over and out. the u.s. military lowers the flag in baghdad. the final u.s. troops leaving iraq with pride. and putting a fragile nation in the rear view mirror. breaking news for your paycheck. big compromise on capitol hill that could put $1,000 or more back into your paycheck next year. occupy gingrich. newt gets heckled by wall street protesters. they get it back on this american morning. good morning, everyone. it is thursday, december 15. welcome to american morning. good morning, carol. good morning, christine. good morning to all of you. it s over. minutes ago u.s. forces lowered the flag at baghdad and retired the colors to mark the end of the nearly nine-year iraq war. final few thousand u.s. troops are leaving iraq ahead of the new year s eve deadline to get out. it is a war that started with shocking and awe. today the departing soldiers are remembering more than 4,000 who did not come home alive. the long journey home. let s get to barbara starr. s
with how are we going to pay for it. you had to enjoy in the initial conversation that says this is something we want to do. they were very late to that and gave the democrats ample time to appear as if they were the only ones concerned. there s also something missing on this issue. the theory that okay the current law which expires december 31 is that employees only get the tax cut. so obama came out and said, why don t employers get it up to 2%. i asked small business owners across america, what is the one thing they worry about most about and that is having to pate payroll tax. give them that, pay for it or not. i don t care if you pay for it or not. but that s smart policy. luke, i know you re still with us on capitol hill. what is the latest in terms of this battle and the payroll tax cut package? oh. there s all sorts of ideas going on now, alex. it seems every senator or representative wants to kind of get behind an idea. but we expect to hear the house