500pound bombs. The campaign of terrorism against the innocent show all of the warning signs of genocide. To prevent a potential act of genocide. The world needs to join us in a condemnation of isis action. The United States of america cannot turn a blind eye. Good to have you with us tonight. Thanks for watching. We start with breaking news, president obama has authorized targeted military air strikes in iraq. They unfolded today. The United States military conducted several targets in iraq today. Earlier this morning two f18s dropped guided bombs on is is military operations. A drone struck a terrorist mortar position. At 11 20 a. M. Eastern, four f hifr 18s bombed a convoy of seven vehicles and aircraft made two passes, dropped a total of eight laser guided bombs all of the targets were neutralized. Where does this end . What does it mean . The air strikes targeted radical Islamic Forces trying to take over the kurdish city of erbil. The United States has diplomatic and military personnel within that city. This is the first in what is expected to be a series of american air strikes if isis forces continue their assault on the city. President obama made clear when american lives are at risk, he will act. We intend to stay vigilant and take action if the terrorist forces threaten our facilities anywhere in iraq, including our con so late in er bill or baghdad. Also authorized air drops for areas west of mosul, iraq, 40,000 ethnic minorities are currently trapped atop the contin sinjar mountain. They are without food and water and dying of dehey drags. If they head down the mountain they face a murderous trail by isis forces. The president authorized targeted air strikes to save the lives of people trapped on the mountain. President obama said the United States cannot turn a blind eye to genocide. When we face a situation like we do on that mountain, with innocent people facing the prospect of violence on a horrific scale, when we have a mandate to help in this case a request from the Iraqi Government, and when we have the unique capabilities to help avert a massacre, i believe the United States of america cannot turn a blind eye. We can act carefully and responsibleably to prevent a potential act of genocide. These two operations put the United States military right back in the conflict in iraq. Its a situation war weary americans are not sure about at this hour but they made clear the United States will not be dragged into another war in iraq. I ran for this office in part to end the war in iraq and welcome our troops home. Thats what weve done. As commander in chief, i have i will not allow the United States to be dragged into war in iraq. Even as we support iraqis fighting against the terrorists, american combat troops will not be returning to fight in iraq. That is something we all hope president obama holds the line on. Personally i think the air strikes will lead to no good. In 24 hours we have gone from they are going to be limited air strikes to there is no end date to these air strikes. What does it mean . None of us know. Let me bring in former navy admiral and former pennsylvania congressman joe sestak. Good to have you with us. You were in military intelligence 30 years in the navy. Your assessment of what you know to this point . How far and how long will this go . Is that something that can be answered . Well, i think what the president had to do was set certain benchmarks for a mission and weigh the cost and benefits at each step of the benchmarks, one of them is humanitarian air lift. You mentioned it. We can do that. Thats pretty easy. We can do it safely and drops of humanitarian supplies. The second one is using artillery from the air, aircraft in order to stop the advance of isil. I think the president is correct and heres why. This is the richest terrorist organization of any of them. And we cant permit them to have substantial territory in iraq thats a safe haven that with their money they can eventually influence bad things in western europe and in america. No Ground Troops but the kurds and Iraqi Government forces with aid from us can do the grunt groundwork. Our job and i think the president maybe even should have acted earlier before 200,000 refugees wends into kurdistan to stop in the open the advance of isil. We can do this safely with minimum risk and for other interest we should. Joe, if these terrorists are well fueled, well armed and well trained, wealthy and have the wherewithal and better than any other terrorist group out there, how are american citizens to believe that limited air strikes is going to hold a bunch like this back, that they are going to turn and quit and get off the mission . This is different than afghanistan. Where we had to go in with Ground Forces into hunt out al qaeda and chase them into pakistan. Theres actually a very good Kurdish Force there that has been begging us for additional arms that isil has. Theres pretty darn good iraqi forces. I said on your show two months ago that isil was going to be at the end of the line once they came up against the best iraqi forces. They cant get baghdad. What theyve done is pivoted and gone against the outpost of kurd i stan. There are two entities to handle that if given sufficient support. But ed, this is the important part, the president should have benchmarks and if they arent being met, that is the advance keeps going on, then he has to go to the contingency plan, containment all around iraq. Thats not what they did before but this president has set the limit no Ground