the soviet union is returning. at the time the collapse of the coup was hailed as a victory of people power but in the years that followed, democracy failed to root itself in russia. that is partly because life became so tough here that in the eyes of many russians, the very concept of democracy became discredited. but it is also because for those running russia today, authoritarian rule is back in fashion. this year, the authorities cracked down hard on anti—government protests. and there have been police raids on government critics. so, where does that leave democracy? for many here a distant memory. this monument honours the three men killed in the 1991 coup. there are few visitors. there seems to be little interest in moment in history when russians embraced freedom. that's all for now — stay with bbc world news. hello. after what's been a relatively cloudy and relatively cool week so far for many of us, the weather is set to change a little bit through friday and into the weekend. it will briefly turn a li

when the soviet union troo -s matters. when the soviet union troops left _ matters. when the soviet union troops left in — matters. when the soviet union troops left in 1989 _ matters. when the soviet union troops left in 1989 in _ matters. when the soviet union troops left in 1989 in which - matters. when the soviet union troops left in 1989 in which a i matters. when the soviet union i troops left in 1989 in which a high being static fighting each other so the countries in the region can't feel on the fire of the afghan civil war and the fear now is because you have got lots of enmity between the countries and take a danger that could happen again. the countries and take a danger that could happen again.— could happen again. the us and britain leave _ could happen again. the us and britain leave a _ could happen again. the us and britain leave a country - could happen again. the us and britain leave a country in - could happen again. the us and l britain leave a country in number, the question now is notjust what it was all for but can they really afford to sta

soviet union's vietnam. they got _ very long after that. soviet union's vietnam. they got bogged - very long after that. soviet union's vietnam. they got bogged down i very long after that. soviet union's i vietnam. they got bogged down and across them enormously that ability. they had terrible consequences in terms of deaths of their own troops and very right with difficulty in withdrawing. america's policy generally an intervention has been so inconsistent i think before you lost me, president obama's failure to intervene in syria had phenomenally damaging consequences in damaged america's credibility as an intervention. so i think without the presence or at least the possibility of a military intervention, america is nowhere in this game and the chinese which is definitely on the merchant has serious intentions, for at the start of at least economic empire building, if not military empire building, if not military empire building, its can go unchecked. michael, both president obama and therefore biden was in the end biden administration and nowjoe biden both se

the soviet union is an autonomy. the soviet union is returning. at the time the collapse of the coup was hailed as a victory of people power but in the years that followed, democracy failed to root itself in russia. that is partly because life became so tough here that in the eyes of many russians, the very concept of democracy became discredited. but it is also because for those running russia today, authoritarian rule is back in fashion. this year, the authorities cracked down hard on anti—government protests. and there have been police raids on government critics. so, where does that leave democracy? for many here a distant memory. this monument honours the three men killed in the 1991 coup. there are few visitors. there seems to be little interest in moment in history when russians embraced freedom. that's all for now — stay with bbc world news. hello. after what's been a relatively cloudy and relatively cool week so far for many of us, the weather is set to change a little bit through friday and into the weekend. it will briefly turn a li

the soviet union is an autonomy. at the time the collapse of the coup was hailed as a victory of people power but in the years that followed, democracy failed to root itself in russia. that is partly because life became so tough here that in the eyes of many russians, the very concept of democracy became discredited. but it is also because for those running russia today, authoritarian rule is back in fashion. this year, the authorities cracked down hard on anti—government protests. and there have been police raids on government critics. so, where does that leave democracy? for many here a distant memory. this monument honours the three men killed in the 1991 coup. there are few visitors. there seems to be little interest in moment in history when russians embraced freedom. the fishing industry in southern france is becoming increasingly concerned about the spread of a foreign invader. the bbc�*s tim allman has the story. they have been fishing these waters for years. they normally make their living from catching

when the soviet union troo ns matters. when the soviet union troops left _ matters. when the soviet union troops left in — matters. when the soviet union troops left in 1989, _ matters. when the soviet union troops left in 1989, the - matters. when the soviet union | troops left in 1989, the victorious mujahideen started fighting each other, so the countries in the region then poured fuel on the fire of the afghan civil war, and the fear now is because you've got lots of enmity between the countries in the region, it's a danger that could happen again. the the region, it's a danger that could happen again-— happen again. the us and britain leave a country _ happen again. the us and britain leave a country in _ happen again. the us and britain leave a country in limbo. - happen again. the us and britain leave a country in limbo. the - leave a country in limbo. the question now is notjust what it was all for, but can they really afford to stand by as afghanistan once again descends into civil war? jonathan beale, bbc news. a heatwave is sweeping much of southern eu

