military intervention in syria we'll tell you more next and in war torn syria the violence has reached a small town near the nation's capital it's a village that holds one of the oldest christian minorities in the world the growing concerns of this community coming up and don't forget to put your best face forward the department of homeland security is putting together a huge database for facial recognition but does this really help law enforcement more on that and today show. it's friday september sixth five pm in washington d.c. i'm lynn neary david and you're watching r t we begin today with syria as the debate for and against a military strike continues in congress president obama cleared a major hurdle this week by gaining approval from the senate foreign relations committee as they voted ten to seven on their own version of military authorization however it hasn't exactly been easy for the administration to continue that momentum giving a full breakdown on the numbers behind this fight is r t political commentator sam sax i've long believed that our power is rooted not just in ou

from syria. so this also has to play out but i think it can't play out for an eternity. >> sure. >> i think the commander in chief needs to set some parameters here. >> in the meantime, you bring up a good point here because there has to be some sort of timetable or guidelines here. this is put on hold, but congress still have to grapple with other business, if you will. you're talking about balancing the budget, you're talking about the dealing with the debt ceiling, implementing obama care. how does that all fit into what we're dealing with here? do they put that stuff on hold while they deal with syria? >> no. here you are, president obama. who would you rather deal with vladimir putin or are house republicans? it's kind of a tough choice for him. he has to deal with both at the same time, right? he's going to have to pursue syria, but on the other hand, republicans say they're going to be very, very aggressive on this quell of whether you -- how you raise the debt ceiling. there are some repu

the future of syria interested in a trans national islamic. state so they're not interested in this kind of talks anyway they are respected in the rebel ranks serious fighters well funded will well armed dedicated but their money of the rebels just don't see a future for. syria they want their own country well it's very interesting hilary if we look at some of these foreign founder of fighters up to ten thousand there are some estimates and some even more fighters in syria now than there were ever in afghanistan and that the civil war in syria has only been going on for two years i mean these people fighting for syria what are they doing there and is anybody outside the the exiles can they control them in any way shape or form it's i think clearly they cannot control and we've seen over the past two years that the so-called london eleven can't control them their sponsors saudi arabia and qatar can't control them i think they are not listening to any outside backer for the benefit of syria they're very much for themselves whether it's for a pan

action on syria. the syrian regime sorr refor its backing of iran, hezbollah and even china, that is in place against the world's only super power. the u.s., whe a coalition? a sit of allies? does it not seem strange to every senator, every representative in the house of representatives that this president has not been able to find a single leader who the stand shoulder to shoulder with the united states, germany said no, britain said no, france is waitining to see what congress does. then the matter in the president's goal in striking syria. in libya, united states had a clear mission. president obama struck, purpose was on thtake out moammar gadhae change, they were that, at least in this scope. our goals in syria, not regime change but punishment. president obama said any action will be limited and proportional as he put it, we do not know if those words have any means for president obama. >> president obama said that the red line is not his, he wants a limited proportion al-milh stare strike again

if you wins do you think the so-called international community will leave syria long will allow syria to heal its. progress with the peace building i think that's a very important question and that's a very huge challenge for whoever becomes president of syria and if we think that president assad will continue to be syria for another proof for another ten years of seven years then most probably he will find it a little bit difficult to frequency with its immediate surroundings of the arab states let alone the western countries who have combined spent a lot of resources to try and. jim but that is although this is an issue what is in the minds of syrians is to you know little the international community learn the lesson that no matter how much they try nothing is going to happen unless syrians in their majority approve of it but i think that lesson to be taught to the western community neighbors would be very costly for syrians themselves because you have to keep in mind that once the war is over and it's still not over but if we were to imagine that base and military active military p

tending it looks like everybody is using syria everyone's using syria now they'll go ahead jump in. let me again in for size one point if hezbollah gets what kind of missiles over further would it apply and who the target is i believe the conflict in syria centers over roads and highways something similar to the nine hundred forty eight conflict and basically as sad moves his troops inside big roads in cities if they are including hezbollah that's a factor that's a strategic military factor but also the highways among the c.d.n. cities and the highways linking syria with the surrounding countries these are the domains the rains who are hizbullah rebuilds possibly israel or the city and troops loyal to assad are moving so this is the landscape of the battle the are going to be shooting at each other being the cop turned or will define the outcome of the battle so the question is does hezbollah. that can have maxi capabilities as sound does and i'm quite sure that he would be receiving very important technicolor information and operational experience from his russian military advisors

