the taliban is an important part of the afghan society. we can hardly imagine resettlements without their participation. they have stayed in afghanistan for many years and haven't settled. they haven't been able to address and the traffic has increased manifold. there are problems and we need to bring together all the afghans based on the criteria mentioned. what was your second question? with respect to iraq and libya, in iraq and that is why when we are talking about the sea settlements, why don't we learn from mistakes and focus on the settlements rather than ousting a certain person. why don't we focus on that instead. [speaking in foreign language] >> he couldn't trace the issue of involvement in the american election process here. have you discussed that? >> i just answered that. president trump says it is all fake news. give me one fact that would prove that and everyone keeps saying openly everybody knows everything but given no proof and the final question. >> barbara pusher from the bbc. you said you wanted american input to help

tim: regarding the taliban, though, reports that russia denies that they are arming the taliban. is that credible? >> that is an allegation that has not been proven yet. there are strong indications that the russians are trying to find some kind of accommodation with the taliban, that they see the taliban as a bulwark against isis presence in afghanistan, which threatens central asia. the russians are mostly concerned about central asian stability. tim: the previous president, hamid karzai, was very outspoken against american airstrikes. that is one of the most effective ways, as long as there are not civilian casualties. >> hamid karzai has had his long-standing position. at the end of the day, the americans and others need to focus on the political aspects of afghanistan, making sure the unity government is strong enough, that there is good governance, that we can fight corruption, which itself is only -- is a way for the taliban to feed itself. tim: today the u.s. senate was again hearing evidence of russia's interference with elections, but this time it was france that was th

the taliban is an important part of the afghan society. i can hardly mention any settlement without their participation. americans have stayed in afghanistan for many years. and they have not settled any issue that i saw into afghanistan. they can't be able to successfully address any of the issues and goals that put they put forward. we need to bring together all the afghans based on the criteria i mentioned. what was your second question? reporter: what is your strategy in syria? minister lavrov: [answering in russian] translator: well we don't have , such a notion as exit strategy. all of us should deliver on what we agreed upon. we need to implement security -- u.n. security council resolutions to suppress all terrorist activities in syria , to prevent it from turning to the hotbed of extremism, of instability. we need to prevent the development of what has evolved in iraq and libya. assad.sked about both in respect to iraq in syria, the international community was upset with the idea to oust one person. saddam hussein in iraq, gadhafi

the taliban should become the party to the political process. if they recognize the current constitution, if they give up land, and they have nothing to do with terrorists. that is the only goal we are pursuing. this is the only ground for everyone to work with the taliban. based on the afghan government ready to negotiate. partaliban is an important of the afghan society. you can have settlement without their participation. americans have stayed in afghanistan for many years. they have not settled any issue in afghanistan. they can't be able to successfully address the issues and goals that put forward. there are lots of problems. we need to bring together all the afghans. what was your second question? >> your strategy in syria? >> we don't have such a notion as exit strategy. all of us should deliver on what we agreed upon. we need to implement security suppressesolutions to all terrorist activities in syria and prevented from turning into the hotbed of extremism, of instability. we need to prevent the development of what has evolved in iraq

security ion, the situation in afghanistan is really very precarious right back he taliban has come with a vengeance, they have taken more territory and -- than they have any time in recent years and really challenged the afhgan overnment and forces. the idea was to see what can the united states be doing differently. of this review, the white house, the top national ecurity advisors have come up with series of recommendations that would expand military pressure on the taliban and sort of reopen the american military in a against the taliban that hasn't happened in recent years f. you'll remember, president obama was very focusod curtailing the american military role, walking away, sort of the cating himself from fight against the taliban and focusing on transnational terror islamicike al qaeda and state, so this would thrust the united states back to the the taliban and the goal is to increase pressure the negotiating table to reach a political settlement to the war. 8400 troop necessary afghanistan at start of trump presidency, what is the number troops that is being proposed in what c

>> you have to bring the taliban to the tle because there's a part of that fabc that ithe taliban that will always be within the afghan society but of course you have to keep bring them to the table. just because you get them to the table you may not use successfully in the negotiations. it doesn't mean you stop putting pressure on security. you have to have a strategy in the way that the air was brought into the government. bullets in the ballot box and both of those we are going to watch conflict in afghanistan for the next 30 years again. kennedy: and collins wrapping it up like a master wrapping person. thank you very much. very good. coming up james comey found out that he was out of a job while giving a speech and first-out news reports of his firing word that it was a joke but his dismissals hit a little bit differently. differently. more after the break ostriches don't really stick their heads in the sand. a peanut is not a nut. and a real john deere... is actually real affordable. you learn something new every day. the surprisingly affordable john deere e series tractors. now