the soviet union's vietnam. they got bogged down and it cost them enormously in credibility. they had terrible consequences in terms of deaths of their own troops and very great difficulty in withdrawing. america's policy generally on intervention has been so inconsistent, as i was saying before you lost me, president obama's failure to intervene in syria had phenomenally damaging consequences in damaged america's credibility as an intervention. so i think without the presence or at least the possibility of a military intervention, america is nowhere in this game and the chinese hegemony, which is definitely on the march and has serious intentions, for the start of at least economic empire building, if not military empire building, it can go unchecked. michael, both president obama and therefore biden was in the obama administration and nowjoe biden both seem to believe that the us needs to tilt towards those come in at the very least because of its concerns about china, as janet was saying. how will those countries it seeks to influence in the region, do you think, look at w

communism collapsed and there was no more soviet union to oppose, the obvious question is what is nato for? and within ten years of communism collapsing, we had 9/11 and the rise of islamist terrorism, and so nato became, basically, a counterterrorism outfit, and that was its impetus, that was its raison d'etre. so that's why biden can say the reason that we were able to pull out of afghanistan, that we wanted to pull out of afghanistan, was that we felt we had solved the terrorism problem in afghanistan. we killed bin laden, we'd got rid of al-qaeda in afghanistan, so if we could get out, that's got nothing almost to do with the original conception of nato, which was to act not only as a military adversary, but as an ideological adversary to the soviet union. and now we seem to be in this peculiar vacuum where there is an entirely new global dynamic, and it's not ideological at all, it's really crudely nationalist. the motives of china and russia and iran now — it's not — that bloc that is developing that dynamic which will involve afghanistan very heavily, i fear — it's not the

the soviet union's vietnam. they got bogged down and it cost them enormously in credibility. they had terrible consequences in terms of deaths of their own troops and very great difficulty in withdrawing. america's policy generally on intervention has been so inconsistent, as i was saying before you lost me, president obama's failure to intervene in syria had phenomenally damaging consequences. it damaged america's credibility in intervention. so i think without the presence or at least the possibility of a military intervention, america is nowhere in this game and the chinese hegemony, which is definitely on the march and has serious intentions, for the start of at least economic empire building, if not military empire building, it can go unchecked. michael, both president obama and therefore biden, who was in the obama administration, and nowjoe biden, both seem to believe that the us needs to tilt towards those coming in at the very least because of its concerns about china, as janet was saying. how will those countries it seeks to influence in the region, do you think, lo

50. banned from the soviet union. so, i'm “ust a banned from the soviet union. so, i'm just a little _ banned from the soviet union. so, i'm just a little confused. your ambassador is saying he's hopeful, he sees it as positive. you say we have to be careful because we don't see them as export violence be on the borders. are you right now, as a nation, are you ready to recognise that the taliban is the legitimate government in afghanistan? iiilat that the taliban is the legitimate government in afghanistan? not at all. it is government in afghanistan? not at all- it is two _ government in afghanistan? not at all. it is two different _ government in afghanistan? not at all. it is two different things. - government in afghanistan? not at all. it is two different things. we i all. it is two different things. we are maintaining our connections. talks in the so—called format, because this is part of afghanistan society, and we cannot disregard that. we did have talks with them. yeah, it's clear that you do talk with th

. , they, with the cia's helped pushed out the soviet union in the eighties. and that was their big moment, and these war lords, because they were able to push out the soviet union, rose up. they got a lot of power. they became pain famous. they got a lot of momentum. and there's been talk since then, that these war lords, these famous war lords, we're going to stand up and fight against the taliban. they did not. a lot of them escaped. they escaped at first contact. because over the last 20 years, these were lords were living on their name, and their reputation. they said they had all of these thousands of fighters, they actually didn't have all of these thousands of fighters. but they were able to live on that reputation, of having pushed out the soviet union. and it was a giant feather in their cap. they faded away. they got old. they got lazy. the taliban came in. and they, i don't know if it'll be for the next 20 years, they are now the ones who will benefit from that same kind of psychological boost. the initial war lords defeated the soviets, we defeate

the soviet union is an autonomy. at the time the collapse of the coup was hailed as a victory of people power but in the years that followed, democracy failed to root itself in russia. that is partly because life became so tough here that in the eyes of many russians, the very concept of democracy became discredited. but it is also because for those running russia today, authoritarian rule is back in fashion. this year, the authorities cracked down hard on anti—government protests. and there have been police raids on government critics. so, where does that leave democracy? for many here a distant memory. this monument honours the three men killed in the 1991 coup. there are few visitors. there seems to be little interest in moment in history when russians embraced freedom. that's all for now — stay with bbc world news. hello. afterward it's been a relatively and cool week so far, for many of us, the weather is set to change to friday and into the weekend. a turn a little bit warmer and it will also start to turn

