[03 Nov 2013] US AfPak envoy acknowledges West costly mistakes in Afghan...
A senior member of the US administration has admitted that the West has made mistakes in the Afghanistan war. US president\'s special...
A senior member of the US administration has admitted that the West has made mistakes in the Afghanistan war. US president\'s special representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan says those mistakes have claimed unnecessary lives and prolonged the war. James Dobbins also said that sidelining Iran and Russia after the invasion of Afghanistan by the U-S and its allies was wrong. Dobbins stressed that Tehran and Moscow can play their part in rebuilding the country after the withdrawal of U-S-led foreign forces from Afghanistan.
3m:28s
5030
[03 Nov 2013] Leader: US has lost its political & military power in...
The Leader of Iran\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s Islamic Revolution says the United States has lost its political and military power and turned into a country...
The Leader of Iran\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s Islamic Revolution says the United States has lost its political and military power and turned into a country grappling with its biggest economic and financial problems. He was addressing a group of school and university students on the occasion of Student Day in Iran. Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said the U-S is suffering from political problems and divisions which led to the recent shutdown of the federal government. The Leader noted that Iran\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s current economic hardships pale in comparison with those of the US administration. Ayatollah Khamenei said US officials made projections some 11 years ago about having 14-thousand billion dollars in extra revenues by 2011 or 2012, and that now, in practice, they are suffering from a huge 17-thousand billion dollar deficit. Iran\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s Leader said that this alone shows America\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s true economic situation and the inaccuracy of their official calculations. Ayatollah Khamenei also made mention of deep divisions among Washington\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s allies, saying that the U-S has failed to convince even its closest partners like France or Britain to back its decision on launching a strike against Syria.
6m:25s
20300
[06 Nov 2013] Riyadh urged to halt policy of terrorism against Syria And...
The Syrian information minister says Saudi Arabia is responsible for death and destruction throughout the Muslim world today -- including in Syria....
The Syrian information minister says Saudi Arabia is responsible for death and destruction throughout the Muslim world today -- including in Syria. Omran al-Zoubi made the remarks in a television interview, in which he advised Riyadh to halt its policy of terrorism against Syria and other regional countries, such as Iraq, Lebanon, and Algeria. He had particularly scathing criticism of the Saudi foreign minister, saying Saud al-Faisal has always driven Saudi policy toward failure. The comments came after a meeting between Faisal and his U-S counterpart, John Kerry. During the meeting on Monday, the Saudi official reportedly lamented the international community\'s inaction on the Syrian crisis, particularly the U-S decision not to intervene militarily. Syria has long accused Saudi Arabia of being one of the main regional patrons of the foreign-backed militants, which provides military and financial support to them.
3m:43s
6187
[08 Nov 2013] israeli PM: Deal with Iran a very bad deal - English
Following his meeting with the U-S secretary of state, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a deal with Iran would be QUOTE a very bad...
Following his meeting with the U-S secretary of state, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a deal with Iran would be QUOTE a very bad deal.
Without mentioning any names, the Israeli prime minister said some regional countries have the same view as Israel about the Geneva nuclear talks. In response to Netanyahu, a White House spokesman said it is premature to criticize a deal since no agreement with Iran has been made yet. U-S President Barack Obama telephoned Netanyahu to discuss the Geneva talks on Iran\'s nuclear program. The White House says the president gave the Israeli prime minister an update on the nuclear negotiations.
5m:7s
6820
[21 Nov 2013] Iran & P5 1 on 2nd day of nuclear talks in Geneva -...
Tough talks over Tehran\'s nuclear program in Geneva; the second day in a new round of negotiations between Iran and the five permanent members of...