since then large swathes of territory have fallen to an taliban. most of helmand where so many british soldiers lost their lives is now in taliban hands. so is much of the province of can do is an irs has established a presence. the americans have over 8000 troops, the uk 500, commanders are now asking for thousands more —— isis have established. we were asking for thousands of military boots on the ground and that did not weaken or destroy the taliban so a few thousand more today is not going to bea thousand more today is not going to be a solution. yes in the short term it will give some support and better training to the afghan government and security forces but the insurgency will still be there. intelligence are blaming an affiliate of the taliban network but no group has admitted to carrying out one of the west attacks kabul as ever seen. you are watching the estate, still to come. nasa unveils plans to send a probe right to the sun and calls it the coolest, hottest mission. the first of what the makes of star wa rs the first of what the

john: having the taliban run the country meant having 3,000 dead americans. we snow pack and has this capability, this nuclear capability. we have to think of the bigger question. it's not a pleasant solution, but it's not a pleasant solution to have terrorists threaten attacks in the united states in western europe these last 15 years either. kennedy: let's talk about al qaeda in afghanistan. isis is obviously there as well. what is the state of al qaeda since bin laden's death and what impact has his death had on that part of the world and afghanistan in particular? john: i think it's a mistake to say on one hand you have al qaeda and on the other hand you have isis. isis is an outgrowth of al qaeda. this is a very tumultuous environment with this terrorist ideology spawning old groups, new groups emerging. it's not far-fetched to think that you could see a fusion or an alliance of convenience between isis and al qaeda. we know from the document we did capture from al qaeda locations from afghanistan in 2011. they wanted to get their hands on nuclear weapon

the goal is not to defeat the taliban but to convince them they cannot win and are better off seeking a negotiated end to the war. as joint chiefs chairman general dunford explained, it comes down to which side cracks first. >> we can be tired. but war's a clash of wills. who wins and who loses, who loses is whose will is lost first. >> reporter: some would conduct raids against terrorist groups like isis and al qaeda. the u.s. military went into afghanistan after 9/11 to prevent it from ever being used again as a base for attacks against the united states. 16 years later, afghanistan has the highest concentration of terrorist groups anywhere on earth. >> david martin at the pentagon. >>> president trump will send weapons to syria's kurdish fighters, something president obama declined to do to avoid angering turkey. turkey and nato ally has fought for decades against kurds who want independence. >>> coming up here, it was willing, but the pilots didn't show. chaos broke out. the following ad is being condensed for your viewing convenience. i finally switched to geico. oh yeah? ended u

sending more troops to fight the taliban and is there. former defense official peter brookes is with us to tell us if this about-face is the right battle plan. >>> and is congress ready to break up the banks? congressman blaine is on the house financial services committee gives insider's view of america's biggest piggy banks and how they could be shaken up. on wall street, the nasdaq looking for another record close. the dow and the s&p slightly to the downside as we are less than an hour to the closing bell on wall street. i'm connell mcshane. good to be with you for liz claman. let's start the "countdown.". >> we look at the markets today. the nasdaq and the s&p 500 actually did touch new highs earlier in the trading session. falling energy prices have brought stocks back down to earth as we work our way through the afternoon into the final hour of trading. take a look what's happening in oil today. down by 36 cents. investors continue to worry whether opec can commit to big production cuts? they have a meeting later this month. how thi

be the hardest part of the taliban. it will be to haqqani network the ones that are most closely aligned with al qaeda and you will truly have that terror safe haven again. kennedy: let me ask you quickly, if haqqani and al qaeda somehow collide is that potentially worse than isis? >> i think isis would find a home there to be honest but now you are talking about you have that order region along the east with pakistan that is filled with these terror organizations but if you look at where afghanistan is found -- on them map its neighbors very ran this former soviet russia china india pakistan. >> they have also given stuff to north korea. pakistan is the new turkey. i think they are horrible. >> pakistan has been essentially getting a free pass in the last 10 years. we need to be much stronger on pakistan because nothing will ever be solved certainly not the problem of the taliban will be solved at most we get rid of the sanctuaries in pakistan and pakistan has to do that. enough is enough. we need to put all the aid we

the taliban militants, in the north, the taliban wants to take cities there. hundreds of thousands of families of to leave their homes. the security pressure is very much real. the americans and their response is intriguing. let's speak to gary o'donoghue. why have the americans change their mind? they're getting a stark message from commanders on the ground. general nicholson saying earlier this year effectively there is a stalemate in afghanistan between the afghan forces and the taliban. that he needed several thousand more troops to train, advise and assist the 350,000 strong afghan army, to push the taliban back. it has about one third of the country, controlling directly, or has significant influence. battles over the northern city, taken influence. battles over the northern city, ta ken back influence. battles over the northern city, taken back and forward. reports of controlling a highway in the north—east of the country, a very significant rate. the americans believe if few extra thousand will make a difference. also asking nato to send a few extra