Troops. So we can do with this artillery from the air or have a good chance of achieving a stoppage of isis. Can we contain extremists . Extremists always come back. Extremists are driven from the heart and soul. They are willing to die for it. This is jihad on their part. So i dont know you would have to wipe them all out if you really want to erase the problem, wouldnt you . At this point this is just an american operation. I would like to forget about them and think theyve disappeared but we dont have a choice. We went into iraq and as general powell said, if you break it, you own it. What happened here in syria, as well as iraq, splinter groups have sprung up, were having to bear with the cost of very unwise decision to go into iraq now. We can do this by different means today because the technology of our military has hans formed over the last decade. It doesnt mean were going to be successful of eradicating them but with the intelligence and ed, this includes the nsa, we can gain the intelligence to do circle strikes and eventually close down the money that flows to them. I think when saudi arabia and other countries like that and kuwait, that initially funded isis begin to understand the dangers against them, then we can cooperate and close them down by other means. This is a fight. I dont think the global war on terror has ended. Okay. This is got a lot of dynamics to it no doubt. I want to go back, admiral sestak to your previous comment about the kurds. How good is the kurds when it comes to military resource and operations and how would you pair them up against isis . Whos a better army . Whos more fit and more driven . Well, the kurds were the best forces in the earl early 90s, if you remember general zindy went over there and air lifted 600 pilots a day as Saddam Hussein was trying to eradicate the kurds. Ask turkey. But admiral, that was 20 years ago over time yeah, okay. Over time their training with the right quick forces there, some potential that we can bring turkey and other places, i think they can be rapidly brought up to speed. They are tough. Ask general zinny, they are pretty tough. I think we can with them doing that with can stop them. So it would be pure speculation for us to say this, but i think its within the conversation in the realm of possibility here, that arming the kurds is an option to make sure that we dont end up with boots on the ground, that we could keep our air strikes and our involvement at a limited level and still deal with isis . Without a question. They have been asking for two months for us to do this and frankly i think because of the dynamics of giving arms to the kurds and Prime Minister maliki doesnt want that because shes a shia, we let the dynamics of the governance of iraq overcome the pure frank National Defense of certain areas that are in our interest to make sure that isis doesnt move against. Lets go ahead and give them the arms. I know its going to upset turkey and maliki, but we dont have a choice. We dont want wide swaths of territory owned by isis. Okay, admiral sestak obviously well have you back. Really appreciate you. Great to be on. We appreciate your time here tonight. Let me bring in michael ohanlon. Good to have you on with us. Your assessment of our involvement at this point . We have gone from limited air strikes to no end date. What does that mean . First of all, congratulations on a great conversation with admiral sestak. That was very informative. I thought he really brought out a couple of points that some of the military dynamics in regard to the kurdish fight with isil are favorable to us. But to back your point up, it doesnt mean they are going to end today or tomorrow. This could be an extended operation. But i think that part of it will be limited in the sense that the kurds are a cohesive ground force and they may need more weaponry, but i think our role there can be limited to the air and trying to make sure thesisil convoys that are visible and targetable moving across the open roads can be hit by american air power pretty well. Thats the more finite part of the job. Your concern is appropriate and most sort of salient is in regard to what could come next as we try to think about helping iraqis take back the core of the north and west of the country from isil down the road. Thats sort of longer term proposition. Thats the hardest question. I guess my point is whats plan b and plan c . To be prepared if this first effort to thwart isis and going after and creating a horrible humanitarian situation and murderous path for this people, whats our next step . Im sure the president has thought about that, but i dont know how you can do that without number one putting Ground Troops involved or making sure that the people on the ground are going to be able to fight back against isis and clearly in that degree graphic part of iraq it would be the kurds. Were in this. I mean, would you agree were in this now . Thats right. It may bother me a little less than it bothers you because i heard your opening and heard how much you were adamantly get against getting engaged. My number one concern is making sure the isil group doesnt strike at the United States. We have to think of this as a longterm struggle to minimize their power. If it takes a plan b or c, im willing to contemplate what that could entail. Okay. With that, what would have happened had president obama not taken action in the last 24 hours . I think he made smart moves. I was worried about the tens and thousands on mountain. They may not