welcome back to al jazeera, i'll del walters live in new york. here are today's top stories. >> the international community must enforce the ban on chemical weapons. >> it is day one of the general assembly, and president obama urging to enforce the elimination of chemical war fair. and the latest on the violent standoff in kenya at the westgate mall. it is not over yet. ♪

well the general assembly is underway at the united nations. just a short while ago president obama addressing those gathered this morning, making a strong case to reach a political settlement on the issue of syria, and demanded that the security council enforce a ban on chemical weapons. in studio with us throughout the speech is professor michael oppenheimer. and you listened to the speech. did we hear today the beginning of what some might call the obama doctrine? >> well, i think we heard reinforcement of the obama doctrine. this is a doctrine of restraint in the use of force. an emphasis on core interests, and being very specific about what those core interests are, in the case of the middle east, they involve proliferation,

maintaining oil supplies through the middle east, counter terrorism, and defending our allies. those are the four core interests. >> and some what conciliatory some would say concerning the past, saying we are no longer looking to influence the outcome of these changes in the world, but simply watch them take place and make sure those who want their voices to be heard, be heard. >> that's right. it is a speech that should be quite appealing to middle east audiences, and also to the american audience, which also clearly doesn't believe in using force unilaterally inside of syria, and has the same kind of aversion to the kind of democracy building projects that the bush administration engaged in. in dealing with situations that are internal to states like syria, engaging the global

community in that effort. likely that works, we're going to see with respect to syria, whether we get a good resolution to the security council that reinforcement the us-russia framework. so this is an ongoing test as to whether this doctrine works, but the doctrine itself is quite clear, it's restrained, cooperative, engaging with other countries in dealing with these issues as they arise. reaching out to russia, or in the says of syria, reaching to the embrace of putin to help with syria, engaging with iran on nuclear weapons issues. it's very pragmatic, restrained, realist foreign policy. >> thank you very much. john terrett is in new york.

john, the president saying a harder humility and i kept thinking about another president who said walk softly but carry a big stick. >> his speech was 43 minutes long, dell, and a lot of the time was talking about the middle east and north africa. he talked about being chastised in medelling in affairs of other countries. he also put out a four or five-point plan for u.s. foreign policy in the middle east and north africa, and the policy that could stay in place during the rest of his i'm in office. regarding iran he said actions

speak louder than words. he talked about iran being verifiable in terms of its nuclear plans. the knew iranian president says they are very keen on moving ahead for peaceful nuclear energy. and president obama said that was welcome by the united states. they supported iran's move towards that. and also he removed to the 1953 removal of the iranian prime minister. that is huge, absolutely huge for a president president to mention that. on the issue of syria, we talked about the threat of force and how that has brought syria to the situation we're in now, where the country has handed over the details required of it on its chemical weapons program. and he called for a strong,

security council resolution to be got together here to make sure that syria goes on keeping its promises and there should be consequences, dell, if it does not. >> you heard there the streets of theron that there the speech is viewed as somewhat conciliatory. is that the adjective you would choose? >> i think it wasn't the wide-ranging speech we have heard in the past. i think the tone was really conciliatory to be honest with you. and i think we're waiting to see what happens with iranian president speaks this afternoon. we don't know exactly when that will be, but certainly bare in mind this is a coup try that that has called the u.s. the great satan in the past, and now making nice to the us.

we're waiting to hear what kind of tone participate rouhani really does adopt when he has the world as his audience here. so i think that speech you just heard from president obama was adapted right down to the last second. >> john this was a different speech for a u.s. president. at the very least it seemed like he was talking to those gathered on a person to person basis, as opposed to a president addressing a crowd. in the fact we have seen people take their shoes off and slam them on the counter there at the united nations. how was this particular speech and the tone received? >> the forum for this year's general assembly is different. it's in a search tear building on the north lawn of the united nations and that's because there is still a big build out here,

and the main forum is simply not available to them. so that may be effected the tone of this speech a little bit. but i think also it's part of this obama doctrine, a rather tempted toned down thoughtful approach, dell. >> john, thank you very much. while president obama is focusing on the international issues, there is a huge battle underway in washington. congress has one week to agree on the funding bill to prevent the government from shutting down on october 1st. libby casey is in washington right now. libby what kind of changes will the senate make to the house bill? >> the big one is whether or not defunding for obamacare. senate democrats pulled that out of there. we're all watching what happens as they negotiate funding the

