and iraq into the future but also the nature of the new iraq. our presence there 2011 provide psychological and physical support to the iraqi people, the government of iraq in the iraqi security forces. it provides the opportunity for different groups to build up their constituencies, to participate in politics, to form alliances and reach consensus. the level and nature of u.s. slinkys met with the iraqis will continue to change as the u.s. military draws down. iraq is making steady progress but as ale lung way to go. we must have strategic patients. through the framework agreement united states has a mechanism for supporting iraq to develop its institutionalist human capacity. success will be defined by our ability to support iraq developing capacity from governance to economics that will sustain the iraq's long-term stability. the iraqi security forces have made steady progress and our efforts over the next two and a half years will help solidify the foundation of a professional and competent iraqis security force. we must leave iraq with sec

in both al basra and iraq. i think there are -- what you don't see anymore is large movement of shi'a militias. what you have now is militant groups that don't control areas but conduct attacks for self different reasons, and i think we have seen the militia empty -- militia units to move, and they do conduct attacks against both u.s. forces and iraqi security force and others, but their influence has been significantly reduced to what it was in 2007 and the beginning of 2008. >> to what extent is iran -- i think you mentioned briefly iran providing them training. so what extend -- i think you also mentioned iran providing weapons. what is the trend line on that now? >> i think it's less. what they have done, they appear to have targeted smaller organizations that continue to train inside of iraq, and train inside of iran, and come across with increased capabilities to conduct operations and attacks inside of iraq, and they're still provided munitions suchs a rockets. >> many of the sunnies would say, are they

iraq, mr. hermanson and he was recently electrocuted and so i have a couple questions for you, general. first, of all, was his facility inspected or were you only inspecting the facilities that the soldiers occupied? >> it was not inspected. what happens is that as a contractor it's the responsibility of the contractor to ensure they have adequate facilities, so we were not inspecting those facilities, however, since that incident we have sent task force safe over to first outline to all the contractors what's expected of them in terms of proper safety requirements and we've also offered them any assistance that they might need with task force safe to go look at all of their facilities to ensure they're in line with what we believe to be safe structures and look at all their facilities so make sure they're in line with safe structures. >> since we we knew we were havg trouble with contractors, why was the decision made to not inspect. >> i don't think we made conscious decision not to inspect.

the first idea would be in afghanistan and iraq. progress was made in iraq through negotiations. we have not really tried negotiations with the taliban. they are tribal and all we talk about is using more force. that is recruiting more angry people for them. i would recommend to the administration that they try negotiation. that will not be easy but it is worth a try. if we could get a better resolution over there, that would save us billions. my biggest way to save money would be on the health-care debate. we spend more money on health care than any other nation. 75% of our money is spent on cancer, heart attack, stroke, and diabetes. all those are preventable through better diet and lifestyle changes and exercise. that is where the health care debate should be going is to prevention. $1 for prevention saves $5 in health-care costs. host: thank you very much. you are echoing some of the sentiments from dr. cosgrove. yesterday, the supreme court class photo was taken. this includes the new justice sonia sotomayor. the new session opens next monday. they have decided to hear a cas

forces out of iraq. on acquisition reform the conference report supports the plan to increase the size and acquisition work force and reduce reliance on contractors for acquisition functions. it eliminates waste, fraud, and abuse through better contract oversight. the bill also repeals the national security personnel system, returning employees to the general schedule over two years while providing additional flexibilities for hiring and personnel management. the conference agreement prohibits the release of guantanamo bay detainees into the united states, its territories, and possessions, and restricts detainee transfers until after the president has submitted a plan to congress. the conference report revises the military commission act to make them fair and effective and ensure that convictions stick. let me briefly address two difficult aspects of the conference report. first, i'm disappointed, so very disappointed we were not able to retain the houses' provision implementing the president's proposal

forces out of iraq. on acquisition reform the conference report supports the plan to increase the size and acquisition work force and reduce reliance on contractors for acquisition functions. it eliminates waste, fraud, and abuse through better contract oversight. the bill also repeals the national security personnel system, returning employees to the general schedule over two years while providing additional flexibilities for hiring and personnel management. the conference agreement prohibits the release of guantanamo bay detainees into the united states, its territories, and possessions, and restricts detainee transfers until after the president has submitted a plan to congress. the conference report revises the military commission act to make them fair and effective and ensure that convictions stick. let me briefly address two difficult aspects of the conference report. first, i'm disappointed, so very disappointed we were not able to retain the houses' provision implementing the president's proposal

worrying about the defense of this nation and the men and women that are fighting in afghanistan today and iraq. we should not be doing social engineerings on this bill. it's just wrong. and i think it's being done for political purposes, and i just say to my colleagues on the other side who are doing it, shame on you. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from missouri. mr. skelton: i continue to reserve my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from south carolina. mr. wilson: mr. speaker, i respectfully reserve my time on behalf of the republican leader who shall be here shortly. the speaker pro tempore: is the gentleman from missouri ready to close? mr. skelton: i am not. the majority leader will be with us momentarily. mr. speaker, i yield one minute to my friend, my colleague, the distinguished majority leader, the gentleman from maryland, mr. hoyer. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. hoyer: i thank the chairman for yielding. i thank the ranking member for his leadership. and i want to say particularly as i start that the distinguished chairman of this commit