be out of danger yet as you rightly argued in your opening and even if weve gotten them food for a day or two or three, doesnt mean its going to be the end of the problem. What if the isil group starts charging the mountain or shoot at our airplanes when we do Subsequent Air drops. That one is not over yet. The kurdish one does play to our strengths militarily. We can provide limited amounts of precise air power and i would be very surprised if that one doesnt work out pretty well for us within kurdistan itself. That wont help us take back ramadi, fallujah, not going to necessarily answer how the iraqi army can take back mosul, fallujah and ramadi and so forth. Who should the expectation be . We have to figure out a way to persuade him step down. Im willing to see us do more in iraq but shouldnt be under this Prime Minister. I dont think he can be successful. I think hes already polarized and divided the country so much that theres no realistic way he can get that iraqi army to go on the fight, on the offensive back into the sunni areas of the country, the cities i just mentioned, places where isil is in control. It will require a government of National Unity he cannot lead. The Obama Administration is handling it correctly by trying to make the argument quietly. Thats the right approach. Michael ohanlon, i appreciate your time tonight from the brookings institute. Thanks for joining us, well come back to you. Appreciate it. Coming up, how we got here, a history of the United States involvement in iraq. Continuing fight against unions in the state of wisconsin, going round two, going after firefighters and policemen. Or if power could go anywhere . Or if light could seek out the dark . What would happen if that happens . Anything. Im spending too much timer our calhiringer. And not enough time in my kitchen. Need to hire fast . 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So every time you use it, youre not just shopping for goods. Youre shopping for something great. Learn more at buypowercard. Com welcome back. America has been in and out of iraq for the last 23 years. The last four president s have all used military action. Tonight we take a look back at how this all started. Kuwait city, the morning of the invasion, iraqis making no mistake about it, came by land and sea and by air. Theres no place for this sort of naked aggression in todays world. You need a collective and effective will. I ask for your support in a decision ive made to stand up for whats right and condemn whats wrong all in the cause of peace. Youve ordered the iraqi army to blow up the oil fields of kuwait. Scenes apocalyptic devastation. Sir rens are still going. Lets listen. As many of you should head to the shelter again. Get arthur kent to find out we just saw saudi arabia, not an encouraging sign. Military targets in iraq and kuwait. These attacks continue as i speak. Ground forces are not engaged. Desert storm continues to rage across kuwait and southern iraq. Theres a 70,000 American Army task force now driving deep into iraq. The allied liberation of kuwait city began after dawn when a convoy of u. S. Marines moved to secure the embassy. Caches of weapon left standing and heavy ammunition and rifles and all sorts of things that have been left. Tanks have been left sitting in the middle of the street while they ran away. It was a classic, absolutely classic military breaching of a very, very tough mine field. Saudi soldiers were at prayer, thanking their god that this jihad, this war between good and evil has so far been short, bloodless and the good guys have finally won. The greatest danger facing america and the world is outlaw regimes that seek and possess nuclear weapons. Began selecting targets of military importance to undermine Saddam Husseins ability to wage war. About an hour and a half after the president s deadline the first reports came in of explosions in baghdad. The iraqi capital city has been the target of two strikes against buildings and bunkers where the iraqi leadership lives and works. The start of the campaign called shock and awe. Get the brass to bend but not to break apparently. My fellow americans, major combat operations in iraq have ended when American Forces finally caught up with Saddam Hussein he was hiding a a crawl space, a spider hole. The rest of the group needs to get out too under intense fire. As you know, were on the offense against insurgents and terrorists. General petraeus who has served incredibly well in iraq, his job was to help u. S. Forces and Coalition Forces train iraqis so they can take the fight to the enemy. Theres no military solution to this, weve got to have a political solution. This weekend the number of troops killed in iraq reached 4,000. Today american troops have transferred control of all iraqi cities and towns to iraqs government. Weve now been through nearly a decade of war. American combat mission in iraq has ended. Operation iraqi freedom is over. Weve begun operations to help save iraqi civilians stranded on the mountain. In one of the most unpredictable parts of the world. Even as we support iraqis as they take the fight to these terrorists out there in the dark, along the beach, Proof Positive that this is still a war zone. American combat troops will not be returning to fight in iraq. The political and military implications of all of this are dangerous. Today america is coming to help. Joining us tonight, former chief of staff of secretary of state colin powell and professor at the college of william and mary in