al qaeda affiliated groups fighting here in syria. against the regime of bashar assad but mostly for their own radical islamic state and it's known it's believed to be the best armed most successful and at the same time the most aggressive opposition force here in syria and it's listed as a terrorist organization by the you when u.s. and some other members of the international community and we can see that the tactics were also. very similar to those that terrorists all around the world use we know that. early on wednesday suicide bomber struck a checkpoint at the entrance of my little village and after a car exploded at the checkpoint the militants of just stormed and we have online and i hope you can see it right now showing the rebels. the. residents have been telling media that the same day the militants managed to take over a mountain top sophia hotel and they been firing from that strategic point what we know is that a village is a very special play. not only speaking. in terms of syrian reality but internationally speaking it i

is helping israel syria it was and still is an enemy of fees web. and was a serious threat to israel and at the moment it almost doesn't exist nobody's asking israel to withdraw from the golan heights so in a way. this tragedy is quite a confortable situation for is we're in a march and how do you take a strike ok i mean in people in syria are being killed ok i mean that's one result . absolutely people in syria are being killed and that is exactly the problem certainly israel is taking advantage of a weaker syria now but the bottom line is it's striking weapons that may have been destined for hezbollah which could immediately turn around and use them against syrians so whether israel continues these foreigners into syria or not is almost irrelevant to the people of syria because they're being attacked by their own government ok josh if i go back to it or is everyone forgetting the syrians now it looks like it's jockeying for position in the region it's everything's a proxy now joshua well things are proxy but as you've said you know the outside reg

oh syria a country going from bad to worse with israel's air strike against syria and more expected it would appear there are forces in the region and in washington that now see military intervention as a means to and syria's civil war given past military interventions in the region is there any reason to believe that this time it will be any different. to cross-talk the syrian crisis i'm joined by joshua landis to norman he's an associate professor and director of the center for middle east studies at the university of oklahoma in washington we have rafi shakti she is an english spokesperson for the local coordinating committees in syria and the director of the foundation to restore equality in education in syria and in jerusalem across the he is a former director general of the israeli ministry of foreign affairs and an international relations lecturer at tel aviv university all right folks cross talk rules in effect that means you can jump in anytime you want let's go to joshua in norman joshua what do you make of the israeli air strike against syria and the possibility of more comi

syria's best friend, russia, saying that, in fact, syria will sign on to that ban. and syria will allow the international community to take all of its chemical weapons and destroy them. and syria seems to be going along with what russia says here. and that is why everything changed today in washington, and that is why the senate has delayed its vote and the u.s. government and the president say now that the only reason this progress was made is because of a threat of u.s. military force seeming real in this case. and they're saying that is what russia and syria responded to. and if it is up to the guy who i guess saw this coming, then the senator, joe manchin pass out of here, the way forward is that the u.s. and the senate and the president should change tact to reflect this progress today. say yes to this offer from syria and russia. say yes to this offer from syria to come in from the cold and hand over their chemical weapons. lead the world in universal approval of that move. see to it that it happens and save the prospect of the use of force for if they don't f

pilgrim who'd been living in syria for sixteen years and he told me if everyone in syria wanted to go he would be gone this is not to say that a substantial number of syrians don't want him to go they do want him to go but there is a constituency in syria that supports a sub the problem is that we don't have the west doesn't have anyone to bring to the negotiating table the syrian opposition is completely fractured who represents the syrian opposition could could give me five names that represent the syrian opposition who can go to the negotiation table and talk to assad you know i can argue for him it was because of the point in the poorest a week in the middle east the great powers are you know they have lost their influence wherever so that's the that is one of the delimiters you know the people the countries who can bring about some sort of meaningful peace or not you know in russia there might be saudi arabia or because the so do you i knew all that was really really depressed or very depressing to find syria that's a very depressing thought that saudi arabia would be playing tha

military strike against syria. he promised to take that message back to washington next week and vote against the white house plan to strike syria. david hawkins, aljazeera, michigan. >> ahead, richard murphy speaks to us. for the latest, you can always go to aljazeera.com. >> a bomb has exploded in front of egyptian minister's home in cairo in a possible attempt on his life. six people were injured in the explosion. two attackers were killed by police. witnesses tell aljazeera a car bomb was set near the interior minister's convoy. >> the cleveland medical examiner confirmed that aerial castro hanged himself with a bed sheet. he had just started serving a life sentence as punishment for kidnapping and torturing three young women for a decade. those three women have not spoken publicly. we visited the cleveland neighborhood castro called home to see the impact his death is having on people there. >> on the 2000 block of seymour avenue in cleveland, flowers offer no hint of the painful history of the house that once

a serious crisis a crisis in syria there's no crisis in syria there's a civil war in syria and that's a matter to address in the international diplomacy tool kit but what we have is a serious constitutional violation we have a constitutional crisis in the united states the president united states is violating the constitution he violated it and wasn and impeachable offense when he attacked libya if he attacks. syria as he proposes to do without an act of congress declaring war that's yet another impeachable offense and right now the congress the united states has before it a requirement in the constitution to call for a constitutional convention immediately do you think that congress will give a nod of yes to an approval to a syrian action. this is going to be interesting to follow because there's two third conflicting political interests the outcome will have nothing to do with morality nothing to do with justice nothing to do with u.s. national security nothing to do with international or constitutional law what we have is the republicans in congress and they have a conflict at this

