resistence. hackers have broken into the computer systems that run energy providers, and the dow jones industrial average closes in, we look at what it means for americans still struggling to get by. that and more tonight at 6:00. the notion that conflict began with the united states, i think, is plainly false. ultimately, it is the people of iraq who will decide the future of iraq. >> he is a man known for his mediation skills. george mitchell helped broker peace in northern ireland. he also tried his hand in the middle east, serving as u.s. chief envoy to the israeli and palestinians under president barack obama. >> for both sides, the disadvantages of not getting an agreement are much greater than the difficulties that will come with getting an disagreement.

>> he spent 15 years in the senate, first representing maine and as majority leader. but he says money and rigid ideology have changed the political landscape. >> it is dysfunctional. i hope very much that the american people will demand clearly and loudly change and we will have the necessary change. >> the man who has played mistaken roles talks as well about one of the people who most affected his life. >> i am certain that but for her, i would have led a very different and probably much less meaningful life. >> i caught up with the senator recently in new york. >> can we span the globe a bit? >> go ahead. >> i want to hop scotch a bit. >> okay. it. years. >> what, if anything, has surprised you about the deteriorating security situation in iraq? >> there are three internal conflicts that are overlapping and entintersecting throughout e islamic world. first, the sunni-shia split. >> yes.

>> which began as a struggle for political power following the direct of the prophet mohammed. >> that's going around the world as we see in a huge factor now in syria and other countries. >> you had the conflict which exists in both sunni and shia communities between those who want to establish theocratic, exclusionary states and which there isn't tolerance for any other form of faith and i think women are not generally as independent as and as empowered as they are in other parts of the world. the third conflict i embryoing many countries in the islamic world is the internal world, often a monarchy, frequently a military dictatorship and the opposition that tends to be centered around the muslim brotherhood in many country trees of the world but there are manivay variations of that that -- many variations of that. the united states is the

dominant military and economic power in the world. from that, would he derive many benefits and incur many burdens. the first thing we have to get clear is that despite our immense power and our immense wealth as a nation, we do not have the caseyty to solve every problem in the world. not every problem in the world is an american problem requiring an exclusively american solution. problems have to be solved locally. we have we believe in the right of self governorance. it's in the first paragraph of the declaration of >> yes. >> self government means other people have the themselves. >> as i travel around the world -- not to the extent that you have, i am shocked by the extent to which people around the world feel that america has contributed to many of the problems of the world. or is in a unique position to

solve all of the problems. inevitable and has been true. dominance creates a sense of dependency and dependency always creates to some degree a sense of resentment. by those who are dependent upon and those who they depend on. >> that's just a reality. >> comes with the territory. >> you have to be strong enough, security enough and mature enough to recognize that and no withstanding that do we can. much of the criticism i get just as you do traveling around the world. a widespread perception that our actions fall short of our values in and principles. the reality is that most people admire what we think of as american principles but which are universal. they are the principles upon which our democracy was found. >>ed.

most don't have all of that in their societies. they like that but they will say those actions don't comport with that. the truth is no individual, no country fully meets its aspirations at all times. >> did -- did the war in iraq violate in some way our values, our principles? it was contrary to some. >> to some. >> but look. that's the reality. here is my view. we have made mistakes and clearly -- the basis on which the war was initiated that saddam hussein possessed nuclear weapons was incorrect. but i have to say, i believe that if you look across the broad sweep of human history, the united states has done more good, has been closer to meeting its aspiration values than have other countries in the

past. of course we made mistakes. human beings all are imperfect. we have corrected ourmates when they are made. let me emphasize that. i believe one of the great strengths of the united states is the willingness and the capacity to confront error and correction it. both domestically, internallie where we have made henley mistakes and in foreign areas. >> how does the united states correct iraq if you see it as a problem that the united states needs to correct and arise? some would say -- not some type of most would agree with the statement, the idea that the rise in the us lamest movement in the middle east is supposed -- can be directly related, attributed to the war in iraq? >> i strongly disagree with that. >> i thought you might. i thought you might. >> go back and read history. the history of iraq didn't begin

with the american invasion. >> right. >> there have been conflict for hundreds of years. for 425 years, prior to the versailles peace conference in 1919, there was no iraq. so the notion that conflict began with the united states is plainly faults and contrat i couldn't. we do have a problem. we should help. but ultimately the people of iraq who would decide. the people of syria who will decide the future of syria, egyptians who will decide the future of egypt. we should encourage, insist, especially those and there are many who want more open, tolerant rege-mails who want governments that provide the basic services that give people healthcare. >> that's what people want and we can do what we can to help.