communist hardliners had seized power in the soviet union. but the people were not having any of it. defiance on the streets. and outside of parliament. from the russian president or skelton. the coup collapsed. four months later, so did the country. the soviet union was consigned to history. dimitri help to build the barricades outside parliament. he and his wife remember the elation. >> everyone deserves the right to influence what's going on. now i feel that it failed. the economy is deteriorating. human rights are deteriorating. you can see it from any direction. >> at the time the collapse of the coup was hailed as a victory for people power but in the years that followed, democracy failed to route itself in russia. that's partly because life became so tough here that in the eyes of many russians, the concept of democracy became discredited. it's also because for those running russia today, authoritarian rule is back in fashion. >> this year the authorities cracked down hard on antigovernment protest. and there have been police raids on

communist hardliners had seized power in the soviet union. but the people were not having any of it. defiance on the streets. and outside of parliament. from the russian president or skelton. the coup collapsed. four months later, so did the country. the soviet union was consigned to history. dimitri help to build the barricades outside parliament. he and his wife remember the elation. >> everyone deserves the right to influence what's going on. now i feel that it failed. the economy is deteriorating. human rights a deteriorating. you can see it from any direction. >> at the time the collapse of the coup was hailed as a victory for people power but in the years that followed, democracy failedo route itself in russia. that's partly because life became so tough here that in the eyes of many russians, the concept of democracy became discredited. it's also because for those running russia today, authoritarian rule is back in fashion. >> this year the authorities cracked down hard on antigovernment protest. and there have been police raids on gove

union. to us, it was a marvellous new opportunity. we were building the international airport. the airport included large underground fuel tanks, very high capacity fuel tanks. it included very sophisticated refuelling system, electronically controlled, right out of the apron. it included overnight facilities for maybe 100 people. back in the �*50s and �*60s when a plane stopped to refuel everybody got out and stayed over night wherever you were on the way while the aircraft was serviced, and then the pilots and everybody would get back on it the next morning! it was designed to use the maximum of local materials. and all construction around kandahar was all adobe and brick — there was no timber and no steel — so the airport was designed as brick and it was designed as arches. we had huge, big parabolic arches like this out facing the apron, and then a barrel arch that went behind them to enclose the terminal building. and the afghans were, they were experts on that kind of construct

union. bottles, it was a marvellous new opportunity. we bottles, it was a marvellous new opportunity-— bottles, it was a marvellous new opportunity. we were building the international _ opportunity. we were building the international airport. _ opportunity. we were building the international airport. the - opportunity. we were building the international airport. the airport l international airport. the airport included large underground fuel tanks, very high capacity fuel tanks. it included very sophisticated refuelling system, electronically controlled, right out of the apron. it included overnight facilities for maybe 100 people. backin facilities for maybe 100 people. back in the 50s and 60s when a plane stopped to refuel everybody got out and stayed over night robe you were on the way while the aircraft was serviced and then the pilots and everybody would get back on it might be the next morning! and it was designed to use the maximum of local materials. i and all construction around k

we the soviet union will do a better. who thinks they can do a better job than last guy that failed. the problem, wasn't necessarily the character of the invasion, the way the invaders waged the war. they tried a lot of different versions of it. the problem, more likely, was afghanistan. which for all of its poverty, and conflicts, and everything else, afghanistan does not particularly want to be under any other countries remote control. and so when the soviet union invaded in 1979, the modern history of afghanistan would've told them how that would end. but they invaded, and then just shy of a decade after they invaded in 1989, the soviets went home to. they went home february 15th 1980. >> the end of an era. the last of the soviet troops leaving afghanistan, after nine years of defeat. nbc nightly news. with tom brokaw. good evening. it really is one of the most remarkable military stories of our time. a nuclear superpower, defeated by a sort of bands of rebels who waged a hit and run war for almost a decade. tonight, a

maybe they thought we, the soviet union, we'll do it better. who doesn't think they could do a better job than the last guy who failed? but the problem wasn't necessarily the character of the invasion, the way the invaders waged the war. they tried a lot of different versions of it. the problem more likely was afghanistan. which for all its poverty and conflict and everything else, afghanistan doesn't particularly want to be under any other country's remote control. and so when the soviet union invaded in 1979, the modern history of afghanistan would have told them how that would end. but they invaded, and then just shy of a decade after they invaded in 1989, the soviets went home, too. they went home february 15, 1989. >> the end of an era. the last of the soviet troops leaving afghanistan after nine years of humiliation and defeat. >> announcer: "nbc nightly news" with tom brokaw. >> good evening. it really is one of the most remarkable military stories of our time. a nuclear superpower defeat bid a sordid band of rebels who waged a hit and r