Tough talks over Tehran\'s nuclear program in Geneva; the second day in a new round of negotiations between Iran and the five permanent members of UN Security Council plus Germany has started. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif is heading the Iranian delegation. EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton represents the group of five permanent members of the U-N Security Council plus Germany. Zarif and Ashton held a meeting on Thursday. The negotiating sides are working to finalize a draft agreement to resolve the standoff. The U-S Secretary of State John Kerry has said an interim deal will not include the issue of nuclear enrichment inside Iran. Meanwhile, Iran\'s Deputy Foreign Minister told reporters that the P-5 plus one group of countries must take a single common stance to win Iran\'s trust. Seyyed Abbas Araqchi added that any agreement which does not include the issue of enrichment is NOT acceptable.
7m:59s
5755
[21 Nov 2013] Iran FM Spokesman Abbas Araqchi delivers press briefing in...
Watch the Part 2 here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPRvxa...
Tough talks over Tehran\'s nuclear program in Geneva; the second day in a new...
Watch the Part 2 here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPRvxa...
Tough talks over Tehran\'s nuclear program in Geneva; the second day in a new round of negotiations between Iran and the five permanent members of UN Security Council plus Germany has started. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif is heading the Iranian delegation. EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton represents the group of five permanent members of the U-N Security Council plus Germany. Zarif and Ashton held a meeting on Thursday. The negotiating sides are working to finalize a draft agreement to resolve the standoff. The U-S Secretary of State John Kerry has said an interim deal will not include the issue of nuclear enrichment inside Iran. Meanwhile, Iran\'s Deputy Foreign Minister told reporters that the P-5 plus one group of countries must take a single common stance to win Iran\'s trust. Seyyed Abbas Araqchi added that any agreement which does not include the issue of enrichment is NOT acceptable.
9m:57s
5789
[21 Nov 2013] Iran FM Spokesman Abbas Araqchi delivers press briefing in...
Tough talks over Tehran\'s nuclear program in Geneva; the second day in a new round of negotiations between Iran and the five permanent members of...
Tough talks over Tehran\'s nuclear program in Geneva; the second day in a new round of negotiations between Iran and the five permanent members of UN Security Council plus Germany has started. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif is heading the Iranian delegation. EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton represents the group of five permanent members of the U-N Security Council plus Germany. Zarif and Ashton held a meeting on Thursday. The negotiating sides are working to finalize a draft agreement to resolve the standoff. The U-S Secretary of State John Kerry has said an interim deal will not include the issue of nuclear enrichment inside Iran. Meanwhile, Iran\'s Deputy Foreign Minister told reporters that the P-5 plus one group of countries must take a single common stance to win Iran\'s trust. Seyyed Abbas Araqchi added that any agreement which does not include the issue of enrichment is NOT acceptable.
10m:30s
5863
[22 Nov 2013] Afghanistan rejects a US demand to sign a bilateral...
Afghanistan rejects the U-S demand that Kabul sign a security deal between the two countries as soon as possible.
A spokesman for Afghan...
Afghanistan rejects the U-S demand that Kabul sign a security deal between the two countries as soon as possible.
A spokesman for Afghan President Hamid Karzai says the agreement must wait until after next year\'s presidential election, even if it\'s approved by the Loya Jirga and the parliament. This, after the White House said Karzai\'s failure to sign the Bilateral Security Agreement, or B-S-A, by the end of this year would prevent Washington and its allies from planning for post-20-14 presence in Afghanistan. On Thursday, Karzai said he was willing to delay the signing of the B-S-A until after next year\'s presidential election. However, ordinary Afghans are angry over raids by American and other foreign troops. And they\'ve held protests against the security deal with the U-S.
3m:57s
6518
[22 Nov 2013] A top UN official urges Israel to end the crippling...
UN officials are calling on Israel to end the blockade of the Gaza Strip. They\'re warning that the situation in the Palestinian territory may get...
UN officials are calling on Israel to end the blockade of the Gaza Strip. They\'re warning that the situation in the Palestinian territory may get even worse.