virginia in williamsburg. Your boss, colin powell said at the time, he told the president , you break it, you own it. Are we at that point . Is this a mop up of what maybe we shouldnt have done . Weve been at that point since the statue came down in baghdad in 2003. In for a penny, in for a pound. The latest is a couple of f18 strike fighters and drones. One wonders what the pound is going to be. Do you agree with the president s course of action at this point . Is this something we had to do at this moment . I think we have neglected the political situation in iraq to the sense that yes, youre right, the political situation being essentially that it isnt so much the Islamic State and thats there new name, they no longer want to be associated with syria or iraq but Islamic State. Their effectiveness because they have sunnis on their side, the same sunnis that David Petraeus youll recall awakened, because of malikis inept rule from baghdad. The real power in iraq right now is not so much the Islamic State as it is the sunnis backing them and souddy saudis funding them. This isnt going to change in my view. The first thing we should have done sometime ago is worked hard to get maliki out of there and get someone in there who can be more tolerant of his brothers. Colonel, have we learned something from this from our previous involvement in iraq that maybe democracy isnt going to work and maybe we went abridge too far in believing that maliki could bring some kind of inclusion and former government to iraq that we would never have to go down this road again. What did we learn . Youre right that was an as pieration too far. I will say that we could have picked a better ruler. We could have picked someone who would be more not a jefferson yan democrat as you suggested, but picked someone who was going to be more tolerant of the different political entities that exist in iraq, principleably the sunnis and shia but you have lots of others. So we need someone in there who understands that if he wants to maintain the sovereignty and integrity of iraq, wants to keep the Kurdish Regional government within iraq and keep all of iraq together, hes got to use all of iraq and maappeal to all of ira and give everybody a little bit of political apple. This is not maliki. Thats not to say there isnt someone there that would believe that and would try to accomplish that. It would be a hard sell to get americans to believe there might be someone out there that could be different to bring all of the factions together at this point. Im not sure if this country has the appetite for the resource. I know exactly what youre saying i agree with you. Were at a point now where we really dont know what the right move is. And the move at this hour is that we went in to save 40,000 people from being massacred but what is round two going to be . And how are we going to deal with isis, any thoughts on that . Youve summed it up. Whats the pound going to be . Is it going to be eventually Ground Forces . I dont see how air power is going to make the Kurdish Forces or largely shia Iraqi Military suddenly grow a heart and soul and patriotism. I dont see it. Whats going to happen if we dont substantially intervene . Whats going to happen if we do substantially intervene. All well do is stabilize the situation moment airily and wait for it to fall apart again unless were prepared to stay there forever. We put ourselves in a really dicey situation. Within 20 years is upon us at this hour, its going to be pretty ominous situation. Theres no doubt. Colonel, i want your reaction and maybe im maybe im looking too closely at this, but in the last 24 hours, weve gone from the terminology of limited air strikes to no end date. What does that mean . Weve also thrown genocide out there. I wish i really wish more sir couple inspect in the use of his language. Let me suggest something to you. The most stable country in southwest asia right now is iran, yes, iran, the most stable country in southwest asia. There are better relations with iran is absolutely necessary for a solution in afghanistan and solution in syria, a solution in iraq or solution in the larger region. One of the things we should be doing right now and i hope we are doing behind the scenes is we should be using these Nuclear Negotiations to open a wider tape stri with iran and build the kind of relationship we had when indeed iran was our hedge mont in the gulf from 1953 to 1979. Colonel lawrence wilkerson, thanks so much. Still ahead, the fight for labor rights continues in wisconsin. Its round two there. Rapid Response Panel weighs in and kirby couch club wants to have their hate and eat it too. Pretenders is next. Ask ed live coming up. Were right back. Cadmium, mercury, lead. All on the periodic table. All inside these, too. Now the last thing we want is for all that to mix with water. So recycle. Youll keep your planet clean, tmyk. Finally, the purple pill,hr the 1 prescribed acid blocking brand, comes without a prescription for frequent heartburn. Get complete protection. Nexium level protection™ virtually all your important legal matters in just minutes. Now its quicker and easier for you to start your business, protect your family, and launch your dreams. At legalzoom. Com we put the law on your side. Welcome back xgt weve got time for one on this friday. It comes from caroline. She wants to know in Saddam Hussein were alive, would isis be the threat they are today . Well to be monday morning quarterback you could be 100 right, based on the way hussein swash squashed every opposition he faced as a dictator, i dont think they would have had an opportunity to get off the ground. The whole dynamic of the country changed after our invasion in this effort to give democracy and freedom on the march and injected ourselves into their flossfy and tried to make it work. The factions are still there and extremists are coming to be a huge problem. I think Saddam Hussein, it would not have evolved to what it is today. Rapid Response Panel is next. Im ham pton pearson with your cnbc market wrap, the dow soars 185 points and s p jumps 22 and nasdaq adds 36. It was a tough july for mcdornlds, the largest restaurant chain said global sales fell 2. 