and if that is not enough to worry about, that iraq does not stop there. this is deepening the effects of climate change. storms and rising sea levels will force millions to flee their homes, creating on stable populations were terrorist groups can find sanctuary, and recruit new members. as water dries out and bam and spreads, conflict over scarce resources will increase. the same kind of conflict i witnessed in afghanistan. ultimately, much of the burden of providing security and humanitarian assistance during this time of crisis will fall on the shoulders of the united states military. for these reasons, we are calling on the united states senate to take bold action to curb the effects of climate change and develop clean, homegrown american energy. we wish to remain safe and strong. we need to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. we are here today to create an energy future in which america produces its own clear it -- its own clean energy and calls its own shots. this is a fight we must win. this is a bite we will win. thank you. -- this is a fight w

house in june of this year, how would he have reacted to what seemed like a moment of regime change in iraq? >> i believe the event in june either beginning of a gradual disintegration of this particular regime for the following reasons: the current regime has three pillars. the ayatollah, i iranian nationalism, and the space structure that produced the presidential election. each of these pillars is now in question. the ayatollah is arguing among each other and when you proclaim a universal islamic republic based upon universal@@@@@ @ @ @ correct -- i believe this regime is structurally weaker than it was before. so, the issue is how do we best deal with it. in june the conduct of the administration was a -- i can under an american enterprise but infil period it is important we emphasize moral decency in what we are facing. and we do not slide in the position [inaudible] government increase its conduct or semi thinking and acting [inaudible] of the people who have been making the opposition to the united states will, the governing principles would say should be the principal objective of o

look at what has happened with our duties in iraq. -- with iud's in iraq. the policies we are adopting are ensuring defeat. and we have the experience. rumsfeld was correct, they are trying to follow those policies again in afghanistan. if you're going to fight this war, the principles and means of doing it are already well established the politicians are constantly overturning those principles of war because they do not understand them. that will result in a much higher level of casualties and in the long run, it is going to be much more expensive. afghanistan is an air mobile environment. it is not an armored environment. all right host:, we will leave it there. for the next hour we will turn our attention to the u.s. economy and some of the fluctuations in the market and some of the economic signs that are out there in the last couple of weeks or so. this is the couple -- cover story of "business week" this week. why the market will keep going up is one half of the story and did you flip it around you will see "wide market is going nowhere." the story is

a bill that is supposed to be used to fund the wars in iraq and afghanistan. the final version of the bill included all eight of these aircraft. when the subcommittee met later to consider the 2010 defense appropriations bill, it went ahead and added three more. so it is hard to see this chart that is an interesting one. this is the seac-17 originally n the budget. these other ones that have been added by congress. each year the department of defense and the administration has said enough. we have enough c-17's. obviously that has not been the case. it brings us to where we are now. well in excess of requirements, continue to spend billions of dollars for aircraft we do not need, including the eight c-17's in the 2009 supplemental. the original requirement was 180. according to the most recent statement of administration position, the administration strongly objects to the addition of $2.5 billion in funding for 10 unrequested c-17 airlift their quest -- aircraft. order, together with the existing fleet of c-5 aircraft are more than sufficient to meet the depa

i think general petraeus demonstrated in the iraq that if you pay attention to what the commanders say they need to accomplish the mission, that is what you should fund and that is what you should finance. i think the mission without a change has been to confront al qaeda and the taliban, eradicate al qaeda and their sanctuary and render the taliban neutral any stay as is the type of thing on troops right now, i think stretches that goal. we have not been able to reduce the taliban. they have tripled since march. they have tripled. i think general mike krystle's request is justified -- general machrystle's request is justified. host: did you vote with senator mccain? guest: i did. i think i realized enough information from the generals on the ground where it was absolutely essential that the senate and house be able to hear the testimony of our commanders before a decision is made. guest: finally, one to get your reaction to the new unemployment number. 9.8% as employers cut to a hundred 60,000 jobs. host: -- guest: state tax levels were at their lowest level in decades. our federal re

after the disaster of iraq, the american people will not stand for another endless foreign occupation, one that will cost many lives and not make our country any safer. afghanistan is a difficult problem, but the president still has good options. he can order the pentagon to develop a troop redeployment plan and a timetable for withdrawal. at the same time, he can be bold and shift to a new mission that will be far more likely to succeed because it will actually have the support of the afghan people. this new mission in afghanistan would include economic development, education, infrastructure, humanitarian assistance, better governance and improve local policing and intelligence to hunt down extremists. this is what the afghan people want from america so that they can have hope for a better future and reject violent extremism. mr. speaker, president obama deserves credit for reviewing his decision to send more troops earlier than was expected. he's showing political courage and he's showing an open mind by considering other alternatives. i urge him to choose a new course, one that wil