[Costello:] This morning, the U.S. is ramping up support to Iraq where violent clashes threaten to tear that country apart. On Monday, Vice President Joe Biden called Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to express his concern. Also, the White House says it will speed up delivery of military equipment to help with the efforts but will not put U.S. boots on the ground. Cities like Fallujah and Ramadi, once battlegrounds for U.S. troops are now the site of bloody clashes between the Iraqi army and al Qaeda-linked militants. This new CNN video shows armed Sunni tribes men who have turned against the government holding positions inside Fallujah. CNN senior international correspondent Nic Robertson has more for you.
[Nic Robertson, Cnn Senior International Correspondent:] Iraqi security forces under attack. A soldier in the dirt wounded at the road side. Amid the chaos, there's calls for backup. Just half an hour's drive west of Iraq's capital, in the Anbar province, Sunnis are turning on the Shia-dominated government. "We will fight to all those connected to this Sectarian government," this tribesman shouts. Over the weekend, fighting flared in the two main cities, Ramadi and Fallujah. Iraq's government responded with troops and air strikes against what it calls al Qaeda terrorists. Secretary of State John Kerry promised support but no troops.
[John Kerry, Secretary Of State:] We're not contemplating putting boots on the ground. This is their fight. We're going to help them in their fight. But how much of this fight is political conflict? The country minority marginalized by the majority and how much is resurgent al Qaeda is unclear? For sure al Qaeda is exploiting Sunni anger under the name ISIS, Islamic State of Iraq in Syria, former al Qaeda in Iraq, they've been boasting their success in al Anbar recently, with propaganda videos like this, not to mention making significant territorial gains in neighboring Syria, attracting thousands of foreign fighters. Whatever the causes, Iraq's prime minister is accusing al Anbar Sunnis of siding with al Qaeda, issuing an ultimatum, put down your guns, or face the Army.
[Nouri Al-maliki, Iraqi Prime Minister:] I'm calling on those who are deluding themselves to consider. They have been involved without knowing in supporting al Qaeda projects.
[Robertson:] Fallujah has a history of resistance. In a massive offensive in 2004, U.S. forces tried unsuccessfully to completely crush the city's insurgents. The group reemerged, al Qaeda got a hold. It was only in 2007 when al Anbar's tribes joined U.S. forces and al Qaeda was finally pushed out. Today, this family flees al Anbar and the government seemed poised for a major offensive. The stakes for stability and potential for civil war seem as high as they've ever been. Nic Robertson, CNN, Jerusalem.
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[Costello:] I'm telling you, this is something else. JPMorgan will pay out $1.7 billion. It's settlement reached with the government, and it's based on Madoff and JP's role in that financial scandal. Christine Romans is in New York covering story. One-point-seven billion dollars?
[Christine Romans, Cnn Chief Business Correspondent:] It's a lot of money. And you remember, Bernie Madoff was a guy who was the Wall Street scam artist really who is now in prison for a very long term. He will die in prison. He basically destroyed the lives of all kinds of investors who put their money with him there he is. Just before the financial crisis really, really exploded, this was the guy who started to it unraveled that his whole empire was a fake. He had never actually been trading, and he had been doing business with legitimate banks, mutual funds, hedge funds around the world and really no one knew that he was a total scam. And now, JPMorgan, one of those banks, one of those entities that did business with Bernie Madoff, agreeing to pay $1.7 billion to settle the claims against that bank.
[Costello:] Well, wait. Does that mean JPMorgan knew or turned, you know, a blind eye? Why?