soldiers in syria. how could iran help me. >> charlie: supplies, weaponry. >> we always have this kind of of -- >> charlie: hezbollah fighters have been here. >> in the border -- only on the border where the terrorist attacked them on the border with lebanon. this is where hezbollah retaliated. this is where you have cooperation. that's good. >> charlie: hezbollah forces are in syria today? >> on the border area of lebanon where they want to protect and serve and cooperate with us. but they don't exist all overseer i can't. they cannot exist all overseer i can't. from any region that they exist on the border. >> charlie: what advice are you getting from the russians? >> about? >> charlie: this war. how to end this war. >> looking for a solution, we have this advice and we are convinced about it. >> charlie: do you have plan to end the war? >> of course. >> charlie: which is -- at very beginning it was fullly political when you have these terrorists the first part of the same plan which is political shou

they don't have any idea of a syria they intend to create. i am quite sure that that is simply not on the agenda to create a new syria or to fundamentally alter the present balance of power within the country they're talking about degrading certain capabilities of the syrian government. if they if they are serious about doing that of course that means a much more fundamental commitment to getting involved in war that they have exhibited so far so you know there are obvious contradictions here in the official position of the obama administration on one hand trying to emphasize the limited character of what they are planning to do and on the other hand claiming that somehow this will make a difference i don't know how they can square that circle. in washington as well when you square the circle. i'm not sure i can square the circle either but i can tell you that the l c c's position as the largest network of nonviolent activists in syria our position is that we would support airstrikes if they were to fundamentally degrade the capability of the

places mean syria. although because it will come you know large would continue to keep the relative peace for the this is why it's a symbolic religious a very cool term but not only. here. for a long period. of. oh. this may look like an ordinary farewell amongst friends but the man in the long as lama coat is a suicide bomber leaving on his final journey. this is his last conversation with his elder brother in a car that is supposed to take him to the roles of the central prison in aleppo syria and then explode sending him to paradise according to his beliefs these clips were found on a laptop taken from one man seen in the food age who is now in a syrian prison he calls himself rush on and says he came to syria from a former soviet republic to fight. a group called murat approached me a year ago and convinced me that muslims in syria are being oppressed and killed and that i should go and take up arms against assad for world jihad and help establish a caliphate that will extend worldwide to europe ame

now the resolution on syria is obviously so the resolution on syria is obviously a victory for russian diplomacy but the resolution has in a way also restored the u.s. credibility that was kind of lost in recent years so with the inability to make a joint decision it one time thing do you think or will we see more decisions like that well i hope we will i mean the most important thing about this resolution is that it's really paving the way for the implementation of this project of eliminating all chemical weapons. in syria and making sure that no chemical attacks can be possible in the future so it's a very good success for russia and i think good success with it for the united states because we have been working together very closely with our american colleagues on this and of this resolution allowed the united states to avoid this very sorely and delicate issue of the possibility of use of force in syria of course for us it's a very important result of the option of this resolution is that the use of force in syria is not regarded anymore internationally as something which. can be r

over all crisis in syria. a mill industry solution is not an option. >> the arab league is due to meet in the egyptian capitol to discuss the crisis in syria but there's little unity of how they respond to the chemical weapons attacks. saudi arabia and other uniteed the emirates support military enter jennings but libya, iraq rule against using force. what is expected then from the the arab the league? >> reporter: on sunday, first of all the meeting will be at ambassador level and later in the day the foreign ministers consider a draft text put forward by the ambassadors. already we know that -- a lot are saying the arab league have as far last tuesday in an ambassador's meeting. an issue which con tkepls what it called the haoe news crime can carried out by prointernational prohibited chemical weapons. i laid it at the feet of the assad government of in syria. it was suspended from iraq t lebanon and al tkp*e ria. i think the feeling today is that there won't be any show of unity. there will be a discussion

reflection from damascus in syria. he's raring for war and president francois hollande says there will be no vote on the matter despite a recent poll suggesting that three in four french people want parliament to have a say on attacking syria and perhaps a wary or by u.k. like a defeat by lawmakers or loans administration insists he alone has the power to order an attack i'll choose to associate reports now on the french perspective. the french president a lot is constitutionally able to order over the top without a parliamentary approval but france along has been under a lot of pressure from opposition to to put this issue to a vote with the opposition and also pointed out that a lot is in a court of what he merely a position of having to wait for before acting i was spokesman from along the office said that the president hasn't yet decided whether or not to ask for a vote but what's interesting to note is that in the u.k. the prime minister is also able to work over the top without parliament the prime minister david