but we cannot view this as it is the responsibility of the united stateses to fix what's happening in iraq. the really tough part of democracy which we are struggling with as the greatest and the longest continuous democracy in houston. the really tough part is how do democracies. >> yes >> majority rules but you protect minority rights. we have a tough time with it. those countries have a tough time with it. you can see what's happening in egypt now. in syria and iraq and that context. the iraqis have to have an inclusionary government. it's a country with sunnis, shias and kurds. >> yeah. >> they have to be involved. they have got to develop -- they have got to get away from the concept that if one group is in power, the other group is out. >> to that point, does the carped prime minister, nouri al-malaki, has he failed in your

view to be the kind of inclusive leader that the country needs at this moment in time? >> yes. >> does he need to go? >> whether he goes or not. >> in your view. >> up to the iraqis. they have got to decide if he is to stay, he certainly has to taking. >> it to what extent is the sunni shia divide we see particularly in the middle east. >> religion? to what extent is it about two proud countries, saudi arabia and iran. dominance in that region. >> you mentioned 7 factors. they are all involved. this is not an easy thing to sort out. four. >> these are issues you have career. >> trying to sort out.

neither ryan nor anyone else has the answer to these problems. i do not favor the position taken by some that we should simply withdraw and leave them to their own devices. i think we do have a critical interest instability there to present the situation that existed prior to enduring 9-11. >> ? >> when people had free rein to organize the united states. in our interest to have aggressive and active posture there. there are economic moral reasons as well. >> right. >> we've got to get out of the notion that we are responsible for everything. >> this is "talk toays" when we come back, you will hear senator george mitchell talk about washington's dysfunction.

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you are watching "talk to al-jezeera america you." i am tony harassed. on this week's program, senator george mitchell. >> when did president obama ask you to go to the middle east and work on the israeli-palestinian 2009? >> about two weeks before he was inaugurated in? >> what did you think was possible? >> i don't accept that anything is impossible. you have to have a positive thing. you might as well not try. if you start a task saying i am going to fail, you are going to fail. you can't be deterred by past failures. the reality is, if you are interested in peace and you are asked to do it and from my view, as someone would has lived the american dream, if a president of the united states asks me to do a job, do i it. my mother was an immigrant. she had no education. she couldn't read or write. >> right. >> my father was the or fanned son of immigrants. he was a janitor. here i became the majority

leader of the united states senate. i think everyone american who benefits from our society has an obligation if you are asked to do something for your country, you do it. i will tell you, i regard as one of my greatest achievements that i served in the u.s. army. i thought it was a privilege. >> can you explain to the american people in as simple and straightforward a way as possible, what is it about that conflict that makes reaching an agreement so different. >> remember before we got an agreement in northern ireland, the same question was asked. >> absolutely. absolutely. that was hundreds of years old. four days before we reached an agreement in northern ireland, a public opinion poll was published which showed that 83% of the public believed no agreement was possible. >> i believed, in fact, to

resolve the conflict between the israelis and palestinians is so much in the interest of both societies that they will come to an agreement. >> in your lifetime? >> i am pretty old. i don't know about my lifetime. it's political difficult around here in divided societies but i believe that for both sides the disadvantages of not getting an agreement of much greater than the difficulties. that will become increasingly clear to both of them. >> you have been in the room with these two. >> yes. do you see these leaders as being able to forge the kind of agreement that -- >> they have so far not demonstrated that they can or will do so. the

leaders are personify and ref precept mistrust of the other side. both sides said to me, i'm sorryous. i want to get this done but is he pointing in the general direction of the other? so there is a huge gulf of mistrust of the intentions of the other side that exist throughout the conflict. however, that will continue. we will probably have to could not even then. my argument is that i believe individuals and nations and groups of people act out of self interest. i think their self interest is very, very much in the direction of getting an agreement because of the huge disadvantages that will occur for israel, although it is in a position of overwhelming military dominance and economic strength and comparison to the palestinians really measured in every way.

they face serious problems in the future, democgravy. they soon will face a circumstance where the number of arabs exceeds the number of jews in the region. secondly . it doesn't come from tanks . it will comes from rockets. it can reach israel. thirdly, isolation. israel supporting the united states is very strong, particularly in the house of representatives. we will continue to be the united states as an unshakeable commitment to israel's security. >> its support is gradually declining in other parts of the world, particularly in europe and asia. palestinians face a similar problem. i told chairman arrow fat directly i did two tours of duty. the first was when arafat was

in power n 1947 the united nations, to create two countries. israel ab cemented t the pal stippians rejected it. the first war started. one by israel as has every war since then. i believe most sensible arabs today would gladly accept the 47 proposal if it was on the table. they have rejected every proposal since then. what i said to arafat and later to abbas was: there is no evidence that the options are going to get any better for you. indeed, all of the evidence is that the options are getting worse the longer you go. you want to sit down in negotiations, stay in negotiations with the active support and sustained support of the united states and many other countries that want to help and get an agreement to create a state.

it will be less than what you are asking for. you will probably think it unfair, but the reality is, once you get a state, you can then build on it. i believe thing. the palestinians are edge ergetic. i think they can create a successful state but they have to get it. it means making concessions. it means accepting less than what you want. the same is true of the israelis. they will have to make concessions. otisisi side, the argument against what i have said made directly to me by israeli officials is that it won't work because the palestinians may fail as a state. the palestinian authority may collapse. hamas may take off and we have a mortal threat right on our border and there is -- that is a valid argument. argument. argument. the problem is, as i argue, that is more likely to occur in the absence of an agreement than if you get an agreement.

