Australias coast. Plus, the National Lead ferguson, missouri, teetering on the edge. Police bracing for riots, the community restless and worried as a grand jury inches closer to a decision. Will they indict the Police Officer who killed Michael Brown . Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to the lead. Im jake tapper. The former navy s. E. A. L. Who claims he shot and killed Osama Bin Laden is here on the lead and he will tell his story live. But first, some big developments on two major stories in our world lead. Vladimir putin stepping off his plane and into the cool Australian Air today while just off the coast of australia russia has amassed a flotilla of destroyers, alarming the Australian Government to the point that three aussie ships are now monitoring the russian ones. Thats just the latest provocation by the russian leader. The government of ukraine is now planning five people, including a toddler, were killed by mortar fire from prorussian rebels as russia continues to send tro
Election. The republicans stand a majority to win senate seats that would give them complete control. A handful of tight races could decide it all. We have complete coverage of what you need to 0 know as you count down to election day. Were at the white house, and were tracking the candidates in the georgia race and mark preston is managing the washington desk. Im going to begin with you because a lot of folks inside that white house looking to see whats going on. This could be the president s sort of last trip around the campaign trail, but he hasnt really hit the campaigns that might matter most in this election. Reporter deb, thats right. Hes in kt connecticut today. Later tonight, he is heading to philadelphia. Hes campaigning for governors. This is his seventh Campaign Rally for the entire election season. He wont be campaigning for monday and tuesday. This is very rare and its because republicans are making what they say is his incompetence, his failed leadership, the key issue t
Of President Trump. Now democrats are seizing on the information ahead of the Senate Impeachment trial. Another democrat ends his president ial run. Julian castro has announced his exit from the white house race. Good morning, everybody. And what a morning it is. It is friday, january 3rd, im yasmin vossoughian. Lingside Ayman Mohyeldin. A lot to get to this morning. We begin with the major escalation in the conflict with iran. The u. S. Now on a war footing with tehran, after President Trump ordered the strike that took out irans top military commander at Baghdad International airport just last night. A deputy was also killed. The government of iraq releasing these photos of the aftermath. Suleimani led irans military forces throughout the middle east. The pentagon saying quote, general suleimani was actively developing plans to attack american diplomats and Service Members in iraq and throughout the region adding in quote this, this strike was aimed at deterring future iranian attack
Attacked the American Embassy on new years eve said to be reacting to air strikes on outposts in iraq and syria which they said were responsible for the death of an american contractor. He was asked about iran as he was about to walk into his new years party at maralago. Mr. President i dont think it would be a good idea for iran. I like peace and iran should want peace more than anybody. It would go very quickly. Before we begin our discussion lets get the latest on tonights developments from ali who joins us from london. Thank you for joining us. Obviously this caught a lot of folks in the media off guard. This news tonight trying to play catch up. Take us through what we know at this hour about this killing. They have confirmed that he was killed in iraq on the way to the airport. He is a revered figure in iran and it wouldnt be an exaggeration to say that he is the second most powerful person in iran after ayatollah khomeini, the Supreme Leader and developed a huge network of milit
U. S. , quote, bears responsibility for all consequences. He called soleimani the most effective force fighting isis and al qaeda and said it is dangerous and a foolish escalation. Mike pompeo tweeted this video posting, quote, iraqis, iraqis dancing in the street for freedom. Thankful that general soleimani is no more. Nbc news has not been able to independently verify this video. We dont know when and where it was taken. President trump had no words after the attack tweeting only this image of the u. S. Flag. With us this morning we have washington anchor for bbc world news america katty cay. Associate editor of the Washington Post and political analyst euGene Robinson. Columnist for the daily beast and coauthor of the best selling book isis, inside the army of terror Michael Weiss. Hans nichols in maralago. Former allied commander, retired four Star Navy Admiral, hes the chief International Security and diplomacy analyst for nbc news and msnbc. And edward luce of the Financial Times