The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees says the Israeli blockade has paralyzed Gaza\'s construction industry. Robert Turner also said that the demolition of tunnels used by Gazans to transfer goods and construction materials to the enclave has put U-N projects on hold. This, after Egyptian authorities also stepped up the destruction of the tunnels in recent months. Meanwhile, another U-N official, James Rawley has also waned about the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territory over a lack of fuel there. Gaza\'s fuel crisis has led to the closure of its main power plant in recent months. Israel imposed its all-out land, aerial, and naval blockade on Gaza in June 2007 after the victory of Hamas in elections there.
4m:41s
6315
[26 Nov 2013] Peugeot Citroen labor unions welcome ease of sanctions on...
Peugeot-Citroen was the worst affected French company when the U-S and its allies imposed sanctions against Iran in 2012. Until then, the car-maker...
Peugeot-Citroen was the worst affected French company when the U-S and its allies imposed sanctions against Iran in 2012. Until then, the car-maker had been sending spare parts to its former partner Iran-Khodro. When it stopped doing so, it entered a period of deep crisis which led to thousands of job cuts in the company. In a country facing record high unemployment, this was a shock.
With the new deal between Iran and five permanent members of the U-N Security Council plus Germany, the sanctions on Tehran are eased, bringing a mix of respite and caution to labor unions.
Peugeot Citroen\'s share prices rose just a day after the ease on sanctions was announced.
Before the sanctions, the company was the biggest player on Iranian roads.
Peugeot has recently announced it is hiring a new chairman in 2014.
But labor unions are skeptical if Carlos Tavares can really turn around the car-maker\'s fortunes.
In the coming days, Tehran will host the first international car makers\' conference on Iranian auto-industry. And that is where French car brands will find out, if they will dominate Iranian roads as they once did.
2m:6s
6215
[29 Nov 2013] The United Nations warns of the worsening situation of...
The United Nations is warning about the dreadful and cruel condition of Syrian refugee children who have fled the conflict at home country....
The United Nations is warning about the dreadful and cruel condition of Syrian refugee children who have fled the conflict at home country.
According to the U-N refugee agency, the U-N-H-C-R, hundreds of thousands of Syrian children, already traumatised by war, are facing a catastrophic life in exile. The report is the result of the testimonies of refugee children across Jordan and Lebanon, gathered over four months. It says many of these kids are without education and forced to work long hours for low pay. Now more than a million Syrian children are refugees, most of them in neighboring countries.
4m:18s
7188
[06 Dc 2013] Mass anti government rally held near Manama - English
Anti-government protesters in Bahrain are trying to make their voices heard as top international officials gather in Manama for a security...
Anti-government protesters in Bahrain are trying to make their voices heard as top international officials gather in Manama for a security conference.
Thousands of people rallied in the village of Sa\'ar near Manama and at some points the demonstrators clashed with regime forces. Police attacked the protesters with tear gas and sound bombs trying to disperse them. Senior officials including those from Britain and the United States are attending the two-day Manama dialog forum. U-S Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel will also address the meeting. Bahrain which hosts the U-S Navy\'s fifth fleet has cracked down on protests since the revolution began in 20-11.
0m:33s
5550
[10 Dec 2013] Kerry says any new sanctions on Iran would send a wrong...
U-S Secretary of State John Kerry says any new sanctions on Iran would send a wrong message to the countries involved in the nuclear negotiations...
U-S Secretary of State John Kerry says any new sanctions on Iran would send a wrong message to the countries involved in the nuclear negotiations with Tehran.
Kerry made the remarks in a briefing to U-S Congressmen about the recent nuclear deal between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany. Kerry said that new sanctions would eventually lead to the removal of all sanctions because the other negotiating partners would not follow suit. He said that decades of sanctions have failed to make any impact on the Iranian nuclear program. He added that President Barack Obama is committed and needs the help of Congress to resolve the nuclear issue, which he called-QUOTE- the most urgent, critical, and pressing. At one point, Kerry also said the military option against Iran is not off the table. But he stated he hopes the Iran nuclear issue can be resolved in less than six months
1m:9s
6330
[11 Dec 2013] US and Britain suspended military assistance to Free...