the collapse of the palestinian authority is not only likely. it's probably inevitable if they don't at some point in time reach an agreement because what -- what president abbas has courageously said is that i don't believe violence is the way. i believe it's go the to be peaceful, non-violent, negotiation. but sooner or later if you try that 10 years, 20 years, 30 years, 40 years and it doesn't work, it will be discredited and people will say, well, the only alternative is violence and many do satisfy that now. so, i think that the answer is for both sides get into a negotiation. can you brimming that trust? >> i can't. i don't think i or any third person can bridge that trust. >> i told you we would hop scotch

a bit. >> how would you describe america's political and economic house at the moment? >> well, i think our economy is coming back, thank goodness, more slowly than we wanted and less broadly than we wanted and it will be in a different form. every major recessio repress produced a different one because of its flexibility and adaptability met with changing circumstances. now, perhaps, more challenging than ever particularly with the dramatic increase in population. in politics, it's rough. >> yeah. >> on the day that i was elected one of the first persons i called was bob dole, the republican leader. i talked to him. they have been here 20 years. i have only been here a couple

of years. the leaders of the senate the minority leader which he was can't function effectively. we have to have trust to get anything done. i said i am here to tell you how way. i raid out the most basic standards of fairness. i won't attack you personally. we shook hands and i am proud to say to you that to this moment, to this very moment, never once has a harsh word passed between bob dole and i. we won some battles. he won some. we had a high responsibility to the people of this country and to the senate. >> senator, there is so much acrimony in our politics. >> there is.

>> very difficult. you have to have this bit of context. glasses. there never was a type when everything was buddy, buddy and cheery, cheery and no disputes. disputes are inevitable. the american system, economic, political, social, cultural, sports, is built on competition. we believe competition is good. nobody advocates a one-party state. we want 2 opposing competing parties because we think out of that adverse earlier relationship will come a better result. so, where is the label between good competition and bad partisanship? how do you draw the line? and that's a difficult thing to do, particularly in the context that we are in. so, it's always been rougher. go back and read the history of the presidential election of 1800. >> right? >> worse than anything obama and

other. other. it's always been rough. now, the combination of con shonable sums of money, rigid ideology, increasingly the house of representatives is through gerrymanderi gerrymandering. you know which party is going to win. the pivot onnal moment in representatives is the primary election. very few people. >> means the stronglyheld, strong ideological groups have an inflewens. it is dysfunctional. i hope very much that the american people will demand clearly and loudly change and we will have the necessary change. when we come back, senate mitchell talks about one of the people who most inspired him.

only on al jazeera america you are watching talk to al jazeera america.

i am tony harris. on this week's program, senator george mitchell. >> i made a film called educating black boys. all of the educate orders stressed the importance of reading and that being a key to future success. so in that spirit, who was elvira whitten? >> elvira whitten was a great woman, a high school english teacher in the small town of waterville maine where i grew up. one day, mrs. whitten asked me to come in and talk to her at the class. my first re, was what did i do wrong? i sat down at her desk and she said to me, what do you read? i said what do you mean? she said, what due read? newspapers, magazines. i admitted to her i read only books as necessary to get through school. i was too embarrassed to tell her that i did at of reading

what have we now call comic books. she said, i think you are ready for something else. she picked a book up off of her deck and handed it to me, the nove novel ella called "the moon is down" and said i would like you to read this. you don't have to do it. this will not affect your grade one way or the other but i think you will own joy it and i think you should start reading more. i went home that night. i so much wanted to impress her and i loved the story. i gave her an oral book report probably longer than the book, itself. she said, that's good. months. i read dozens of books. she introduced me to the world of books and then i remember as though this were yesterday, although this was many years ago in may as the school year came to an end, she said to me, you are on your own. we talk about great people all the time. and the fact is that a good

teacher has a chance for greatness that very few people who are defined as great will ever have because a great teacher can influence the lives and change the lives of people for the better. to this day, i don't know whether mrs. whitten did the same thing with other children or not. affected. i do know in my life, she was one of the decisive figures. i am certain that but for her i would have led a very different and probably much less meaningful life. >> what a pleasure? >> thank you. thank you. >> khaled hosseini author of the best selling novel "the kite runner" talks about his hopes for his homeland. >> no change will come to afghanistan unless it's initiated by the afghan's themselves... >> and the inspiration for his latest novel. >> the idea for the book

came from painful acts of sacrifice. >> every saturday join us for exclusive, revealing, and surprising talks with the most interesting people of our time. >> talk to al jazeera > talk to al jazeera >> this is al jazeera america. live from new york city. i'm tony harris with a look at today's top stories. israel vows hamas will pay for the killing of three teenagers, and the u.s. locked in a heated battle to move onto th on to the next round of the world cup.