government past october 1st. democrats say it's time to roll through implementation of obamacare. and we're seeing key landmarks of that bill in the next couple of months. that's where the real fight is going to come down to in the next couple of days. >> do we have a time able to, libby? >> right now. we're just running down the clock. tomorrow early afternoon is when we'll see the closure vote in the senate. expect to watch some big speeches today from members like ted cruz from texas, he is one of the conservative republicans who are siting with any house republicans and saying we have to defund the federal healthcare law. but even if we see a lot of fireworks the clock will keep

running. >> some of the conservative senor tos is saying what is happening in the house to lightly put it is a train wreck. do they expect their efforts in the senate today to succeed? >> here is the real question, is -- where is the -- the power, and democrats are putting to republicans as the dysfunctional body, republicans are pointing to democrats as the dysfunctional party. but centre cruz is one of those, but others are saying you are the problem with your own party. let's listen to senator ted cruz as he lays out some of his points. >> if congress votes to continue funding obamacare, that union x exemption will not be far away. and then we i'll -- we'll be

left in a world where the burdens of obamacare fall just on hardworking americans. not on union bosses, only on hard-working american families. on single moms, young people, ta people struggling to climb the economic ladder. >> reporter: this republican is trying to drive a wedge between democrats and unions. they do have concerns about the health care law, so senator cruz is trying to point out that effort. but it is going to be the republicans that will be the ones to watch. >> libby i can't let you leave without pointing out the fact that the president just gave a major speech here in new york. set the scene down there in washington. were they watching? >> senate speeches were ongoing on the floor.

and we heard some important remarks from leaders in the senate as look towards the vote in the next couple of days. so while there are many staffers on the hill tuned in, this is a domestic moment for this congress. and that's where the focus is in washington right now. because we're talking about keeping national parks open and the stock market is really reactive to what happens here in washington. >> libby casey thank you very much. when we come back there has been a big boom in one of the most dangerous drugs out there. one state's battle plan to get control over the growing problem of crystal meth. and chicago says they have made an arrest in connection

with the violent smooting at a park in chicago that injured 13 people.

returning to our top story just moments ago, theun general assembly the president addressing the audience. >> with respect to syria, we believe as a starting point, the international community must enforce the ban on chemical weapons. when i stated my willingness to order a limited strike against the assad regime, i did not do so lightly. i did so because i believed it is in the national security

interests of the united states, and in the interests of the world to meaningfully enforce a prohibition who's origins are older than the united nations itself. the ban against the use of chemical weapons even in war has been agreed to by 98% of humanity. >> we're joined now from turkey. crisis in syria certainly going on be on the agenda today. they are watching closely in syria as well. >> reporter: indeed, both syria and turkey watched the marks of president obama very closely and dell, so summarize really the three key points, there are three highlights from that speech, very strong words by president obama on syria. number 1, he specifically put

the blame on the syria regime on august 21st, saying that to suggest that anyone else other than the regime used chemical weapons would be quote, an insult to human reason. that is not likely to go down well in damascus or in talks with russia who has supported syria throughout this crisis. secondly he made it very clear that president assad should be facing consequences if he fails to comply with this chemical weapons deal that is being discussed between russia and the united states. thirdly, and most importantly, very strong words president obama had when it comes to the faith of assad. he said to suggest that syria would return to a prewar status quo was simply a fantasy. he made that very clear that the future cannot factor in to the

feature of assad as a president. these are remarks that are not going to make the syrian regime very happy nor will they go down well with russia which is expected to be holding meetings on the sidelines with president obama to discuss a possible peace conference in geneva. >> and the situation? turkey also one of a humanitarian conflict. they must be pleased there that the president said there is more money on the table for that. >> reporter: absolutely. we are just hearing now the turkish president speak -- as dress the un general assembly, and his highlight is saying the refugee issue is the biggest problem with the conflict in syria. they have spent over $2 billion