5 and u. S. Sales 3. 2 and workers were more productive in the second quarter, 2. 4 annual rate, a big improvement over q1 when it actually declined. Thats it from cnbc, first in business worldwide. The pain in my scalp area and down the back of my neck was intense. It would have been virtually impossible in that confined space to move to change radio frequencies. I mean it hurt. I couldnt even get up and drive let alone teach somebody and be responsible in an airplane. As a pilot that meant i was grounded. Woooooah. [ male announcer ] youre not just looking for a house. Youre looking for a place for your life to happen. Zillow. For over 19 million people. [ alex ] transamerica helped provide a lifetime of retirement income. So i can focus on what matters most. [ female announcer ] everyone has a moment when tomorrow becomes real. Transamerica. Noyou can watch live tv anytime. Everyone has a moment when tomorrow becomes real. Its never been easier, with so Many Networks all in one place. Get live tv whenever you want. The xfinity tv go app. Now with live tv on the go. Enjoy over wifi or on Verizon Wireless 4g lte. Plus, now you get up to a 100 prepaid card when you purchase any new Verizon Wireless smartphone or tablet from comcast. Visit comcast. Com wireless to learn more welcome back. Last week in a 52 decision, the Wisconsin State Supreme Court upheld Governor Scott walkers antiunion law known as act 10. The lead opinion read like this, collective bargaining remains a creation of legislative grace and not constitutional obligation. Act 10 effectively ended collective bargaining for most public workers. I say most. Because walker and the republican lawmakers exempted police and firefighters from the law, saying that they couldnt risk strikes by Public Safety personnel. Folks, back then i told you, it was a matter of time until walker and his kroennys would want to expand these restrictions of collective bargaining. Today afsme sent out a treat reminding voters what walker said last summer when he was asked about the potential to expand the law to police and firefighters. I think now for those areas, having seen that the world didnt come to an end for all of your municipal employees and county employees, there might be a greater opener Going Forward because theyd say, hey, things worked out. It sounds a lot like i got away with it the first time, what do you say we go to round two . The next day walker claimed he simply made an observation in response to a question saying that there isnt a specific proposal im pushing, walker spokesperson clarified, if the issue were to arise in the legislature, the governor would take a look at it as he does with many other issues. Yeah, right. Folks, let me tell you something, this is why every single election and every single vote matters. If you live in the great state of wisconsin, you need to Pay Attention before it is too late. Because if you give republicans an inch, they are going to be taking a mile. The men and women who risk their lives to protect and serve could ends up being the ones who pay the price next when it comes to protections in the workplace and collective bargaining. Joining me tonight our rapid Response Panel, Waylon Mitchell and president of the Firefighters Local 311 in madison and also with us tonight, ruth coniff editor in chief of the progressive. Ruth, what is your interpretation of what the republicans are collectively saying and the way they are handling this when it pops up . I think walker would be incredibly stupid to undercut the people who handed a political favor for endorsing him. Walk police supported walker when he ran for election, he exempted them from the attack on unions and it would be an act of desperation on his part. The polls now show the wisconsin governors race in a dead heat. So we have an incumbent governor in a position of trying to shore up his base and flex his muscles for the right wingers who really formed the substance of his base. Thats not a good position for him to be in as an incumbent. It doesnt put walker in a great position thats where he is. I think it doesnt come as a surprise unions across the state. The Supreme Court decision was really the final blow after a long bitter side of legal fights over that and unions are trying to regroup and think about a new model of trying understanding how to get peoples political power organized and fight for working people in the state because they cant appeal to the state officials, right wingers that walker appointed to look out for their interests. How concerned are firefighters about this, that you may be the next target when it comes to collective bargaining . In 2011 we knew it was a possibility when came out with front lines with brothers and sisters in labor, it was the right thing to do. We respond. Thats senly what we were doing. But this is bigger than about labor unions in our state or workers rights, this is really about an attack on the middle class. What the governor has done has created a villain create a villain and attack that vil in. This is what Governor Walker has done. Look at the state over the last two years, take out act 10. Refused to take the federal medicate expansion, gone. 77,000 wisconsinites no longer have Health Coverage and will cost the taxpayer 119 million and took 3. 