The U-S and Britain have suspended military assistance to the so-called Free Syrian Army in northern Syria after al-Qaeda-linked insurgents seized...
The U-S and Britain have suspended military assistance to the so-called Free Syrian Army in northern Syria after al-Qaeda-linked insurgents seized the weapons depots belonging to the F-S-A there.
The so-called Islamic Front, which is an umbrella group of al-Qaeda-affiliated rings, captured the arms depots of the Western-backed Free Syrian Army. The seizure near the Bab el-Hawa border crossing with Turkey came after the Islamic Front, which is backed by regional allies of the U-S, announced that it rejected the authority of the F-S-A command. The militant group was formed just last month when six insurgent groups merged together to try and create a new Islamic Emirate in the crisis-hit Arab country.
0m:41s
5725
[18 Dec 2013] Native American And Indigenous Studies Assn. joins...
Another U-S group joins two other scholarly organizations in boycotting Israel\'s academic institutions. The Native American and Indigenous Studies...
Another U-S group joins two other scholarly organizations in boycotting Israel\'s academic institutions. The Native American and Indigenous Studies Association-- NAISA-- has urged its members to boycott Israeli academia, over Tel Aviv\'s violation of international law and U-N resolutions. The organization\'s president says the NAISA council has reached a consensus to support the boycott. This just days after the American Studies Association endorsed the boycott in a referendum. The Association for Asian American Studies had made the same decision in April. NAISA is now the third academic association to support the boycott. Israeli officials say they\'re concerned other academic groups could also take similar actions.
4m:59s
5817
[19 Dec 2013] 67 Percent of Americans think going to war in Afghanistan...
A new opinion poll shows that most Americans disapprove of their country\'s invasion of Afghanistan.
According to the Associated Press poll, 57...
A new opinion poll shows that most Americans disapprove of their country\'s invasion of Afghanistan.
According to the Associated Press poll, 57 percent of Americans said the U-S move was wrong in the first place. 53 percent of the respondents also said the pace of U-S withdrawal from Afghanistan is too slow. The United States and its allies invaded Afghanistan in the wake of the nine-eleven attacks of 2001 in New York. At least three-thousand-four-hundred and four foreign troops have so far been killed in the country, nearly 23-hundred of them are American. Other polls have also shown in recent years that the war is one of the most unpopular US military expeditions abroad in American history.
3m:30s
5934
[19 Dec 2013] Technical talks on Tehran nuclear program resume in Geneva...
Representatives from Iran and the permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany are in Geneva for another round of technical talks over...
Representatives from Iran and the permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany are in Geneva for another round of technical talks over Iran\'s nuclear program.
The talks come after four days of similar talks in Vienna last week. Iran walked out of the last round after the US expanded its sanctions against Tehran. The added measures came as, under a landmark deal in Geneva last month, the West had promised not to slap new sanctions. Tehran says it\'s ready to pick up the talks after the E-U foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton assured it that the P-five-plus-one countries, specially the U-S, would continue the talks in goodwill. Meanwhile, France\'s Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, who had previously blocked a deal under the influence of Israel, has already cast doubt on the chances of a final agreement in Geneva.
6m:30s
5829
[01 Jan 2014] US alarmed over Afghan prisoners release - English
Bagram Jail is still packed with hundreds of prisoners. Some of these cells are being controlled by US forces and some by Afghans. And now these...
Bagram Jail is still packed with hundreds of prisoners. Some of these cells are being controlled by US forces and some by Afghans. And now these men are reviewing the files of each prisoner there. They are members of a three-panel commission appointed by President Hamid Karzai. So far, they have met 764 prisoners and investigated their cases. And 650 of them have been let go.