the goal is not to defeat the taliban but to convince them they cannot win and are better off seeking a negotiated end to the war. as joint chiefs chairman general dunford explained, it comes down to which side cracks first. >> we can be tired. but war's a clash of wills. who wins and who loses, who se first. >> reporter: some would conduct raids against terrorist groups like isis and al qaeda. the u.s. military went into afghanistan after 9/11 to prevent it from ever being used again as a base for attacks against the united states. 16 years later, afghanistan has the highest concentration of terrorist groups anywhere on earth. >> david martin at the pentagon. >>> president trump will send weapons to syria's kurdish fighters, something president obama declined to do to avoid angering turkey. turkey and nato ally has fought for decades against kurds who want independence. >>> coming up here, it was willing, but the pilots didn't show. chaos broke out. the following ad for your viewing convenience. i finally switched to geico. oh yeah? ended up saving a ton of money on car

, or some taliban offshoots, claim responsibility. laura: in this case, afghan intelligence is suggesting is the work of a group linked to pakistan. what do you think of that? >> i think this is a credible assessment. if you look at the manner under which this was carried out, the signs of their footprint is not there. i believe they, who are affiliated closely to the linked to pakistani security establishment, they wanted to send a message. this message comes at a time that is very critical. thehe one hand you have u.s.-nato politicians who are going to decide on the fate of the afghan mission. laura: can we know that u.s. generals have said they want 3000 to 5000 troops. would that make a difference, especially if this is a work of that network? does that change the equation? >> from the afghan perspective, yes. these advisors and trainers are absolutely needed in afghanistan in order to make sure such attacks will not happen. i think we have been lax a little bit and the afghan government needs to do a better job of making the secu

so there is no alternative to working towards a political settlement not just with the taliban but with the countries of the region now, immediately. >> sreenivasan: we have been talking about policy, what about the people living through this? kind of seesaw between a local or provincial government control and then back and fort to taliban control? >> from the point of view of the people in afghanistan this war has been going on for almost 40 years since there was a coup detat in 1948. you give the number of people killed and injured in the last 16 years, people believe a million or more people have been killed over the last 40 years including the period of the soviet intervention. it's been a terrible agony that the people of afghanistan have gone through for a long time. of course they have become very resilient and those of them who aren't killed, find ways of adapting but it's becoming more and more difficult for them. >> sreenivasan: barnett rubin, thank you for joining us. >> sreenivasan: tomorrow marks the 100th birthday of john fitzgerald kennedy, the nation's 35th president, wh

kabul has been targeted in the past by the taliban and the islamic state. so there's a range of possibilities here still at this point. given the launch of the spring offensive and the high frequency of attacks in and around kabul, it is likely that the taliban may be behind this particular massive attack. >> what does this mean for security in and around that very secure zone in kabul? a lot of embassies in the area, a huge amount of check points and police sort of number there's stationed in the area. does this worry foreign embassies? we heard talk about foreign targets for the taliban, particularly thissier. that's been this year. that's been a big focus. >> the taliban has, indeed, focused particularly, as it does every year, on targeting what it calls the foreign occupiers, occupiers in afghanistan. of course being able to penetrate a secure area like this is worrying. it could be a sign of faltering security measures or it could be a sign of taliban's penetration into networks in the capital or, indeed, the islamic state if it turns out the islamic s

he's afraid to show his face for fear of the taliban from whom he fled at the time. >> the taliban murdered my father because he was a famous general. that i is why i fleded. if they find me they wilill kill me. i can't go on the streets. i'm afraid for my life. it's not safe here. >> he looks at pictures from germany. he misses his s friends from the school hee attended one has asylum application was rejected. migration did not believe his story and they deported him. >> it's not fair. after six years we were integrating. i learned the language. i did training. it was never easy but we did it. i think it is wrong they would kick us out. >> today he has an appointment, its founder went back to afghanistan a few years a ago. he's helping deportees providing counseseling and emotional support, helping them find work. >> they are in a situation they don't know where to go. they don't have a family or network here. they don't have to find work. they are afraid of security. you are sending people back to nothing. because they don't have anything, they don't find means of survival, as soon as the

the taliban is an important part of the african society. they haven't settled any issue. there are lots of problems and are willing to bring together all of them. what was your second question? >> what is the strategy in syria? we don't have much of a notion of an exit strategy. we need to implement your security council resolution. we need to prevented from turning into the hot battle of extremism and stability. i was asked about -- it was both they respect to iraq and let it. they are obsessed with the idea. that is why they are talking about the settlement. why don't we learn? why do we focus on the settlements rather than ousting these people. president trump, once again is the most important for the u.s. and series is to defeat terrorism. >> it is paper. it means that during that meeting with presidents, he didn't trace the issue of precious involvement into it. they haven't discussed the topic. >> i have just answered that. president trump will publicly say that all of it is falseness. just give me one fact that was everyone keepsd saying that everyone knows everyth