union, but that is what the cost of fighting the soviet union was. that in entire country, leads a people, suffered tremendously. they were treated as tools by the united states. that their aspirations, their desires for freedom, their desires for security ultimately did not matter to the united states, much as they did not matter to the soviet union. envy -- in the chaos that resulted, the taliban took power, sheltered osama bin laden, but they were not the same thing as al qaeda. the united states after 9/11 decided there was no relevant distinction between al qaeda, the taliban, and what it called terrorist groups of global reaching -- which ultimately washes out to saying while the respectable version of the bush administration's policies were already an extremely expensive perception of who could be targeted, moving from terror groups like al qaeda to entire regimes -- the deputy defense secretary spoke in the immediate aftermath of/11 about ending states. but in the broader political journalistic and then popular conception, the enemy could be

the soviet union is returning. at the time the collapse of the coup was hailed as a victory of people power but in the years that followed, democracy failed to root itself in russia. that is partly because life became so tough here that in the eyes of many russians, the very concept of democracy became discredited. but it is also because for those running russia today, authoritarian rule is back in fashion. this year, the authorities cracked down hard on anti—government protests. and there have been police raids on government critics. so, where does that leave democracy? for many here a distant memory. this monument honours the three men killed in the 1991 coup. there are few visitors. there seems to be little interest in this moment in history when russians embraced freedom. steve rosenberg, bbc news. the fishing industry in southern france is becoming increasingly concerned about the spread of a foreign invader. over the last four years, more and more blue crabs have been found in the mediterranean. originally

maybe they thought we, the soviet union, we'll do it better. who doesn't think they could do a better job than the last guy who failed? but the problem wasn't necessarily the character of the invasion, the way the invaders waged the war. they tried a lot of different versions of it. the problem more likely was afghanistan. which for all its poverty and conflict and everything else, afghanistan doesn't particularly want to be under any other country's remote control. and so when the soviet union invaded in 1979, the modern history of afghanistan would have told them how that would end. but they invaded, and then just shy of a decade after they invaded in 1989, the soviets went home, too. they went home february 15, 1989. >> the end of an era. the last of the soviet troops leaving afghanistan after nine years of humiliation and defeat. >> announcer: "nbc nightly news" with tom brokaw. >> good evening. it really is one of the most remarkable military stories of our time. a nuclear superpower defeated by a sordid band of rebels who waged a hit and

the soviet union is an autonomy.- rights deteriorating. the soviet union is an autonomy. at the time the collapse _ union is an autonomy. at the time the collapse of _ union is an autonomy. at the time the collapse of the _ union is an autonomy. at the time the collapse of the coup _ union is an autonomy. at the time the collapse of the coup was i union is an autonomy. at the time | the collapse of the coup was hailed as a victory of people power but in the years that followed, democracy failed to root itself in russia. that is partly because life became so tough here that in the eyes of many russians, the very concept of democracy became discredited. but it is also because for those running russia today, authoritarian rule is backin russia today, authoritarian rule is back in fashion. this year the authorities cracked down hard on anti—government protests. and there have been police raids on government critics. so where does that leave democracy? for many here a distant memory. this monument honours the three men killed in the 1991 coup. there are few visitors. there s

the soviet union came with tanks and bombers and could not seize control, even the taliban were kept out during the civil war of the 1990's. now it is the last taliban-free area of the country. his father also known as the lion of the province, is a hero in afghanistan. for 22 years, he fought for his province and founded the anti-taliban alliance. in 2001, he warned the world that osama bin laden might use afghanistan as a base to launch terrorist attacks. two days before the world trade center collaps he was killed by al qaeda agents posing as journalists. his legacy did not die with him. his son says he is ready to follow in his father's footsteps . like his father, he is calling on western nations that help, saying his forces need ammunition and other supplies. he is not the only big-name holding out in the province. another person, the first vice president and the recently ousted government, has taken refuge in the province. he has said he is legally in charge of the country. clarity, as for the constitution of afghanistan come in absence, estate, resignation, or death of the pr

