >> you have one of the most highly effective vaccines against any virus, and you have a highly contagious disease, measles, that can have serious complications, so it's a slam dunk. >> but do parents have the right to refuse the vaccinations for their children? deep political core, for those calling it individual liberty, against others, who cite the responsibility to keep a community free of exposure. rand paul, a medical doctor, and likely gop contender for president, warned of dangers. >> i heard of many tragic cases of walking, talking, normal children, who wound up with mental disorders after vaccines. >> but theories linking vaccines to autism, have been d

mike viqueira, we knew this was coming and why it.the president veto this bill? >> tony, it's only his third veto in the entire administration. supporters of construction of this pipeline, they of course passed the bill as promised, what they took over to the congress was a house and senate to circumvent the approval process to build the 1700-mile pipeline that would run through the tar sands of alberta canada over a sensitive aquaphor and over to the gulf coast where it would be refind. some call it a jobs bill, and opponents call it an environmental disaster waiting to happen. they say that the method of extraction of the tar sands from alberta is particularly environmentally messy. today, the white house vetoed this bill. remember, the republicans waited to send it to the president until they were all back in town. and the president vetoed it behind doors and he said it's all about the process. >> it says that the benefits and consequences of building that pipeline should be thoroughly evaluated by experts and through the administrative process that has existe

mike viqueira joins us live now from washington.ike, the president once again responded to people who have criticized the conference for not focusing specifically on islamic terrorists. >> reporter: yeah, that's the phase that a lot of the president's critics, many of course republicans have been wanting to hear from the president. tony this was an international aspect of this three-day conference. the first two days dealt with communities here in the united states. today the president broadened out the themes speaking to an international audience at the state department, and domestic politics front and center and president very forceful in refuting the critics. he had been attacked by the latest gruesome attack in libya on the beach, the 21 coptic christians were beheaded there. but when the white house put out a statement -- the president put out a statement about the killing of muslims in north carolina, he did mention their killing. so that was part of the criticism as well. the president in releasing a statement after the killi