revolutionary guard representatives in syria are growing in number syria is being supplied the house was relieved supplied with things going on side they have to. say that iran is playing with the ranters and want to settle and the situation it's farce or just it's not true that we cannot ignore the fact that iran is very much sees syria as a battleground between the iran that wants to promote islamic revolution and other forces are trying to contain it and this is exactly what iran is doing it's using syria and it's supplying a little extreme tending it looks like everybody is using syria everyone's using syria now they'll go ahead jump in. me again in for size one point if hezbollah gets what kind of missiles over further would it apply and who the target is i believe the conflict in syria centers over roads and highways something similar to the nine hundred forty eight conflict and basically as sad moves his troops inside big roads in cities if they are including hezbollah that's a factor that's a strategic military factor but also the highways among city and cities and the highwa

gecko -- in syria? matthew is joining us, why do you support it? technician.a former it definitely looks like there are some nerve damage going on to the people in syria in those videos. that is definitely making me lean right. needs to do something and why not just bomb them from away? no troops on the ground, punish the syrian government, and we can be on our way. host: from reuters this morning -- he let the world's 1.2 billion one .2 billion catholics in world prayer. he said "violence and war only lead to death. of violence and war are the language of death." from our facebook page, here are some of your comments -- next is elaine joining us from fairfax virginia, good morning. go ahead. i am a numeral -- a liberal democrat and i was opposed to the iraq war from the beginning. but something tells me this is correct to do. it is a moral obligation. we have treaties with other countries on chemical weapons. when a country starts to use , i think it iss just a moral obligation and principle that we ha

and while the blame game over last month's salary gas attack in syria continues r.t. sources close to the conflict telling us tonight as well that rebel fighters are now planning a chemical property provocation strike against israel following that up closely no comment on that from our correspondent. also to the battle for moscow is over acting. in selected for a new term in office but opposition rather of alexina valley refuses to concede defeat but his supporters staging a mass rally to demand a recount. fellows just after ten pm here in moscow my name is kevin i will face a big where this is a day of potentially big developments in syria syria's agreed to russia's proposal that it put its chemical weapons stockpiles under international control us so critics state john kerry initially suggested such a scheme earlier on as a way to avoid a military strike on syria the u.s. state department then though issued an apparent retraction of that saying it wasn't a genuine offer. thomas picks up the story. it started off as a day of a meeting of the ministers both from the w

a low in welcome to cross talk where all things are considered i'm peter lavelle syria and the dive into the abyss the obama administration is reportedly wreath. thinking its previous position whether it should openly armed rebel groups in this grinding civil war many have the opinion that civil wars with outside involvement usually lasts longer cause more deaths are more difficult to resolve through negotiations so what is different this time around. crosstalk serious protracted civil war i'm joined by mark levine in washington he is a senior fellow with the truman national security project and a radio show host also in washington we have samara robbie he's a government relations manager at the arab american institute and in london we crossed to you as an adult he is a lecturer at oxford university and imperial college london he is also a member of the syrian dialogue project all right folks cross talk rules in effect that means you can jump in anytime you want you know mark if i go to you first obama's mulling this we're told this is a risk is this a good idea after everything that has

and its supply regime now detaining it looks like everybody is using syria everyone's using syria now they'll go ahead jump in. let me again in for size one point if hezbollah gets what kind of missiles over referred would it apply and who the target is i believe the conflict in syria centers over roads and highways something similar to the nine hundred forty eight conflict and basically as sad moves his troops inside big roads in cities if they are including hezbollah that's a factor that's a strategic military factor but also the highways among the c.d.n. cities and the highways linking syria with the surrounding countries these are the domains the reins who are hizbullah rebuilds possibly israel or the c.d.n. troops loyal to assad are moving so this is the landscape of the battle the art of going to be shooting at each other the helicopter will define the thirty chick outcome of the battle so the question is does hezbollah own helicopters that can have next capabilities does and i'm quite sure that he would be receiving very important technicolor information and operational experie

identity in addition to the syria population of the north east of syria in the jazeera has. and the two villages around it but. the only places where i make in different dialects is this and indeed that it's a rarity in a south that i wanted to move on and ask you how you would describe the experience so far for syrian christians in particular even pre-sell been targeted there throughout this conflict malula is no different than other christian. population of christians in the large cities they have always felt that what's happening in syria right now is against their own interest as citizens of syria especially as christians as it's well known and documented christians and the as a rule. have lived relatively very peaceful. conditions and the government and the syrian population have been really nice to the christians because the christian after all these inhabitants of syria the original inhabitants of syria therefore keeping the christian present in the middle east especially in syria is a richness and is. in reaching the syrian society therefore they always stood with. t