there is no reason for the russians to be arming the taliban. that needs to take place and i'm sure when secretary tillerson meets with the foreign minster, that will come up. >> that's interesting. do you agree? does any conversation about an increased presence start with a conversation with russia to say please don't arm the other side? >> we have to talk with the russians and our allies and countries outside of nato who have been there for a decade and a half with us. they need to be consulted too. we have to talk to the russian who is did indeed end up in a quagmyre themselves and had to pull out at the end of the 80s. if they are arming the taliban and the commanders themselves are convinced of it, they are playing with fire. they are going to make a bad situation worse including for themselves. this could spread into central asia which they say is an area of vital interest with them. >> your view is interesting. talking about annihilating afghanistan has not worked in the history of the world. thanks for joining us. >> you're welcome. >> a

i don't believe our goal any more is to defeat the taliban. i think it's no outlast them with our presence in the region. >> maria: doing that, the troops already on the ground need the backup, isn't that right? >> well, exactly. my.being, 11,400 troops, 12,000 troop, 15,000 troops is not enough to defeat the taliban. so someone that's deployed and is a boot on the ground, has a little bit issue knowing there are 12,000 of my brothers in harms way without any political will to support them and give them a mission to win. 100,000 troops could defeat the taliban. we saw it happening. but politics back home wouldn't let it happen. that's okay if that's the case, we just need to accept that and bring our boys home and girls home, or redefine our mission so that the american people know why their sons and daughters are there and what they will be there doing. >> maria: you make a lot of great points, sergeant. what you're saying though, when you look back to 2007 and 2010, the additional troops worked. >> oh, absolutely. i mean, the al-abar provinc

but there is a difference between afghan taliban and the pakistani taliban and for the most part the afghan taliban their concerns are afghanistan. they want to see all the foreign troops off and want an islamic state there. isis and their branding has tapped into the isis brand of they want to conquer the world in some islamic concept and they have a measure of brutality that is really going against the grain for the civilians. so it's -- i think that their brutality is something that will paint themselves into a corner. we're already seeing the civilian population actually helping us much more in regard to intelligence against isis than they would against the taliban. i think we will eventually be able to get isis out but it will be slow going at a high cost. >> shannon: you talked about how there are dwindling numbers there. a finite numbers, u.s. estimates are 800 isis fighters in afghanistan, which doesn't sound like a lot but you mention the trouble, the terrain there, the long, hard slog it will be. do you think ultimately the u.s. will and other allies be victorious in cleani

troops won't be enough to push the taliban out of business. >> it's also going to cost the u.s. taxpayers billions and billions of additional dollars. barbara, thanks very much. let me bring in senator bill nelson. he's a democrat from florida. senior member of the senate armed services committee. thanks for joining us. >> thanks, wolf. so it would be smart for the u.s. to deploy as many as an additional 5,000 u.s. traps in afghanistan? >> yes. i support it. but wolf, there's no end to this. i am what we found is in occupy and force never wins in afghanistan. look at the whole history of the country. but at this point i don't think we have any other choice. because if we were to get rid of our 80 to 100, now maybe up to 13,000, the alternative, if they were to leave, it's going right back into the hands of the taliban. >> but senator, let me interrupt you. if the u.s. couldn't get it done over these past 15, 16 years, when the u.s. had 50,000 troops there, 75,000 troops there, backed by other nato forces f they couldn't get it done with that kind of level and it was a disaster,

it is notjust the taliban, it is islamic state as well. another country high on president trump's agenda is north korea. and he may not be too happy to learn the new president of south korea is moonjae—in who won 41 percent of the vote. mr moon's parents fled the north during the korean war. according to his autobiography, his father worked at a prisoner—of—war camp, while his mother sold eggs in the port city of busan. in the campaign mr moon promised to improve relations with north korea. he has also questioned the deployment of thaad — a us missile defence system which the us military installed in his country — and with some haste — before the election was held. so, will mr moon adopt a less confrontational approach to north korea and will that be a problem for mr trump? our correspondent steve evans reports from seoul. moonjae—in congratulated moon jae—in congratulated on moonjae—in congratulated on his way to victory tonight. the man taking south korea to the left, and perhaps closer to north korea, he wants to talk

the taliban now control roughly one-third of afghanistan. more than at any time since 2001 when the war began. earlier this year, america's top commander in afghanistan, john nicholson, told the armed forces committee the war was stalled. >> are we winning or losing? >> mr. chairman, i believe we're in a stalemate. >> reporter: 16 years in, the afghan war is costing america more than $3 billion a month. back in 2014, the u.s. military was on its way out, handing afghanistan security over to the afghans. u.s. troop strength, which had peaked at 98,000 in 2010, plummeted to 8,400. but now the pentagon wants to reverse that. it's asked to add 3,000 to 5,000 more personnel, and for authorization to send u.s. forces closer to the front lines, to back up afghan soldiers who are often overwhelmed by the taliban and dying in the thousands. here in brussels, the u.s. has been trying to talk its nato allies into adding thousands more troops in afghanistan as well, but so far the reception has been cool. and as for the decision to beef up u.s. forces,