6 billion from k through 12 education in the first budget then put 1. 2 million back this last budget and calls that progress. Its a billion dollar the first time and Million Dollars back and calls that progress. He promised 250,000 jobs. Were going to be nowhere near that mark. Right now were in a spot where weve got to have wisconsinites whats going on. Were ten out of ten, last number ten when it comes to job growth. Ive got to say like drake said it, we start from the bottom and now were here. I hope the people realize in wisconsin, what happens at the polls is important. Well, doesnt the Supreme Court upholding act 10 really make anybody in a union a real political target . And do you trust the republicans that they are not going to be coming after you and respect the fact they dont want problems with the police and firefighters and want support . Right now were not quite sure. Our legislative session is over until january. We got a heated election right now with mary burke and Governor Walker. Were going to keep our eyes on the prize and do what we have to do to change an entire state of wisconsin. Were going to make sure our voices are loud and clear that just because were exempt as firefighters and Police Officers that were still in this fight. Weve been on the front lines from the getgo and continue on the fron lines until the job is done. Ruth, isnt this the perfect story to get republican legislators on the record on where they stand on this . I think yeah, its a good idea to track them down and ask them a couple of questions. What i see here is the back firing of walk ares divide and con quer strategy. He did in fact divide and conquer the state. They are tired of being divided and things arent going well. They are looking away from walker. They are looking away from walker because i think number one the jobs but this is also a trust issue, isnt it, ruth . Do you trust can the firefighters and Police Officers who in the area that supported him come back and trust him knowing that, hes really going to protect our bargaining rights . Isnt that a leap of faith on this guy . Yeah, i mean, i think there is a trust issue. It saulz looked like straight up political favoritism and unequal treatment of different folks because of who they back in the election. That was very clear. You know, he never said to people im going to make things better for you. He said to people, i think thez unions things worse for them and successful in stirring a bitterness for a while but the bitterness can ultimately come back and sink him. I want to be clear, when you say the firefighters im sorry firefighters endorse Governor Walker, my union not all of them. We have 3200 firefighters, we did not endorse scott walker the first or second time or during the recall. Yeah, there was one group in milwaukee that did, thats what i was referring to. Great to have you with us tonight. Appreciate your time. Coming up, paying it forward the man who asked for 90,000 pay cut to give Kentucky State University workers a minimum wage joins me. Stay with us. Ive still got it when you think aarp, then you dont know aarp. Life reimagined gives you tools and support to get the career youll love. Find more real possibilities at aarp. Org possibilities when folks think about wthey think salmon and energy. But the energy bp produces up here creates Something Else as well jobs all over america. Engineering and innovation jobs. Advanced Safety Systems technology. Shipping and manufacturing. Across the United States, bp supports more than a quarter million jobs. When we set up operation in one part of the country, people in other parts go to work. Thats not a coincidence. Its one more part of our commitment to america. And in pretenders vacation, friends. President obama is cutting his vacation short to get back to work. Our friends on the curvy couch are calling shenanigans. Let the speculation begin. The president of the United States has now announced hell cut his vacation off by a week. Yeahment there will be vacation interruptus. Let the speculation begin. If youre going to do something major, why before labor day. No confusion. Fox friends hate when the president comes back from vacation almost as much as they hated him going on vacation. Jfk didnt go golfing during the cuban missile crisis. For the average person watching theyre thinking, you know, we have been hurting all summer. The president said a month ago, yeah. I have a big speech. You have to wait until after my marthas vine yard vacation. The president and his family head out for a tenday vacation. This is the second year in a row they have vacationed at marthas vineyard. Its been four years since i have been there. How weird is that . Strange. 55 of americans arent booking a Summer Vacation this year. Dont tell president obama that. Even with no debt deal hes still planning a swanky vacation on marthas vineyard. You can wat are have it bot ways on the curvy couch. If they believe hypocrisy is fair and balanced they can keep on pretending. So you do less scrubbing. And its nozzle stops by itself. So less is wasted sure made grandma proud. Mr. Clean liquid muscle. [ girl ] my mom, she makes underwater fans that are powered by the moon. She can print amazing things, right from her computer. [ whirring ] [ train whistle blows ] she makes trains that are friends with trees. My mom works at ge. 