union, but that is what the cost of fighting the soviet union was. that in entire country, leads a people, suffered tremendously. they were treated as tools by the united states. that their aspirations, their desires for freedom, their desires for security ultimately did not matter to the united states, much as they did not matter to the soviet union. envy -- in the chaos that resulted, the taliban took power, sheltered osama bin laden, but they were not the same thing as al qaeda. the united states after 9/11 decided there was no relevant distinction between al qaeda, the taliban, and what it called terrorist groups of global reaching -- which ultimately washes out to saying while the respectable version of the bush administration's policies were already an extremely expensive perception of who could be targeted, moving from terror groups like al qaeda to entire regimes -- the deputy defense secretary spoke in the immediate aftermath of 9/11bout ending states. but in the broader political journalistic and then popular conception, the enemy could be

by 1991, the soviet union itself fell. a key reason for the collapse of moscow's empire, of course, was its intervention in afghanistan, which bled the soviet union and sapped its will. the russians got involved for familiar reasons, insurgency, internal divisions, a fear of instability. moscow should have paid attention to george kennon's sage advice then as we should now. go to cnn.com/fareed for a link to my "washington post" column. >>> next on "gps," the pandemic has filled the world with -- >>> the most popular class ever about how to bring happiness back. >>> the pandemic has been challenging i love it. i just wear a little sensor and that's it. the dexcom sends my glucose readings to my receiver every five minutes. and i can also get it on my smartphone. you don't have to prick your fingers - at all. it's amazing. i can't imagine anything simpler. before we talk about tax-smart investing, what's new? -audrey's expecting... -twins! ♪ we'd be closer to the twins. change in plans. at fidelity, a change in plans is a

the soviet union.— the soviet union. or international “ournalists the soviet union. or international journalists like _ the soviet union. or international journalists like sarah _ the soviet union. or international journalists like sarah rainsford, l journalists like sarah rainsford, the who think it's getting harder to be there and ask tough questions to the authorities? i be there and ask tough questions to the authorities?— the authorities? i think that's riuht. the authorities? i think that's right- it's _ the authorities? i think that's right. it's hard _ the authorities? i think that's right. it's hard to _ the authorities? i think that's right. it's hard to know - the authorities? i think that's right. it's hard to know whatl the authorities? i think that's| right. it's hard to know what it the authorities? i think that's - right. it's hard to know what it was that prompted her expulsion. clearly, her reporting from belarus made the regime in moscow unhappy. in my case, i think it was my investigation into the

they was the soviet union. you see what they are now -- russia. the point of eisenhower's speeches that we should not be a military-industrial complex. that's what eisenhower said. he was a republican. and if we had a draft -- because i was drafted, i remember vietnam -- you could never have been there for 21 years. that is why they cut out the draft, so you could get in these under seri -- these unnecessary wars. no one ever talks about the suicide of our soldiers who went to afghanistan. i believe there were more suicides than soldiers killed in afghanistan. thank you very much. host: we have talked about it on this program several times during the years of this war. some more numbers. 72 journalists and media workers have lost their life covering the afghanistan war and 75,000 314 national military and police in afghanistan have lost their lives. richard in tennessee, we will go to you next read hi, richard. -- next. hi, richard. caller: good morning. we never should have went there. we should have lit up the mountains and the sky between them

we've been in afghanistan twice as long as the soviet union was. at some point, we were going to have to find an exit strategy. it is just so sad that they didn't seem to be choreographed. if anything reminded me of jimmy carter's desert rescue during the iran hostage crisis where carter said, i needed one extra helicopter. we needed a plan and wasn't actualized. so biden will take a black eye for that. on the other hand, in the long sweep of history, that ladder of the embassy in saigon, that was a symbol of american shame when that happened at the same time that ladder is in the gerald ford museum and it stands for america not leaving its friends behind. so what george w. bush said at the outset of our talk here is the exact right message. biden needs to run a humanitarian effort out of afghanistan like nobody's business and he started with it an executive order that happened a couple of hours or less ago. >> i appreciate our conversation. thank you very much. see you soon. the afghan military crumbling rammed pace as the taliban swept across the

and the war lords because they were able to push out the soviet union rose up. they got a lot of clout. they became famous and got a lot of momentum. there's been talk since then that these war lords, these famous mujahedin were going to stand up and fight against the taliban. they didn't. a lot of them escaped. they escaped at first contact. because over the last 20 years these war lords were living on their name, on their reputation. they said that they had all these thousands of fighters. they actually didn't. but they were able to live on that reputation of having pushed out the soviet union and it was a giant feather in their cap. they faded away. they got old. they got lazy. the taliban came in and they are now the ones who are going to benefit from the same kind of psychological boost. the initial war lords defeated the soviets. we the taliban defeated the united states. so there were two scenarios here as things started to deteriorate. one that it would collapse into a civil war. i actually didn't think that would happen because i saw the old war lords,