the taliban now control roughly one-third of afghanistan. more than at any time since 2001 when the war began. >> and this is. >> reporter: earlier this year america's top commander in afghanistan john nik solon-- nicholson told the armed forces committee the war was stalled. >> are we winning or losing 6789. >> mr. chairman, i believe we're in a stalemate. >> reporter: 16 years in, the afghan war is costing america more than $3 billion a month. back in 2014 the u.s. military was on its way out, handing afghanistan security over to the afghans. u.s. troop strength which had peaked at 98,000 in 20-- 210 plummeted to $8,400. but now the pentagon wants to reverse that. it asked to add 3 to 5,000 more personnel. and for authorizization to send u.s. forces closer to the front lines, to back up afghan soldiers who are often overwhelmed by the taliban and dying in the thousands. here in brussels the u.s. has been trying to talk its nato allies into adding thousands more troops in afghanistan as well. but so far the reception has been cool. and as f

the taliban has claimed responsibility. this is a country that remains a quandary for the u.s. government. the government is contemplating sending thousands of more troops. al qaeda and now isis. a new documentary sheds light on the challenges forces face on the grounds there through the eyes of a man whose rule was to break the ties between the taliban and the people in its grip. >> our main goal was to drive a wedge between the taliban and the people. the interpreters are a linchpin to the success of the mission. you always prefer any other interpreter. >> what he was doing was making a difference and making an impact. >> the taliban was hunting rock. >> joining us now two of the producers of saber rock. so for a lot of people what's happening in afghanistan is out of sight, out of mind, but the bottom line is we have a lot of military men and women who are fighting there and of course in this memorial day weekend we honor them. you made it very personal in your documentary. tell us about this man you profile and his role? >> saber rock and he's really interesting guy because

though, the taliban said they are not responsible. officials have described today's bombing as one of the biggest blasts ever in kabul. it shattered windows more than a mile away from explosion's center and blasted a crater more than 13 feet deep into the ground. among those who were killed was aziz navin, who worked for the afghan tv station tolo tv, and mohammed nazir, who has worked as a driver for the bbc afghan service for four years and was killed this morning as he was driving his coworkers to the office. nearby hospitals were inundated with wounded patients after the blast. this is ghulam mohammad. >> i was at my desk when i heard a terrible sound and became unconscious. i did not know what happened to me. a few minutes later when i open my eyes, i found myself under the desk and blood coming out of my shoulder. it was a dreadful explosion. amy: today's bombing comes as the white house is weighing the pentagon's proposal to send thousands more u.s. troops to afghanistan. we will go to couple --kabul after headlines. president

this will not be troops going out there looking for the taliban on their own. there is a separate component, defeating the terrorist networks in investigation and the whole region, andrea, there is some 20 different extremists organizations. some of those go across the border to pakistan. one of the questions is what will the regional approach be? how will pac stan play into all of this. andrea? >> of course that is a question that president's and commanders have been asking now for more than a decade because that is one of the biggest problems, the taliban that is based in pakistan coming over to afghanistan and the pakistan taliban. let's look at what happened in a hearing today where senator ckworth who is a veteran of iraq and an injured one at that. >> it seems like the president, the command er in chief, is shifting the i think he needs to feel his job as commander in chief. >> that is a key thing her, he is delegating more authority to the commanders on the groung. >> we have seen that in somali and yemen. the best example we saw was the decision to drop

the taliban now control roughly one-third of afghanistan. more than at any time since 2001 when the war began. >> and this is. >> reporter: earlier this year america's top commander in afghanistan john nik solon-- nicholson told the armed forces committee the war was stalled. >> are we winning or losing 6789. >> mr. chairman, i believe we're in a stalemate. >> reporter: 16 years in, the afghan war is costing america more than $3 billion a month. back in 2014 the u.s. military was on its way out, handing afghanistan security over to afghans. u.s. troop strength which had peaked at 98,000 in 20-- 210 plummeted to $8,400. but now the pentagon wants to reverse that. it asked to add 3 to 5,000 more personnel. and for authorizization to send u.s. forces closer to the front lines, to back up afghan soldiers who are often overwhelmed by the taliban and dying in the thousands. here in brussels the u.s. has been trying to talk its nato allies into adding thousands more troops in afghanistan as well. but so far the reception has been cool. and as for t

senior military leaders want to send at least 3000 troops as the 16-year war with the taliban rhines on with shockingly high casualties for the afghan army. >> afghan security forces are struggling to contain the taliban. insurgents killed more than 130 soldiers last month at an army base in northern afghanistan. the militant group had been ousted from power by the there hasnvasion, but been a recent upsurge in its activities. last month, america's top commander in afghanistan said nato forces were facing a stalemate and needed more resources to fight jihadists. the united states official combat role in the country ended in december of 2014. >> america's combat mission will be over by the end of this year. but nearly three years on, 8400 u.s. troops remain in the , conducting counterterrorism missions and providing support and training to afghan soldiers. last month, american soldiers took over command in helmand province as the u.s. defense secretary announced that the trump administration was reviewing its policy on afghanistan. >> 2017 is going to be another tough year for the val

