what is your biggest concern right now regarding iraq? well, my biggest concern regarding iraq is the worst case scenario is that isis takes over baghdad and basically controls the entire power structure of the country. it doesn t seem likely to happen. but i think mr. blair is absolutely correct. we need some kind of a comprehensive regional summit. the united states needs to convene it if possible. to find out where the people who are willing to help are and what they re willing to do. we can t do this by ourselves. the day is long past when the united states can work its will around the world, and i think more people are beginning to realize that. we can be a force for strong diplomacy and again coalescing interests around the region and the world. and that s what we need to be. that can be our role. if we get the saudis and we get the jordanians and we get all of the leaders of that country who
witt . here s what s happening out there. today in iraq, drones over baghdad. the u.s. is flying armed drones over the iraqi capital, to protect u.s. military advisers on the ground. and a large swath of isis, american fighter jets are patrolling. and an amphibious assault ship is carrying 1,000 marines. it could be used to evacuate u.s. citizens from baghdad if needed. chief foreign correspondent richard engel. good morning to you. what s been the reaction over there to people about the drones and the u.s. fighter jets once again in the iraqi skies. reporter: the iraqi people haven t been reacting very strongly. we have been speaking to military officials and government officials. they want american air strikes. they want these drones and aircraft not to be here
the 300 u.s. military advisers will start arriving in iraq in the coming days. they will be army green berets, army rangers and s.e.a.l.s. that will go to different locations to work with iraqi security forces. basically, they have two jobs, to assess what is going on with iraqi forces, get back in the fight. they will have a very important intelligence gathering mission to keep their eyes on the isis military fighters. where are they? what weapons do they have? how are they moving and what is their strategy. especially keeping an eye on the perimeter of baghdad to make sure isis isn t about to try to move into the city. at the same time, the u.s. is using manned pilots in the cockpit aircraft, fighter jets and other aircraft to conduct around the clock surveilness over iraq, over baghdad.
ideology and you don t hit them, let them take another city? i think we have lost an opportunity, about four months ago, this began to unfold and right then, we had a target. you know, we had the encampment. we should have hit it. until we do, i m concerned that we really haven t given the one asset that is really needed for the iraqi military and that is air you say how could it get worse and what happens if we do nothing? you can look at cambodia. imagine when the flak flag goes up over baghdad, the mass atrocities, well, at some point, have to go in if that happens. that regime will not be allowed to. let s bring in max boot. mika, you hear no boots on the ground in iraq. they are talking about max boot, actually.
american supplied humvees, weapons and ammunition, now in in their hands. the former american ambassador to iraq says if the fight reaches baghdad, it will destabilize the country and undercut global oil supplies. this is no longer a messy situation in is a catastrophe for the people of iraq, for american policy, and for the entire region. this is an extremely dangerous situation. it appears that no force can stop these people. reporter: a country in crisis. 2 1/2 years after american troops lowered the flag of command over baghdad, officially ending the u.s. military s presence in iraq. an operation that took the lives of over 4,000 u.s. troops. no indication yet the iraqi government is about to make the political compromises necessary to win this fight. at the same time, sectarian