and the war lords because they were able to push out the soviet union rose up. they got a lot of clout. they became famous and got a lot of momentum. there's been talk since then that these war lords, these famous mujahedin were going to stand up and fight against the taliban. they didn't. a lot of them escaped. they escaped at first contact. because over the last 20 years these war lords were living on their name, on their reputation. they said that they had all these thousands of fighters. they actually didn't. but they were able to live on that reputation of having pushed out the soviet union and it was a giant feather in their cap. they faded away. they got old. they got lazy. the taliban came in and they are now the ones who are going to benefit from the same kind of psychological boost. the initial war lords defeated the soviets. we the taliban defeated the united states. so there were two scenarios here as things started to deteriorate. one that it would collapse into a civil war. i actually didn't think that would happen because i saw the toothless old g

if guerilla fighters could topple the mighty soviet union, why not the united states? the world saw the results. now it's the united states being driven out of afghanistan by a group of islamic fighters. bin laden is dead, but a new generation of extremists may be learning the same lesson today from the land often called the graveyard of empires. and there are not only american citizens still in afghanistan. there are also interpreters who worked with american forces and other vulnerable afghans. and there are efforts underway by private individuals, veterans to reach out to their friends, their former colleagues in afghanistan to try and keep them safe, to try and keep them hidden and sheltered until they can get the right documents and potentially evacuated out of the country. nbc news, doha. >> as that two-decades-long war comes to an end, it brings with it a range of emotions. we traveled to fremont last night. some are hopeful for a new beginning, but some are not. one man we spoke with says that the taliban killed close family members right in front of him when h

union pulled out support for what was the central government back then. they're also, despite everybody's professions of disbelief and surprise, most analysts who understood what was not happening in dohar, peace talks that were meant to engineer some kind of proper transition from one u.s.-led force to the afghans didn't pay off. the afghan taliban continued to fight on the ground while they continued to make empty promises to the united states in do har qatar. the afghan taliban are doing today what they're doing is very similar to what they did back in 1996 and the 90s. when they also stormed in and by and large took most of the cities, including kabul, without a fight. that is the way it has happened in afghanistan. first, under the taliban for the last 20 plus years. i think you'll probably see history describe this as a day that will live in infamy. you have fast approaching the anniversary of 9/11, the reason for the united states to enter afghanistan and to correctly pub back al qaeda and the taliban which attacked the homeland has now been comple

of course, they were banned from the territory of the soviet union at that time. so i'm just a little confused. i mean, your ambassador out there, you know, is saying he's hopeful, he sees it as positive. you're saying, well, we have to be careful because we don't want to see them export violence beyond their borders. are you right now, as a nation, as a government, are you ready to recognise that the taliban is the legitimate government in afghanistan? not at all. it is two different things, but we are maintaining connections for a certain period of time. with taliban, we are talking to them. we have invited them for talks in the so—called enlarged troika format, because this is a part of afghanistan's society, and we cannot disregard it. so this is a reality. we did have talks with them in different formats and of course, we continue to talk with them now. yeah, it's clear that you do talk with them at various levels. is the message from moscow to the taliban that they should not recreate the islamic emirate, as they called it back in the 1990s, that they must

we've been in afghanistan twice as long as the soviet union was. at some point we were going to have to find an exit strategy. it's just so sad that they didn't seem to be choreographed. if anything, it reminded me of jimmy carter's desert rescue during the iran hostage crisis, where carter said, i just needed one extra helicopter. we needed a plan, and it wasn't actualized. so biden is going to take a black eye for that. but on the other hand, in the long sweep of history, that ladder of the american embassy in saigon that we watched, that was a symbol of american shame when that happened. but today that ladder is in the gerald ford museum, and it stands for america not leaving its friends behind. so what george w. bush said at the outset of our talk here, don, is the exact right message right now. biden needs to run a humanitarian effort out of afghanistan like nobody's business, and he started that process with an executive order that happened just a couple of hours or less ago. >> i appreciate our conversation. thank you very much, douglas. i'l

they was the soviet union. you see what they are now -- russia. the point of eisenhower's speeches that we should not be a military-industrial complex. that's what eisenhower said. he was a republican. and if we had a draft -- because i was drafted, i remember vietnam -- you could never have been there for 21 years. that is why they cut out the draft, so you could get in these under seri -- these unnecessary wars. no one ever talks about the suicide of our soldiers who went to afghanistan. i believe there were more suicides than soldiers killed in afghanistan. thank you very much. host: we have talked about it on this program several times during the years of this war. some more numbers. 72 journalists and media workers have lost their life covering the afghanistan war and 75,000 314 national military and police in afghanistan have lost their lives. richard in tennessee, we will go to you next read hi, richard. -- next. hi, richard. caller: good morning. we never should have went there. we should have lit up the mountains and the sky between them