>> part of it are the recent gains on the battlefield by the taliban. if you remember last month taliban militants killed afghan soldiers on an assault on a military base. president trump is going to the nato summit later this month where he promised to pressure other nato countries to contribute more troops as well. so he comes from a better negotiating standpoint if he is able to say that the u.s. is sending in more troops as well. >> bill: good point. thank you so much. kristin fisher at the pentagon today. >> shannon: for more on that steve hayes is editor and chief of the weekly standard an fox news contributor. this represents a shift in many ways from what we had under the obama administration. critics of this potential move to add more troops in say listen, even as the obama administration got levels up to 100,000 troops it didn't solve the problems in afghanistan. they are very skeptical sending more troops back. >> i don't think anybody should think we can solve the problems of afghanistan. those problems are vast. unlikely we'll be able to so

he wanted to kill those soldiers for protecting the taliban. let me bring in lou. >> the issue here is that comey had it wrong from the very beginning.

reporter: we saw the taliban announcing its offensive after their former leader killed in a u.s. drone strike. this is very much the fighting season. it's been 300 years since marines have ride -- arrived in the southern province. 2017 unfortunately looks like is another bloody year and the taliban managed to control an area and they are much more powerful. betterve better weapons, forces, and they have expanded their area of recruitment. presence in the eastern province, which is another threat. as you and i are speaking, isis are trying fighters to control an eastern province. what this mean is more fighting and afghan villages, more fighting and afghan highways, less security for the people, less business, and less investment. unfortunately, this looks very, very grim for ordinary people in afghanistan. will beddle east peace the top of the agenda at the white house later this wednesday when president donald trump holds his first talks with the palestinian leader abbas. he has already met the israeli prime minister and has controversially renounced support for the palestinian

>> the taliban continues to make something of a come back. the administration essentially wants to put in more troops to work with the afghan government forces to push back against the taliban. not to defeat them militarily, that's not going to happen. but to persuade the taliban to come to the negotiating table. i'll be honest, i'm skeptical, i have been involved in u.s. policy toward afghanistan for more than 25 years and it's not clear to me how a few thousand more american troops will tip the balance. i think sooner rather than later, we have either got to get the pakistanis to stop providing asylum to the taliban or we're going to have to come up with more modest goals in afghanistan and we're going to have to try to shore up the government and defeat the taliban, probably a more moderate interest in terrorists than in other cuntries. >> we'll be right back. the smoother the skin, you are in it. so find a venus smooth that contours to curves, flexes for comfort, and has a disposable made for you. skin smoothing venus razors. venus when p

so they are in conversation with taliban. we have seen indications that they have offered some level of support, but i have not seen real physical evidence of weapons or money being transferred. they have had conversations because they want to be part of the solution, "solution" in the afghan theater. they will continue to battle, and they will continue to bet on all of the horses, including taliban, so they have a say when there is a political solution. sen. fischer: director. dir. coats: i am privileged to be able to serve with general stewart. one of the great things about this job i inherited is that i inherited a group of people that are experienced in the areas that they interact in, and they have been enormously supportive and helpful. and so it is -- i think it points out the fact that the act that was passed in 2005, i believe it was and enacted in 2006, has benefited in terms of our ability to reach out to all of the 16 agencies to collect the information necessary to integrate that into a coherent and effective int

the taliban now control roughly 1/3 of afghanistan. more than at any time since 2001, when the war began. earlier this year america's top commander in afghanistan, john nicholson, told the armed forces >> are we winning or losing? >> m stalemate. >> reporter: 16 years in, the afghan war is costing america more than $3 billion a month. back in 2014 the u.s. military was on its way out, handing afghanistan security over to the afghans. ppeaked at 98,000 in 2010, had plummeted to 8,400. but now the pentagon wants to reverse that. it's asked to add 3,000 to 5,000 more personnel and for authorization to send u.s. forces closer to the front lines, to back up afghan soldiers who are often overwhelmed by the taliban and dying in the thousands. here in brussels the u.s. has been trying to talk its nato allies into adding thousands well, but so far the receptionc. and as for the decision to beef up u.s. forces, it has been postponed, scott, until the president returns to washington. >> liz palmer with us in brussels tonight. liz, thank you. we'r