let's start bombing syria and see if they respond. live in london times correspondent thank you very much indeed for your thoughts on this great to get your perspective thanks for joining us live on r.t. well earlier my colleague researcher spoke to me at all and he's a correspondent for israel's had its newspaper he even easier strike is justified as a preemptive attack to ensure the nation's security. this is part of the israeli policy which you can describe as pownce but do not announce don't let the syrian regime transfer surface to surface missiles and surface to be so stupid paula but don't brag about it so while the reason no official confirmation you can take it almost as face value when you hear the us side confirm it officially what about the legality of israel bombing syria like this without even a un mandate i mean how do you expect the international community to react to this well be israeli and syrian governments have been paying a fragile cease fire for the last forty years however next door in lebanon on the lebanese g

strikes against syria. i think he's expecting some other countries to show their public support in the next 24 hours. >> elise, what does that mean saudi arabia supports u.s. strikes? that the arab league supports the u.s. mission? that the arab league also agrees or believes chemical weapons were used. are either of those committing to military force as well as alongside the u.s.? 0. >> saudi arabia has been one of the strongest opponents of military action and made statements. prince bandar, the former ambassador to washington has been traveling the world to drum up support for some type of military campaign. thick you might see saudi arabia, whether it's base, overflight rights, they haven't announced anything yet but i think secretary kerry is looking for something like that. i think some of the other countries will be a little bit more private about what they'd be willing to contribute. qatar today said -- the qatar foreign minister said his country supported intervention and looking what they can do.

. >> the europeans fighting in syria's civil war. confirmation that german jihad tests are involved. >> the bank when -- bangladesh building collapse disaster. the search for survivors continues. is this a game changer for how the world deals with the crisis in syria? on thursday, the united states said that it now believes forces loyal to the syrian president have probably used chemical weapons in syria. >> the finding is a very fresh one. the u.s. defense secretary said the intelligence community reached the conclusion within the past 24 hours. >> that's right. the chemical in question is a lethal nerve agent. hagel did not say where or when it was used, but he made it clear that the blame lies with assad. >> our coverage begins with this report. >> are arriving in abu dhabi, the u.s. defense secretary said washington believes the assad regime has used chemical weapons but admitted there was some uncertainty. >> the white house delivered a letter to several members of congress on the topic of chemical weapons use in syria. the lett

now, syria's foreign minister says syria welcome the proposal. our senior international correspondent nick paton walsh is joining us from the u.p. u.n. secretary of state john kerry actually mentioned this as a hypothetical proposal earlier in the day. the state department quickly backtracking though. is this now considered a serious proposal toe avert a new round of u.s. military attacks in syria? >> well, wolf, we're almost into the diplomatic long grass. remarkable what's taking shape. what started as seeming will i a slip of the tong by kerry has now snowballed into something which ban ki-moon welcomed as a potential avenue out of this crisis. of course, seized upon by the russians and syrian government, too. bear in mind cynically perhaps this process could take a number of weeks if it got under way in which of course curse international opinion may begin to side along with those who say the u.n. should be allowed to do its work. let me read to you what ban ki-moon said earlier on. i'm considering urging the security council to command the i

will take military action against syria but first the u.s. leader says he will seek authorization from congress speaking in the rose garden obama said that he believes he has the authority to carry out a military attack without approval from congress but he feels that going before congress having a public debate debate having a vote would make the country stronger if there was actually a national conversation taking place about obama's intended military strike against syria now the u.s. leader says that he feels comfortable carrying out an attack against syrian targets without the approval of the united nations security council u.s. officials believe that any security draft resolution allowing for the use of force against syria would be vetoed by russia and or china now obama says his plan military strike is not time sensitive that means that it could happen one week from now it could happen one month from now but ultimately the u.s. president says the syrian government will pay consequences for allegedly carrying out a chemical weapons attac

well syria was. was a revolution in the in the in the same way that egypt saw its revolution which toppled hosni mubarak in the same way that tunisia so revolution that toppled the and in the same way that the people of libya rose the people of syria as well as yemen other countries also rose at the very same time the context can't be ignored the syrian revolution for six months after it starts all it was calling for was the reform of the regime not the fall of the regime you mentioned that their way of started to was through peaceful protests and i take your point i was there on the ground are so many of those peaceful rallies but i think the protests. is that i saw back then in damascus and in many other syrian cities have absolutely nothing in common with the armed rebels and the problem is that yourself your group and many other arab intellectuals in the west seem to you said just that you know on this particular case using violence using aren't resistance may be justified in my my argument is th

all syria timeline everything you need to know it's all if we. well with america blaming the syrian regime for chemical attacks the u.s. national security adviser susan rice expressed concern that israel could also be at risk the use of chemical weapons also directly threatens our closest ally in the region israel where people once again have readied gas masks she's worn the chemicals could easily fall into the hands of terrorists he has received information from a number of sources that rebels active in syria are planning to launch a chemical attack on israel it would be used as a provocation against the syrian government and our correspondent has more from tel aviv. i've spoken to both the israeli foreign ministry is what is the army spokespersons units and i was asking them for a reaction to the reports we have that there is an imminent threat being planned by syrian rebels originating in territory in syria that is controlled by the syrian government against israel now the reaction was to quote one of the spokespeople for off aged the response