pakistan has - lived with this challenge ever since the soviet union invaded afghanistan, and the reality is they have between 1.5 and 3 million afghan refugees on their soil, and they have had for many years now. so from their perspective, they are invested in the outcome. certainly invested in the outcome. certainly in my engagements with my pakistani opposite number, i am in no doubt that he is very genuine when he says he wants a stable and moderate afghanistan. d0 he wants a stable and moderate afghanistan-— he wants a stable and moderate afghanistan. do you not see this unfoldin: afghanistan. do you not see this unfolding into _ afghanistan. do you not see this unfolding into a _ afghanistan. do you not see this unfolding into a terrible - unfolding into a terrible humanitarian tragedy in the next weeks and months to come? i humanitarian tragedy in the next weeks and months to come? i think we have already — weeks and months to come? i think we have already got _ weeks and months to come? i think we have already got a _ weeks and months to come? i think we have already got a hum

the soviet union barely existed on the economic map of the free world. it presided over a tightly controlled economic block of communist countries that had few connections in trade or travel with the rest of the planet. mostly its economy was about resources, oil, gas, nickel, copper, et cetera. china, by contrast, is deeply embedded in the world economy. it is now the leading nation in trading and goods. the vast amount of america traded with nations other than china. china needs american goods for economic growth, but many of america's companies from apple to nike need the markets. the lowest-priced goods for every american has been tied to sources from china. even when you look at something like america's expanding green economy, you see china behind it. those solar panels you see everywhere that have become so affordable and thus ubiquitous have become so because they were made in china. then there is the roughly $1 trillion worth of american debt that china holds. the united states will need a strategy that mirrors the complexity of this relationshi

focused on fighting the soviet union ended when the cold war after 15 years. after afghanistan, does the u.s. have a clear strategy to confront iran? >> do you think he would prefer to be speaking to mr. trump rather than mr. biden or is it a question of whoever is in charge? >> i think he realizes joe biden has a strong record of being a friend of israel. a big supporter of israel's security. he is also very knowledgeable about international relations. he is a more rational actor then donald trump -- actor than donald trump even though donald trump made quite a few decisions that were favorable to israel. at the end of the day, joe biden is both a true friend of israel and a president who has strong knowledge of international affairs. >> a previous iranian president talked about wiping israel off the map. that was used by netanyahu in the years that succeeded as reason for action on iran and reason for the u.s. to play a big role. many -- maybe things have changed. maybe they have not appeared in as really politicians -- they have not ap. >> it is n just opti

the soviet union barely existed on the economic map of the free world. it presided over a tightly controlled economic block of communist countries that had few connections in trade or travel with the rest of the planet. mostly, it's economy was about resources. oil, gas, nickel, copper, et cetera. china, by contrast, is deeply integrated into the world economy. it is now the world's leading trading nation in goods. according to the economists, they traded more with china. today, that has flipped. last year, china replaced the u.s. as the european union's largest trading partner in goods. china needs american consumers for its economic growth, but conversely, many of america's largest companies from general motors to apple to nike, need the chinese market. the walmart effect. the availability of low-priced goods to every kind of americans have been closely tied to sourcing from china. even when you look at something like america's expanding green economy, you see the shadow of china behind it. those solar panels that you see everywhere that have become so

union, who are mostly still russian allies -- countries like to jicha stan, uzbekistan. the russian side is very clear this negotiation process with the taliban has elicited security guarantees, a pledge from the taliban that they will not support the tax -- attacks in countries like uzbekistan. in the next few weeks, as perhaps we move toward formal diplomatic recognition -- i think there is some worry that even if the taliban can be dealt with, certain of their allies from central asia cannot, and the border with uzbekistan could prove problematic. we will wait to see. anchor: felix is in moscow on the possibility of the taliban and russia at some stage perhaps extending some kind of cooperation. we are watching all developments. let's go back to the situation in kabul, people trying to get out of the afghan capital. this could be a game changer. white house sources say the taliban has told them they are willing to guarantee safe passage to the airport in kabul for all civilians. thessage angled particularly at american citizens. but what does it mean for afghans who w

