The humanitarian situation and the military offensive leaving tens of thousands of civilians favoring starvation and death. jomana karadsheh live for us in jordan. it s painful. donald trump on the second leg of his thank you tour formally picking general james mattis. almost daring congress to try to block the waiver that mattis needs. details ahead on early start.
Fumes and smoke to try to save lives. today many are sick as a result of those fumes and now a big push is under way to get congress to extend their healthcare benefits before time runs out. we are joined now from ground zero where a rally is about to get under way for just that purpose. hi, brian. reporter: in just a few moments, mayor bill de blasio and other politicians will urge congress to renew the act here in front of ground zero. the act provided so much of those medical benefits that are needed for those first responders and survivors before congress goes out for recess. the act was passed in 2010. it expired october 1st. if it s not renewed, the program will run out of money next year leaving tens of thousands without proper medical treatment they need.
The child returned to her home country. a messy legal issue for the feds reportedly torn between the girl s status as a u.s. citizen and international obligations with guatemala. well, a yearly festival leaving tens of thousands of people juiced. it s the annual tomato fight in eastern spain. some 40,000 people pelting each other with tomatoes. 120 tons of them. flooding the streets with a sea of red mush. police stepped in to control the rowdy crowds. the popular event began back in the 1940s. folks say they ant exactly sure how this thing became a tradition. well, swallowing your sunscreen sounds neither tasty or effective but british scientists say that just might be the future. the rub on this coming up. plus, ten years after the attacks of september 11th.
Left, i want to turn to afghanistan. secretary of defense panetta in his statement announced that the u.s. would stay the course to fulfill the mission that these brave soldiers died for. my question to you is, do you have fears that, indeed, your fears of withdrawal of surge forces that are on a path to come out by the end of 2012 leaving tens of thousands of u.s. troops there, is too aggressive, too fast to accomplish the mission panetta says we are going to stay on? absolutely. the president s decision to withdrawa on the schedule he has outlined, there s no military recommendation. all our military leaders said it increases the risk. why would we want to increase the risk to the lives of our men and women serving? the second problem, david, and it s serious, this continued sanctuary that is now in pakistan w the isi cooperation with other organizations including the taliban. and we have to have a
Asked that we stay the course to fulfill the mission these brave soldiers died for. my question to you is, do you have fear that is your fears of withdrawal of surge forces on a path to come out by the end of 2012 leaving tens of thousands of troops there is too aggressive, too fast to accomplish the mission panetta says we are going to stay on? absolutely. the president s decision to withdrawal at the schedule he has outlined, there s no military recommendation. all our military leaders said it increases the risk. why would we want to increase the risk to the lives of our men and women serving? the second problem, david, and it s serious, this continued sanctuary in pakistan, the isi o cooperation and we have to have