the alawites have the right to live in syria. no one should be excluded from society. >> narrator: the next morning, just as the united nations truce begins, ahmad and his comrades prepare for battle. >> (translated): we always try and pray before battle. it makes us stronger. we've realized that only god will help us. so we ask god for the strength to attack more checkpoints. >> narrator: ahmad is going to attack a large government base at wadi daif. it's a major launching point for artillery attacks in the region. it also protects the regime's main supply route from the capital, damascus, to syria's embattled second city, aleppo. >> narrator: for weeks, they've been besieging the base at wadi daif. the fighting has been intense. the brother of rebel leader jamal marouf was killed here only weeks ago. today they plan to storm the base and overrun it. the fog allows them to move unseen to within striking distance. the base lies less than a mile down this road, and is manned by up to 500 regime soldiers. >> narrator: jamal used to

syria is the key. that's why you're seeing a lot of iranian troops in syria because they need to protect their investment in that part of the world, just like we do. >> diplomacy is everybody inner pretty. although it sounds pretty, it is messy. colonel, if you could stay with us. i have other questions moving through this program about these two countries, and it leads to this question -- the military. how is the united states maneuvering all of those big, heavy assets? ships, aircraft carriers. they can't just stay hanging out there forever. so what are we doing about it as we still maintain a threat over syria? first, though, today is september 11th, and there are memorial services throughout the country, and in shanksville, pennsylvania. in new york city. and in washington, d.c. and we will pause to remember, next. [ male announcer ] campbell's angus beef & dumplings. hearty cheeseburger. creamy thai style chicken with rice. mexican-style chicken tortilla. if you think campbell's 26 new soups sound

we're focused on syria. still with us, director of the syrian center for political and strategic studies and former spokesman for the main syrian opposition group. saudi political affairs 234,589, and the director of the institute for gulf affairs. and former u.s. ambassador to the united nations, you're in new york. you've been at the united nations. what is the saudi perspective on the u.n. and their involvement? >> well, i was the saudi government decided to go back to the u.n. supreme coursecurity council. i just confirmed that, and they said that they are going back. i think it should be this week or next week be . kerry it "s" there, and i think they have returned an agreement to return to the u.n. security council. the u.s. i think, will be more aggressive on syria, no strikes, but more aggressive in terms of trying to push assad regime out. >> ambassador, how significant is that news? >> well, it's definitely significant. the saudis have been throwing a bit of a tantrum over something that is very un

still to come here i speak to those making a pilgrimage to syria to fight in what they believe is a holy war. also the opening of a crew from the international space station successfully coming to an end. on the beautiful steps of. both. here and. he with me. thanks for joining us today it looks like president obama is toning things down after weeks of bombastic statements threats that the syrian government deserves a u.s. military strike. to his nation which according to recent polls is against america getting involved in a brand new civil war he agreed to give way to diplomacy for reporting from washington. we saw president obama engaged in verbal acrobatics with the message that many americans will find very confusing he was forcefully pushing the idea that strikes against syria are necessary asking the american people to support him at the same time he would say maybe they will not be necessary and maybe diplomacy can work he was referring to russia's proposal for seriously give up its chemical weapons take a listen it's too early to tell whether this offer will succeed in any agreem

tries to engage to some level it really changes the mix in dealing with syria. as long as the united states doesn't engage with whom what went on a long as they continue doing the age when he's around doesn't know we're dealing with around because this is something that the saudis over are very unhappy about needless to say. oh yeah they are indeed. also i mean that's a real problem but. like to just check who with the with hillary this question of a secular state that secular state that people talk of probably as having existed under the regime of the controls in that secular state in accordance with battery doctrine were exercised largely by in a clique of the alawite community we're no political dissension was permitted no factions were allowed to arise during half of the last it's time nor during bush zero s. so there was the feeling among the sunni's among the or less among the christians because they did feel more protected no question of ancient two rivalries and suspicions and resentment of alawite domination and. made it somewhat less of a secular state

while western warships and fighter jets move to within striking range of syria as the u.s. and britain seem set on military action if you want inspect there is confirm a chemical attack to place. also greece needs another massive money boost from viewers just as the people of pre-election germany get fed up with explanations on why it's ok to pour in their cash. to take off for the skies high tech as the world's finest aircraft and best buy is descent of moscow for one of the years key air shows. five pm in moscow you're watching r t m arena joshua welcome to the program while the blame game surrounding the alleged chemical attack in syria is gathering pace syria's foreign minister insists that rebels and foreign mercenaries fighting with them are behind the alleged atrocity once again refuting washington's assertion that it was the regime the calico assault claims have already damaged efforts to find a peaceful solution with the u.s. postponing a meeting with russia to discuss the revival of talks in geneva are listed often of has more in doubt. russia and the u.s. have be