Others have been found innocent too. They will be released soon. It may be good news for their families, but not for the US military men. They want this move to be blocked. An American military official has been quoted as saying \"These guys are tied directly to killing and trying to kill our forces and Afghan forces\". He also called it an issue of deep concern. And here is how the Afghan commission reacted to their concerns. The main dispute is over 88 inmates. Americans think they will soon return to the battle field and fight back. The move also comes as the relations between President Karzai and White House are already at very low ebb since Karzai refused to let American forces stay beyond 2014. Now, how will this latest dispute unfold, remains to be seen. U-S and Afghan officials have different views on the status of prisoners in Bagram Jail. Afghan government says the prisoners are innocent and there is no evidence to prove that they are terrorists. But the U-S military insists that these prisoners are very dangerous people. And the issue comes at a very sensitive time in relations between Kabul and Afghanistan.
2m:13s
6223
[01 Jan 2014] Jan. 20 proposed date to implement interim deal between...
The head of Iran\'s expert-level nuclear negotiating team says Tehran and the P-5+1 group have proposed January 20 as the date to implement the...
The head of Iran\'s expert-level nuclear negotiating team says Tehran and the P-5+1 group have proposed January 20 as the date to implement the landmark deal sealed in November.
Hamid Baeidinejad said the proposed date should be verified by the political directors. He added that due to the Christmas recess and a meeting between Iran and the senior E-U officials, the proposed date may be delayed for a few days. Baeidinejad also rejected the recent remarks by a U-S State Department spokeswoman that agreement with Iran has not yet been fully implemented. He noted that experts from the two sides have completed their expert studies and submitted the final version to the senior political directors
0m:42s
5651
[03 Jan 2014] A group of US lawmakers visit Kabul to pressure the Afghan...
After a meeting with Hamid Karzai in Kabul, a group of American senators, including John McCain and Lindsay Graham, said they expect the agreement...
After a meeting with Hamid Karzai in Kabul, a group of American senators, including John McCain and Lindsay Graham, said they expect the agreement to be signed soon. They have also noted that such a failure would pose a threat to Afghanistan and the region. Karzai has so far delayed signing the accord with the United States. The Afghan president says he won\\\'t sign any agreement that allows continued raids on Afghan homes. Without a signed deal, all U-S and NATO forces would have to withdraw from Afghanistan. The U-S-led foreign forces are blamed for many civilian deaths in the country. The senators have also warned Karzai about the release of 88 Bagram prisoners in north Kabul. Afghanistan says it\\\'s found insufficient evidence to continue their detention. But, Washington says the prisoners pose a serious security threa
4m:51s
6781
[06 Jan 2014] israel announces plan for new settlements after kerry...
israel has given final approval for the construction of 272 new homes in West Bank settlements, just hours after U-S Secretary of State John...
israel has given final approval for the construction of 272 new homes in West Bank settlements, just hours after U-S Secretary of State John Kerry\\\'s departure.
Under the latest plans, 250 apartments were approved for Ofra and Karnei Shomron, in the heart of the West Bank, 53 of which have already been built without any permit. An Israeli Defense Ministry official said that the initial approval for new buildings was given several months ago and added that the latest announcement was just a formality. The Israeli anti-settlement group Peace Now criticized Israel\\\'s latest move, saying Tel Aviv had the option of suspending settlement plans and giving the so-called peace talks a chance, but instead chose to push ahead with the expansion of settlements. The latest announcement came shortly after Kerry\\\'s departure. The U-S secretary of state had earlier urged Israel to refrain from taking any steps that would derail the negotiations. The international community considers settlements illegal, and the Palestinians have long viewed settlement construction as a key obstacle to reaching a peace agreement.
2m:17s
5278
[08 Jan 2014] Pakistan debates tackling spillover of Afghan insurgency -...
A serious debate has kicked off in Pakistan on how to handle the foreseeable spillover of insurgency from Afghanistan, as U-S-led foreign forces...