. >> when the soviet union troops left in 1989, they started fighting each other. the countries in the region poured fuel on the fire. the fear is now because you he lots of -- there is a danger that it could happen again. >> the u.s. and britain leave a country in limbo. the question is not what it was all for, but can they really afford to stand by as afghanistan once again descends into civil war. >> a heat wave is sweeping much of southern europe and through much of southern europe and wildfires are still raging across the region. the italian island of sicily registered 48 .8 degrees celsius on wednesday which would be the continents highest temperature ever recorded. to put that in context, the average temperature is around 35 degrees. our correspondent is there. >> they climbed to the coolest place around. the peak of an active volcano. when mighty mount etna is a relief from the heat, you know it is an extreme. agent has it ancient god of fire worked beneath the mountain. for the tourists, he still feels close. >> booked the holidays half a ye ago. we didn't

india moved away from neutrality in the cold war when it actually tilted toward the soviet union, which is one reason we tilted towards pakistan. it goes back and forth. india now sees china as a threat, and it sees the same thing we see in pakistan, a large and growing chinese presence chinese assistance to pakistan in the next -- in the past few years for its nuclear weapons program. we need to tighten up with australia and japan, and really put to pakistan as clearly as we can, give up this flirtation with terrorism. if you do, there is a real prospect for cooperation. but we will not go on any longer pretending. tom: what form of relationship would you advocate, after your travels to central asia, does biden need to go to new delhi now? mr. bolton: he needs to go soon. we have issues with india, too -- and their dependents russian weapons systems which they have relied on and purchased for decades going back to the cold war. and i think a lot of the political class in india will have to wake up to the fact that the neutrality, which was never really neat during the cold war, is no l

i will bless those who bless you here in israel and the former soviet union the jewish people are living in very difficult times. there are now thousands of destitute elderly jews who are desperately in need of basic food. the international fellowship of christians and jews is on the ground with survival food boxes but the need for food is growing. call or go online now and say, "i will bless these children of abraham." it's the elderly widows who are hurting the most. many of them are also holocaust survivors who are once again crying out for help. there need as you can see is extremely urgent. right now, you can give a gift of life of $25 that will help rush an emergency food box to an elderly jewish person who doesn't have enough to eat. together, we bring them comfort and love but just as important we bring them this life-saving food box. a gift of $25 will help rush one emergency food box. without your response, their pain and suffering will continue. inside of every box we put a note that says, "this box is donated because of the generosity of christians around the world." i just w

the british empire, soviet union, my brother is an expert in that region actually, intelligence services. he said after we took out the original taliban he said, ok, build a big monument, tell them they messed with us, we came, we conquered and if they mess with us again, we will come back but don't stay. he was right. we spent an amazing amount of money trying to build a military in our image that does not fit their culture, the warlord culture. it was inappropriate. and with what the post revealed last year we were lied to just like during vietnam even though rummy pooh-poohed the idea. we have been lied to about the possibility of afghans defending themselves. now, with their abject surrender, the taliban is better off than ever with u.s. weapons. it is a tragedy but it was inevitable. it was inevitable when bush diverted us from afghanistan and we had all our allies there. even iran was supporting us. when we went after al qaeda and osama bin laden, but the die was cast. >>, and i hear you congressman >> and i hear you, congressman. president obama, president trump who did negotiate

. >> i am leaving a country i first came to as the soviet union fell apart. when free speech, all freedoms, were new and precious. it feels like today's russia is moving in reverse. laura: her final disc -- dispatch from russia. our top story tonight, president biden defended the u.s. withdrawal from afghanistan, calling the mission and extraordinary success. speaking at the white house, biden accepted responsibility for the decision to withdraw, saying it wasn't an option to stay longer. taliban fighters spent their first full day in control showing off the military gear the u.s. left behind. the images, a stark reminder of the change of power in afghanistan. i'm laura trevelyan. thanks for watching bbc world news america. ♪ narrator: funding for this presentation of this program is provided by... narrator: financial services firm, raymond james. narrator: funding was also provided by, the freeman foundation. by judy and peter blum kovler foundation; pursuing solutions for america's neglected needs. and by contributions to this pbs station from viewers lik

so what happens next to afghanistan really matters.te >> when the soviet union troops left in '89, the victorious mujahideen started fighting each other. the countries in the region then poored fuel on the fire of the afghan civil war. w and the fear now is becausese you've got lots of an mitty between the countriessa;x in the region, it's a danger that could happen again. >> reporter: the u.s. andld britain leave a country in limbo. the question now is not just what it was all for but can they really afford to stand by as afghanistan once again descends into civil war?" jonathan biele, bbc news. >> joining me now for in is general david petraeus, who sved as commander of u.s. forces in afghanistan and was also the director of c.i.a.ec thank you so much for being with us today.. i want to go back to what the report said about the taliban being less than an hour away. we heard the pentagon saying that the capital is not in imminent threat. what's yourat analysis?s? >> my analysis is that the situation, obviously, is just disastrous. it's truly a catastrophe.tr and what happens next depe