is helping israel syria was and still is and then we'll feast where. and was a serious threat to israel and at the moment it almost doesn't exist nobody's asking israel to withdraw from the golan heights so in a way. this tragedy is quite a confortable situation for is we're here in a march and how do you take a strike ok i mean in people in syria are being killed ok i mean that's one result . absolutely people in syria are being killed and that is exactly the problem certainly israel is taking advantage of a weaker syria now but the bottom line is it's striking weapons that may have been destined for hezbollah which could immediately turn around and use them against syrians so whether israel continues these foreigners into syria or not is almost irrelevant to the people of syria because they're being attacked by their own government ok josh if i go back to it or is everyone forgetting the syrians now it looks like it's jockeying for position in the region it's everything's a proxy now joshua well things are a proxy but as you've said you know the outs

is helping israel syria it was and still is an enemy of fees web. and was a serious threat to israel and at the moment it almost doesn't exist nobody's asking israel to withdraw from the golan heights so in a way. this tragedy is quite a confortable situation for is we're right people are in a march and how do you take a strike ok i mean in people in syria are being killed ok i mean that's one result . absolutely people in syria are being killed and that is exactly the problem certainly israel is taking advantage of a weaker syria now but the bottom line is that striking weapons that may have been destined for hezbollah which could immediately turn around and use them against syrians so whether israel continues these foreigners into syria or not is almost irrelevant to the people of syria because they're being attacked by their own government ok josh if i go back to it or is everyone forgetting the syrians now it looks like it's jockeying for position in the region it's everything's a proxy now joshua well things are proxy but as you've said you kno

is helping israel syria it was and still is and then we'll freeze frame. and was a serious threat to israel and at the moment it almost doesn't exist nobody's asking israel to withdraw from the golan heights so in a way. this tragedy is quite a confortable situation for is we're in a march and how do you take a strike ok i mean when people in syria are being killed ok i mean that's one result. absolutely people in syria are being killed and that is exactly the problem certainly israel is taking advantage of a weaker syria now but the bottom line is that striking weapons that may have been destined for hezbollah which could immediately turn around and use them against syrians so whether israel continues these foreigners into syria or not is almost irrelevant to the people of syria because they're being attacked by their own government ok josh if i go back to it or is everyone forgetting the syrians now it looks like it's jockeying for position in the region it's everything's a proxy now joshua well things are proxy but as you've said you know the assad regi

that of syria when it comes down to what we're doing today at the g. twenty summit in st petersburg i spoke earlier to chris a democratic strategist and he said frankly of the when it's all said and done syria or snowden or to. twenty economics this summit will work to bring nations together. is saw the president and mr putin shake hands today. they are both professional politicians they both understand that there are issues bigger than snowden and there are issues that the united states and russia agree on which are much bigger than snowden and quite frankly bigger than syria and that relationship continuous so there's always gamesmanship be between our politicians our world leaders and that initial meeting was just one of those little games that are played leaders and again i don't think that's lost on the people in america who pay attention to international affairs that russia is part of that international coalition and a very important part i think people in both countries understand that we work together the best we can to fight terrorism and so s

he said that many syria is there. whatever happens in syria spreads spreading all over the region in syria libya egypt television. gas fields in syria. so a company of. serious. question in the war on terror may be good for israel's expansion but the u.s. just gains new enemies. to speak to how can you be against its interests traditionally the democrats got more than two thirds of the campaign contributions that flow into their federal elections from the aggressively israeli faction and that was earmarked support for israel was the condition of taking that money a clean break document was issued by you mean and the neoconservative mostly americans who also happen to be dual citizens people like wolfowitz and perle scooter libby all of those people and this document proposed. regime change in these middle eastern countries. overthrowing all of these independent middle eastern countries and imposing imperial control these people really do want to create greater israel the phrase israel working with its partners. agains

said nato does not play into to dissipate into military intervention in syria. secretary of state john kerry said but both haiti on president obama believe a military strike on syria needs to be discussed directly with the american people fast and let's not take a look at will the u.s. public thinks about the issue over the hearts of those americans who took part in the wrong issues paul don't want an intervention in syria at all only twenty percent are in favor as asked whether assad should bear tanks if he's implicated in chemical weapons used just under thirty percent of americans said yes the british parliament wasn't convinced that an attack on secret should happen and let's not talk to a labor m.p. mahmoud it was among those who voted against a military strike on syria mr mahmood thank you very much indeed for joining us here on r.t. so why did you make a stand against british participation in a military intervention in syria. well the key thing as far as military intervention in syria is concerned first of all can i make clear that any form of chemical we