A serious debate has kicked off in Pakistan on how to handle the foreseeable spillover of insurgency from Afghanistan, as U-S-led foreign forces prepare to leave the war-torn nation this year. Policymakers and think-tanks in Islamabad have also discussed what they call the counter-productive effects of the U-S drone attacks in the country\'s tribal region.
1m:57s
4645
[15 Jan 2014] The Debate - Failing Extremism - English
On the war on Syria: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, in a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, warned that Saudi Arabia\'s...
On the war on Syria: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, in a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, warned that Saudi Arabia\'s political and religious ideology is \"a threat to the world\". Has Saudi Arabia\'s support for terrorists reached such an alarming level that UN Sec. Gen. Ban Ki Moon has said it will discuss Saudi support for terrorists in Iraq with UN members? In this edition of the debate, we\'ll discuss how isolated Saudi Arabia and its policy in Syria have become. Turkey, that has long called for the ouster of President Bashar Assad, is now calling for a shift in government policy towards Syria. In addition, we\'ll discuss how the U-S has come to recognize that their support for these insurgents has backfired, and further analyze reports of Western intel. agencies wanting to cooperate with Syria, Iran, and Russia in battling these extremists.
Guests:
- Journalist & Middle East Analyst, Sharif Nashashibi (LONDON).
- Author & Historian, Webster Griffin Tarpley (WASHINGTON).
Subjects:
1. REAX: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, in a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, warned that Saudi Arabia\'s political and religious ideology is \"a threat to the world\".
- He was referring to Wahhabism, an ultra-conservative tradition which is predominant in Saudi Arabia, a key backer of insurgents fighting the Syrian government.
2. Saudi Arabia\'s ambassador to Britain wrote an op-ed in the New York Times entitled Saudi Arabia Will Go It Alone: with statements like \"Nothing is ruled out in our pursuit of peace in the Arab World... Act independently by rejecting a seat on the UN. The way to prevent the rise of extremism: is to support the champions of moderation: financially, materially and yes, militarily, if necessary. Saudi Arabia will continue on this new track for as long as proves necessary
- This seemed to reiterate the sentiment expressed by Saudi intelligence chief Bandar bin Sultan back in October when he talked of shifting away from the alliance with the U.S.:
3. It appears Saudi support for insurgents from AL Qaeda groups to otherwise, has created havoc in the region: From Syria, to Lebanon, to Iraq: And partly in Jordan, so much so that the UN chief Ban Ki Moon has said it may discuss this with security council members?
4. Turkey, has been a supporter of President Bashar Assad\'s ouster. But now Turkish President Abdullah Gul is now calling for a shift in government policy towards Syria. President Abdullah Gul said on Tuesday that \"I am of the opinion that we should recalibrate our diplomacy and security policies given the facts in the south of our country (in Syria).\" What do you make of Gul\'s call for a change in his country\'s policy?
5. MAJOR DEVELOPMENT: The Syrian deputy foreign minister says Western intelligence agencies have been recently visiting Damascus for talks on combating extremist insurgents. Mekdad: Mekdad said that the contacts appeared to show a rift between the political and security authorities in some countries opposed to Assad. Has the US and other Western countries like France and the UK realized that support for these insurgents have now backfired?
6. If Western intel. agencies are cooperating with Syria, which by default will include Iran, then why is the US then insisting Iran not to participate n Geneva 2, or only participate on the sidelines, a precondition that Iran has rejected?
7. United States, the West, Iran, Russia, Syria and the geopolitical shift, which has left Saudi Arabia isolated: Yet the pattern of global terrorism has been sponsored by the US, Israel, and their Arab partners Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Will the US stop its support for terrorists?
8. How far will the US go to counter Saudi Arabia\'s destructive role at least regionally: Are the 2 countries headed for a clash?
22m:34s
9453
[20 Jan 2014] UN rescinds Iran invite to Geneva conference on Syria -...
UN Secretary General Ban Ki moon withdraws his invitation to Iran to join the upcoming Geneva two peace conferences on Syria. The UN was under...