over the past two years to help support them. he said it's time to translate those words of sympathy into actual deeds. >> thank you very much. also joining us here in the studio is jorn, who is a former un chemical weapons expert. now the talk must be translated into action. what needs to happen next? >> well, according to the agreement from geneva, we have a very good situation as far as speeding along. it's a -- a deal which is according to the chemical weapons convention which syria said they will adhere to. >> i have heard experts like yourself say it is not unusual that syria is moving its chemical weapons. but what should we make sure

that the agreement hammered out is actually adhered to. >> from the past, i think iraq is a good example. as far as the deal goes, we're talking about full compliance with the agreement, and accordingly we are talking about a regime that has to protect and ensure that the weapons inspectors can do their job. that is doable. we have a very short time line. but if you look at iraq in 2001 -- excuse me -- i would say 2003 and -- and 2002, if you look at particularly iraq after the gulf war, within 18 months the weapons inspectors basically got rid of 80% of the arsenal that iraq had. >> briefly there is a risk to the inspectors that are going

in. we're still talking about a conflict ongoing in syria. what is the risk to those inspectors in that country? >> well, i mean, we are talking about again, a situation which we haven't seen before, and at least in a very strong time, but what we also have right now is that we have a situation where things are pretty much underregarding a unique situation, both intelligence agencies, of russia and the united states are pretty much in agreement on the arsenals. and we are talking about a thousand tons or something like that, so i would say because things are under stood we have a good situation where things could work. >> thank you very much. crystal meth is one of this

country's most dangerous drugs, and even though meth labs have gone down significantly. tennessee has a growing problem. >> it just seems like every time law enforcement begins to fight it legislatively or physically, the odds are against us. >> reporter: for the first time in years tennessee on track to top missouri as the state with the highest number of meth lab busts. >> we don't know why it has become such a major issue for our state. >> reporter: meth is highly addictive, in 2005, the state put pseudo' ephedrine behind

pharmacy counters to limit its purchase. but the tennessee bureau of investigation says addicts have skirted the laws by what is called smurfing. >> you might not be allowed to buy it, but i can. so you pay me to go from pharmacy to pharmacy to buy my limb for you to be able to manufacture meth. >> reporter: users also turn to a quicker and more dangerous way of making meth -- the shake and bake method requires fewer chemicals -- [ technical difficulties ] -- is to do what states like oregon and mississippi have done, and make pseudo' ephedrine prescription only. but the idea has failed in the

legislature. >> it would be a significant additional burden, i think having to require doctor's visits regularly to get new p prescriptions. >> reporter: but with meth lab busts happening almost daily in tennessee, the pressure to find new solutions is greater than ever. an update now on the situation in kenya. security forces say they are making a final push to remove gunmen from the shopping mall. gunfire could be heard this morning, as the fighting has now moved into its fourth day. all of the hostages are free, authorities say, but the attackers deny that, saying they are still holding captors. >> reporter: the siege isn't

over. bursts of gunfire were heard again as the crisis entered its fourth day. another body was removed from the scene. it has been an eary quiet night. it's a big complex covering more than 32,000 square meters and includes more than 80 stores. kenyan's foreign minister says the attackers are foreigners. >> this is not just al-shabab. this is al qaeda. the way this thing was planned, i just told you that, you know, they have been talking to everybody, obviously. if it is just al-shabab, i'm not sure how much training they would get or how much resources

they would get. this is definitely al qaeda. it is lead by somebody not from somalia or kenya. >> reporter: it is said that special forces have joined forces. >> they were supported by the jewish, britain, and u.s. allies. we have been in touch with [ inaudible ] and confirmed that they killed [ inaudible ] and four are believed to be jewish. >> reporter: once again the people of this country are in shock, some mourning the loss of loved ones. others fearing whether there could be more suffering and loss to come. >> that sense of loss runs deep.

it's hard to find anyone in nairobi who doesn't know someone caught up in these controversies. everyone here without exception is still coping with the grief. it's fair to say they haven't even started to come to terms with it. andrew simmons, al jazeera, nairobi. still ahead, police progress in the windy city. an rest is made after last week's violent chicago shooting.

police in chicago say they have now charged two men in connection with that shooting there that injured 13 people. that shooting breaking out last thursday at a basketball court in a park on chicago's south side. two are suspected of playing significant roles in the shootings, but police say they do not believe that either man pulled the trigger. thank you for watching al jazeera. i'm del walters. remember for the latest information you can always go to aljazeera.com.

we'll see you then. ♪