quote cannot go on and search syria says it wants the u.n. investigate it wants the u. . and to also investigate who carried out the attacks and not just whether they were carried out the syrian ambassador to the u.n. also said he he had. he had requests that u.n. secretary general ban ki-moon that these one thousand investigating the alleged use of chemical weapons to also investigate quote story more locations where the syrian soldiers inhaled the nerve gas last week on the outskirts of damascus but it seems at this point calls to investigate and to give diplomacy a chance are falling on deaf ears in the u. whereas the u.k. and in france before but it's also important to remember that before every. u.s. intervention in the last fifty years there was a high ball flies misinformation and discrepancies and every time washington would present its case for war as the ultimate truth leading people to believe that waging war was the only way to peace but was it take a listen to a report. as the u.s. is preparing an attack on syria striking similar

and syria could invoke that one. anybody could invoke those things and the point is it's not just the u.n. is not supporting this you don't have the arab league their belief has refused to endorse any kind of military action nato for that exam for that for that purpose it has not issued any statement in support of this you don't even have the in the american polling data there's very little support among the american citizenry for any attack on syria i don't quite understand. thinks he has really solid grounds for this outside of the fact that he feels he has to you know validate his red line that you know he essentially is just amazing thing somebody has to do something somebody has to do something that's what it gets down to pepe go ahead because obama's credibility is on the line right now and he's looking like a complete buffoon foreign policy wise. his credibility is already gone come a look at the n.s.a. scandal and by the way have you heard anything about the n.s.a. scandal this best week or so of course not i

our subject is syria. what began there two and a half years ago as part of the arab spring has turned into an all-out civil war. now has come the shocking evidence of poison gas attacks. a fatal escalation that has led president obama to ask congress to authorize the limited use of military force. and if we take action, where and when does it stop? historian and analyst andrew bacevich is here asking those questions.[ a graduate of west point and vietnam veteran, he served in the military for 23 years before becoming a professor at boston university. his books include "the limits of power" and "washington rules." his latest, "breach of trust." andrew bacevich, welcome. >> thank you very much. >> well, i'm pleased to have this chance to chat with you for a lot of reasons. one, i don't know who else has more cred than you. what would a 23-year graduate of west point offer us now regarding the dilemma in which obama finds himself, regarding syria? >> well, i mean, if i could have five minutes of the president

i am from syria and i did the war in syria i like the war and just i don't go to see my friends on my. my name is. i came here because i want for my children to live in peace and to be killed russian citizens. and where i am ones are certainly all coming to russia. leave here because my all and. my name is or not to come back to the lovely country when. my name is osama. i'm planning to stay in russia. to bet your life. until just a year ago but would never have thought of leaving damascus and building a new house in a small village in the tiny republican russia and the land of his ancestors when war broke out in the caucuses one hundred fifty years ago his grandfather and hundreds of thousands of a dig is. sent to turkey jordan syria and other countries in the middle east now war has brought a twist of fate. to return to his ancestral home i have many of my brothers. i have. but i prefer to kim here because i believe the big. you may be in the coming twenty years not now. many syrians came to this village in search of peace and other local people helping rebuild the house. people he

and its allies are per pairing to attack syria -- preparing to attack syria. this raised concerns over supplies in the middle east, which pumps one third of the world's oil. >> they are pricing in an attack on syria, which is basically seeing as a given. the only question is when, who is going to be involved, and what form the attack is going to take. but the markets are taking it as a given. i think brent could go up by another five dollars or $10. simply based on the anticipation of an imminent attack on syria. >> syrian oil output is not much of a factor, as more than 30 countries produce more oil. syria's production has artie fallen to less than 15% of what it was. syria's oil output has dropped to 50,000 barrels a day from 350,000 barrels a day when civil unrest first began two years ago. it is the spillover effects. traders are concerned any strike on syria may distress other parts of the middle east and threaten exports from a region that produces over 35% of the world's oil. saudi arabia, the largest supplier of oil in opec, has backed opponents a seri

>> in syria? there may be a good element that we have a problem because one thing the leaders said is you better make sure that if assad falls you got to address damascus otherwise there is a mess to go beyond decades. i am voting no. neil: thank you. your colleagues also are against the action this could easily be defeated in the house with the vote we are taking right now. let's see if the president will say something to change your mind. if you just heard this and it is like busting your school -- head is like taking the budget with three weeks from today with the health care law, with a billionaire investor very, very worried not only can washington not multitask but to walk, talk, and to gun at the same time is killing us. keep the tweet coming. i will sort through your reaction to 90 and reid some of them. you tweet and we report. i love to eat. i love hanging out with my friends. i have a great fit with my dentures. i love kiwis. i've always had that issue with the seeds getting under my de