UN Secretary General Ban Ki moon withdraws his invitation to Iran to join the upcoming Geneva two peace conferences on Syria. The UN was under intense pressure from the U-S to rescind the invite.
Ban invited Iran to the conference on Monday saying Iran needs to be part of the solution to the Syrian crisis. Tehran also said it was ready to play a constructive role at the talks. But the US, Britain, Saudi Arabia and the foreign backed opposition were strongly opposed to Iran\'s participation. The U-S State Department said the UN must take back its invitation unless Tehran publicly backs the 2012 agreement on a transition government in Syria. And the so-called Syrian National Coalition threatened to withdraw from the Geneva Two conference. However, Russia said it would be an unforgivable mistake to exclude Iran from the talks. Tehran repeated that it would take part without any preconditions.
6m:55s
7405
[28 Jan 2014] Brahimi says Iran presence in the peace talks on Syria...
Brahimi also admitted that there has not been any breakthrough yet in the talks between the delegations from the Syrian government and...
Brahimi also admitted that there has not been any breakthrough yet in the talks between the delegations from the Syrian government and foreign-backed opposition. The two sides have been negotiating in Geneva over the the past few days, with talks deadlocked over the opposition\'s insistence that President Bashar al-Assad resign. Brahimi has also said that the U-S and Russia are vehemently working to find a solution to the current conflict in Syria. The U-N-Arab League envoy says the talks will continue through Friday.
1m:5s
5551
[28 Jan 2014] US President Barack Obama\'s state of union speech...
US President Barack Obama has renewed his presidential campaign vow to shut the notorious military jail at Guantanamo Bay.
Obama said the U-S...
US President Barack Obama has renewed his presidential campaign vow to shut the notorious military jail at Guantanamo Bay.
Obama said the U-S Congress should first lift the remaining restrictions on prisoners\' transfers. However, he stopped short of offering any proposal on how to close the jail, with its remaining one-hundred 55 inmates. Obama made the remarks during his State of the Union address at the U-S Capitol Hill. He also touched on America\'s foreign policy, promising to declare an end to the 12-year war in Afghanistan at the end of 20-14. On a different note, he spoke of Iran\'s nuclear energy program, and vowed to veto any new sanctions bill against Tehran. Obama urged the congress to give diplomacy a chance to succeed.
10m:37s
5648
[29 Jan 2014] The Debate - Fuelling the Carnage (P.1) - English
As if the Syrian talks in Geneva did not face enough challenges, a new one came into the picture, when US Congress approved continued support for...
As if the Syrian talks in Geneva did not face enough challenges, a new one came into the picture, when US Congress approved continued support for what it called moderate Syrian rebels, raising the question again about a good and a bad terrorist. It also upped the bar on what type of aid: previously from non-lethal like night goggles, to small arms, as well as some more powerful weapons, such as anti-tank rockets. In this edition of the debate, we\'ll ask doesn\'t this contradict the United States\' role as a sponsor of the peace talks?
Guests:
- National Coordinator, A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition, Brian Becker (WASHINGTON).
- Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress, Lawrence Korb (WASHINGTON).
Subjects:
1. From non-lethal aid, like nigh vision goggles and army uniforms, to a variety of small arms, as well as some more powerful weapons, such as anti-tank rockets.
- Funded by the U-S Congress, in votes behind closed doors, through the end of government fiscal year 2014, which ends on September 30: THAT MEANS FOR THE NEXT 8 MONTHS.
- Also the issue that arms may fall into the hands of \"bad terrorists\", something US experienced in Afghanistan, Iraq and in Syria.
2. What about the good terrorist/bad terrorist scenario: this differentiation just can\'t apply, especially to the terrorists inside Syria, which the US calls the moderate Syrian rebels?
3. American military aid, now with explicit congressional approval: Doesn\'t it contradict the United States\' role as a sponsor of the peace talks? Whatever happened to US Sec. of State John Kerry saying repeatedly that there is no military solution?