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Tell your doctor if youve been to areas where certain fungal infections are common, and if youve had tb, hepatitis b, are prone to infections, or have flulike symptoms or sores. Dont start humira if you have an infection. [ woman ] take the next step. Talk to your doctor and visit humira. Com. This is humira at work. Now, thats progressive. Welcome back to the ed show. This is the story for the folks who take a shower after work. Earlier this week, we brought you the story of a man from kentucky who stepped up in a big way to address income inequality in his own backyard. When dr. Raymond burse was hired as interim president at Kentucky State University he was set to be paid almost 350,000 a year. Then he asked for a 90,000 pay cut. That money will be used to improve the hourly pay of University Employees currently making minimum wage. As a result of his sacrifice, at least 24 employees from Kentucky State University will go on from making 7. 25 an hour to 10. 25 an hour, effective immediately. He pledged to take further salary cuts any time new minimum wage employees are hired on his watch. Folks, if you want to know what real leadership is about, look no further than my next guest on the ed show. Joining me tonight, dr. Raymond burse, interim president Kentucky State University. Good to have you with us. We talk about income inequality on the program and injustices in our economy. I was wondering if anybody was going to do this. Lo and behold its a gentleman from Higher Education in kentucky, yourself. What inspired you to make the choice and to do this. Good to have you with us tonight. Glad to be with you, ed. For me, it was a question about having some impact on employees at kentucky state in terms of my coming into the institution. For a few weeks prior to taking over leadership, i thought about what it is i wanted to do. This was one of the things i was looking at and considering. When the opportunity presented itself, i presented it to the board, asking for a provision in my contract to do it. I did it because it was the right thing to do for employees, the right thing to do for the institution. Im glad i did it. Theres not many people in america that would offer up 90,000 a year of their own salary. Have you ever made 350,000 a year . Is this New Territory for you . I will say it would not have been New Territory. How about that . Good for you. An unselfish man after the fruits of life. Whats the Community Feedback been like . Its been wonderful. At the end of the Board Meeting there was a standing ovation in the board room. Somebody marked they had never seen one in the years they had been there. Walking across campus going back to my office, one of the employees who was impacted by this walked up to me, shook my hand. Said thank you with tears in their eyes. That was a moving moment for me. I wasnt expecting that. Since the story has come out, we have gotten calls, email, text, you name it from people around the world almost. Its been amazingly unbelievable what has taken place. Have you heard from people around the country that suggested maybe they will do the same thing . I say this is a big movement of leadership. What kind of response . Are other people maybe doing the same thing . I havent heard anyone say they are willing to do that. What i have heard from people is a number of people who sent me emails or texts saying they will make a contribution to the ksu alumni fund. I have had at least four parents who have written and said they want their son or daughter to go to kentucky state. Those reactions i have been receiving. It had to be a rewarding moment when that employee came up to you with tears in her eyes. Before that, did you know any of these employees that you would be affecting for the better . Some of them i have known over the years. I was president of kentucky state from 1982 to 1989. There were a number of employees i knew from my previous tenure there. As it relates to 24 employees impacted, as i sit here, other than the one lady who talked to me i dont know any of the individuals being impacted by this. Thats not important to me. Whats more important is we have been able to raise their standard of living by the contribution i am making to them. To me that says it all. I would assume you support a federal mandate to raise the minimum wage to 10. 10 an hour. I think something has got to be done. It should be done soon. Dr. Raymond burse, congratulations on your leadership. All the best to you at Kentucky State University. Thanks for changing the lives of people on your watch. Youre a leader. Good to have you with us. Thanks for having me. Thats the ed show. Politics nation with reverend al sharpton starts right now. Thanks to you for tuning in. We start with breaking news out of iraq. The u. S. Launching Additional Air strikes against the Islamic Militant group isis. Striking a mortar position and a convoy of seven vehicles. The pentagon just released this video of the fighter jets involved in those missions. This video from on the ground in iraq reportedly shows the first airstrikes earlier today. The images arent confirmed by nbc news. The strikes aimed at isis targets outside the northern