Good day. Im Andrea Mitchel in washington. Where president obama and his National Security team are now in crisis mode. Tracking developments in iraq after the u. S. Launched its first air strikes this morning against isis. What we are apparently warning shots against an isis artillery piece outside erbil. It could be the first stage in a wider air operation. Joining me with the latest, nbc news chief pentagon correspondent jim miklaszewski. Mik, this was not a big strike today but it was sending a signal to isis. Absolutely. And clearly its being described here pretty much as a target of opportunity. U. S. War planes were in the air along with drones keeping an eye on those isis forces. Poised just outside of erbil. You know, which is a key strategic city for the kurdistan area there in the north. When suddenly apparently the isis fighters started lobbing shells in the general direction of some peshmerga fighters. And then were told the two u. S. Navy fa18 bombers launched each a one
Those in the danger zone. And Rudy Giuliani declares i am not a racist but now he says president obama was raised by socialists and he isnt backing off from his claim that the president doesnt love america. Im wolf blitzer. Youre in the situation room. Breaking now, new and detailed plans for an upcoming ground offensive against isis. This is not a leak. Its coming directly from the pentagon. The war plans call for iraqi and kurdish fighters to Work Together in a battle this spring to push isis out of iraqs second largest city. Significantly, the plans leave open the possibility of u. S. Boots on the ground in addition to jets in the skies. Newly released propaganda videos show isis fighters preparing for house to house combat. Why tell them even more . President obamas Deputy National security advisor ben rhodes is over at the white house. He will answer our questions. Our correspondents and analysts are also standing by. Lets begin with the very latest. Our pentagon correspondent Bar
Thats where the sense of a rigged election here. Reporter but trump undercutting that very message moments later tweeting that the election is, absolutely being rigged. At many polling places. This part of a Trump Twitter storm against multiple attacks against House Speaker paul ryan. Ryan pushing back on trumps rigged election theory. The speaker is fully confident the election will be carried out with integrity. Hillary clintons running mate tim kaine calling on more republicans to speak out against trumps allegations. He started to make wild claims. Kind of scorched earth claims about the election being rigged, et cetera. We have to keep putting out a message and we need to call on everybody to speak out about the fact that we run elections and we run them well here. We ask gop leaders also to stand up for the integrity of the electoral process. Reporter trump also continuing to fire back at allegations of Sexual Assault and unwelcomed sexual advances. Now, now accused by nine women