right now, the estimate is the taliban hold 10% of the country. the country has 60%. the other 30% is contested. we have to make sure that 30% doesn't fall into taliban hands. >> shepard: what do we know about the specific mission of the additional troops combined with those already on ground? >> yeah, we don't really know. i'm surmising from what i know about the past proposals. again, the main additional capability was these teams of advisers together with the support, the rapid response strike groups that would be needed to help them if they got into trouble, the logistics to get them supplies if they were off in the distant parts of the country. think of it in terms of maybe 20 teams of advisers, each one of them with 20 people. support behind them, logistics, protection, et cetera adds up to 2,000 to 4,000 people here. >> the specifics are not with us yet on deployment. michael, thank you. >> thank you. >> shepard:. trump has given the green light now for the united states to arm kurdish fighters in syria despite objections from one of our key allies. that's the

the taliban now control roughly 1/3 of afghanistan. more than at any time since 2001, when the war began. earlier this year america's top commander in afghanistan, john nicholson, told the armed forces committee the war was stalled. >> are we winning or losing? >> mr. chairman, i believe we're in a stalemate. >> reporter: 16 years in, the afghan war is costing america more than $3 billion a month. back in 2014 the u.s. military was on its way out, handing afghanistan security over to the afghans. ppeaked at 98,000 in 2010, had plummeted to 8,400. but now the pentagon w t reverse that. it's asked to add 3,000 to 5,000 more personnel and for authorization to send u.s. forces closer to the front lines, to back up afghan soldiers who are often overwhelmed by the taliban and dying in the thousands. here in brussels the u.s. has been trying to talk its nato allies into adding thousands more troops in afghanistan as well, but so far the reception has been cool. and as for the decision to beef up u.s. forces, it has been postponed, scott, unti

general nicholson has said it would take two to three years to gain an advantage over the taliban. the goal is not to defeat the taliban but to convince them they cannot win and that they're better off seeking a negotiated end to the war. as joints chief chairman general dunford explained to cami mccormick of cbs radio, it comes down to which side cracks first. >> we can be tired but wars clash. who wins and who loses. who loses is who lost first. some of which would conduct raids against terrorist groups like isis and al qaeda. david martin, cbs news, the pentagon. >>> in a stunning move president trump fired fbi director james comey. the president cited comey's actions in the hillary clinton e-mail investigation. comey was leading the investigation into possible collusion between the trump campaign and russian officials in the u.s. election. democrats and some republicans want to know why comey was fired now and are calling for a special prosecutor to take over the case. >> if the administration had objections to the way director comey handled the clinton investigation, they had

supply, air support, all of these basic things that the home team should have been fighting against the taliban. >> tucker: it sounds like, finally, you don't see any conventional military solution, we just occupied and said to submission. >> not at all. we fought for the last 15 years with the first infantry division model. now, we should ride with an east india company model. we should do it much cheaper. there's a trillion dollars of value on the ground, mining, minerals, and another trillion of oil and gas. that is the u.s. geological survey estimates. yet, you don't have a mining law and afghanistan. even the whole approach of placing u.s. bases was altered to control land and territory. but not the arteries that make

in the taliban's case and they overlap with groups in use pakistan. in other groups they pose a great threat to russia. here you have a they are doing it just reflexively. so, can we shift the relationship such that there is room for cooperation in key areas where interests overlap? >> chris: you don't see that n now.the >> you don't see that now. we have to look for changes in behavior.wh we need changes in words and the nature of the relationship. what we really need to see his change in behavior. >> chris: the final question. one hundred days in, is there a trump doctrine and form policy that is taking place #we have clearly seen this president is willing to use force been brocke obama was, both of the missile h strike in syria, we have it in the on the screen. also that huge moab bomb dropped in afghanistan. but so far he has not back that up with a clear strategy and fighting isis, in winning the war in afghanistan.re >> his strategy is to advocate for the security and interest o the american people every day. and to ensure that we're doing all t

though, the taliban said they are not responsible. officials have described today's bombing as one of the biggest blasts ever in kabul. it shattered windows more than a mile away from explosion's center and blasted a crater more than 13 feet deep into the ground. among those who were killed was aziz navin, who worked for the afghan tv station tolo tv, and mohammed nazir, who has worked as a driver for the bbc afghan service for four years and was killed this morning as he was driving his coworkers to the office. nearby hospitals were inundated with wounded patients after the blast. this is ghulamam mohammad. >> i wasas at my desk when i hed a terrible sound and becamame unconscious. i did not know what happenened o me. a few minutes later when i open my eyes, i found myself under the desk and blood coming out of my shoulder. it was a dreadful explosion. amy: today's bombing comes as the white house is weighing the pentagon's proposal to send thousands more u.s. troops to afghanistan. we will go to couple --kabul after headlines. presi