- Russia is working with the US to find a political solution, and suddenly US arms supplies, which contradicts the initiative
4. On terrorists: John Kerry said during opening of Geneva talks: in reference to the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad: \"The Assad regime is a magnet for terrorists. The regime\'s brutality is the source of the violent extremism in Syria today: Is the US completely turning a blind eye to Saudi Arabia\'s support for terrorists?
5. Timeline: Beg. Dec.: the US and Britain announced that they had suspended non-lethal aid: Why? Reports that their aid supplies could end up in hostile hands. Then in late December, reversed that decision: Yet US Congress \"secretly\" approved sending small arms, as well as some more powerful weapons, such as anti-tank rockets, also in Dec.: the US was not telling the truth, or given that this was done in secret, did not want it to be made public?
6. On the Syrian talks in Geneva: According to the divided opposition: the Syrian delegation has accepted the establishment of a transitional government body for the first time: Were it true, how what are the chances for the divided opposition to accept the govt. red line: Assad\'s departure?
7. Syria\'s divided opposition criticized a document presented by the Syrian govt which presented a statement of principles, calling for Syria \'s sovereignty to be respected, rejecting \"foreign interference\" and \"terrorism.\"?
8. Are we looking at u-turn from Turkey on Syria: AS we speak, PM Erodogan is in Iran holding talks with Ian\'s leader, its pres. and FM?
9. What may have happened if Iran was present?
11m:0s
8330
[29 Jan 2014] The Debate - Fuelling the Carnage (P.2) - English
1. From non-lethal aid, like nigh vision goggles and army uniforms, to a variety of small arms, as well as some more powerful weapons, such as...
1. From non-lethal aid, like nigh vision goggles and army uniforms, to a variety of small arms, as well as some more powerful weapons, such as anti-tank rockets.
- Funded by the U-S Congress, in votes behind closed doors, through the end of government fiscal year 2014, which ends on September 30: THAT MEANS FOR THE NEXT 8 MONTHS.
- Also the issue that arms may fall into the hands of \"bad terrorists\", something US experienced in Afghanistan, Iraq and in Syria.
2. What about the good terrorist/bad terrorist scenario: this differentiation just can\'t apply, especially to the terrorists inside Syria, which the US calls the moderate Syrian rebels?
3. American military aid, now with explicit congressional approval: Doesn\'t it contradict the United States\' role as a sponsor of the peace talks? Whatever happened to US Sec. of State John Kerry saying repeatedly that there is no military solution?
- Russia is working with the US to find a political solution, and suddenly US arms supplies, which contradicts the initiative
4. On terrorists: John Kerry said during opening of Geneva talks: in reference to the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad: \"The Assad regime is a magnet for terrorists. The regime\'s brutality is the source of the violent extremism in Syria today: Is the US completely turning a blind eye to Saudi Arabia\'s support for terrorists?
5. Timeline: Beg. Dec.: the US and Britain announced that they had suspended non-lethal aid: Why? Reports that their aid supplies could end up in hostile hands. Then in late December, reversed that decision: Yet US Congress \"secretly\" approved sending small arms, as well as some more powerful weapons, such as anti-tank rockets, also in Dec.: the US was not telling the truth, or given that this was done in secret, did not want it to be made public?
6. On the Syrian talks in Geneva: According to the divided opposition: the Syrian delegation has accepted the establishment of a transitional government body for the first time: Were it true, how what are the chances for the divided opposition to accept the govt. red line: Assad\'s departure?
7. Syria\'s divided opposition criticized a document presented by the Syrian govt which presented a statement of principles, calling for Syria \'s sovereignty to be respected, rejecting \"foreign interference\" and \"terrorism.\"?
8. Are we looking at u-turn from Turkey on Syria: AS we speak, PM Erodogan is in Iran holding talks with Ian\'s leader, its pres. and FM?
9. What may have happened if Iran was present?
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