they are in conversation with taliban. we have seen indications that they have offered some level of support, but i have not seen real physical evidence of weapons or money being transferred. they have had conversations because they want to be part of " solution," in the afghan theater. they will continue to bet on all of the horses, including taliban, so they have a say when there is a political solution. dir. coats: i am privileged to be able to serve with general stewart. one of the great things about this job i inherited is that i inherited a group of people that are experienced in the areas that they interact in, and they have been enormously supportive and helpful. and so it is -- i think it points out the fact that the act that was passed in 2005, i believe, and enacted in 2006 has benefited in terms of our ability to reach out to all of the agencies and collect the information necessary to integrate that into a coherent and effective intelligence assessment. you agreeen: would with the assessment of russia's involv

on saturday, the taliban took control of the district of qala—e—zal. severe flooding in heavy rain has trapped more than 400 people in the village in southern china. the floodwaters are more than three metres deep in parts. local authorities have issued emergency response, sending food and drinking water to villages involved. and riot police in rotterdam have clashed with fans at the local football club, feyenoord, after the tea m football club, feyenoord, after the team suffered an unexpected defeat. thousands of supporters had gathered in the city centre to celebrate their first league title in 18 yea rs. their first league title in 18 years. instead, feyenoord lost 3—0. 82 chibok schoolgirls, held for three years by the islamist group boko haram, meet nigeria's president. i, nelson rolihlahla mandela, do hereby serve to be faithful to the republic of south africa. after six years of construction and numerous delays, the channel tunnel has been formally opened by the queen and president mitterrand. the tunnel is still not yet ready for passengers a

troops to take out the taliban. no final call has been made, but the consequential decision could come soon. >>> plus, president trump hits back following new revelations on what brought down michael flynn. the former acting attorney general in dramatic testimony says flynn's lies made him vulnerable to blackmail by russia. >>> and nbc news first to report it was the trump administration's second warning about flynn. >>> also ahead, former president obama's return to the global stage this morning. warning the world about the impact of climate change. what he is saying about president trump's policies on that issue and life after the white house. we'll have a live report from milan, italy. >>> good morning, everyone. i'm chris jansing in washington, d.c. we begin with that incredibly important decision facing donald trump. should he okay a major u.s. troop buildup in afghanistan? the recommendation is from his senior military and foreign policy advisers to send in at least several thousand more troops into the 16 yea

i have absolutely no sympathy with the allegiances of his taliban victim, but allowing the man who breached the geneva convention and killed and injured prisoner of war to justify himself in this way is disgusting. he was provided with a platform and allowed to minimise his actions and suggest there was justification not known to the general public. thanks for all your comments this week. if you want to share your opinions on bbc news and current affairs, or even appear on the programme, you can call us... you can find us on twitter. do have a look at our website for previous discussions. bbc.co.uk/newswatch. that's all from us. we'll be back to hear your thoughts about bbc news coverage again next week. goodbye. hello and welcome to the film review on bbc news. 50, we have a political thriller on bbc news. so, we have a political thriller called miss sloan. we have alien: covenant, the latest in the ongoing alien franchise. and jawbone, written by and starring johnny harris. miss sloan and even you looking at the poster, i wanted to like this, because you think it is washington, it is the

the taliban and other insurgents control right now 40% of the country. >> all right. keep us posted as we continue to monitor developments after that huge explosion near the diplomatic quarter. >>> advance to counter nuclear threat from north korea. pentagon announcing it shot down mock intercontinental ballistic missile. the test using an upgraded ground intercept system conducted over the ocean. the u.s. has a capable, credible deterrent against a very real threat. let's get more from paula hancock who joins us live from seoul with this significant development. good morning to you, paula. >> reporter: well, hello, dave. u.s. officials have described this as high-speed effort to hit one bullet with another bullet, specifying just how difficult it is to take out even a mock up icbm in mid-flight. they say it was a success. we heard from the pentagon and also the missile defense agency saying it's not just because of north korea that they are making sure this intercept missile is successful but the fact is north korea is pretty much the only sovereign state around the

we've been up against the taliban and now isis in afgh afghanistan for some time. i think it's more symbolic. i think it says that, listen, the obama administration was on a downward trajectory. i think this is president trump saying we're here to stay, we recognize that this is in the u.s. interests to try and make sure, as trump has said, his signature issue is to go after the terrorists. and so, he wants to make sure at the heart of where the 9/11 plot was happened that we're still going to have a presence and we're going to be there for some time. but as for outright defeating the taliban, i don't see it just from this increase. >> at the root of this, as you mentioned, he's trying to signal some contrast between the obama administration. it seems, though, when a president is president, they realize the reality of this. obama was trying to draw down troops to a level that he in the end just couldn't achieve. why is it so necessary in the views of most people in foreign policy to maintain a longstanding presence? >> i think that because it was the birthplace of