a general to have a say they don't want it. they're always like, only we're brave enough to see. only we're brave enough with this is al jazeera, these are your top stories. the u. s. and russian presidents have spoken for the 2nd time this month, and a bed to de escalate tensions over ukraine. joe biden told vladimir pierson the u.

s. would respond decisively if russia invited ukraine. john hendrick has the latest from washington. jen, saki, the press. secretary for president, joseph biden has put out a statement in that she says, president biden urged russia to deescalate tensions with ukraine. he made clear that the united states and its allies and partners will respond decisively if russia further invades ukraine. president biden also expressed support for diplomacy, and it goes on to say, the president reiterated that substantial progress. and these dialogues can occur only in an environment of de escalation rather than escalation, global current of ours cases of hit a record high in the past 7 days. with almost a 1000000 detected on average each day, the u. s. is the worst effected accounting for nearly one in 3 cases in the world. south africa has announced that it's midnight to 4 am. curfew will now be lifted.

as the countries believed have passed the peak of its 4th corona virus wave. the u . s. has condemned the killing of at least 4 protesters by security forces in c dawn. they were shot in on dorman, where thousands of people rallied against the recent military take of a group of for him. refugees who spend days at sea in a damaged boat, have been rescued by indonesian authorities. the boat was towed by a navy ship off the coast of ha province under 20 people, mainly women and children, dis involved in the port city of crew decay. al jazeera has been told that an agreement to revive iran's nuclear deal with weld powers is still far off. sources close to the negotiations say there is deep disagreements surrounding terrans demand. the u. s. sanctions be lifted immediately. okay. as the headline sneeze continues, here on the inside story ah

is america's role as a global leader in decline. the u. s. military withdrawal from afghanistan still with a rates across the region and beyond will fill the void and what are the consequences of the american with read, this is inside story. ah hello and welcome to the program. i'm hashem, aha, bar. america is military footprint in the middle east has been shrinking for years from the beginning of the withdrawal of us troops in iraq in 2007 to the most

recent retreat from afghanistan. the panther guns presidents has declined this by advance. president, jo biden's administration has continued to reassure middle east allies of its commitment to regional stability and security. but traditional alignments between nations have shifted and the influence of world powers has changed. china, among other countries trying to fill the void left by the united states in modest on iraq and elsewhere. russian military contracts for our defense systems have attracted us allies, including fell on eto, members, turkey as well as some gulf states. but the recent us approach to foreign policy isn't a surprise antony blank and has this to say before becoming your secretary of state . in a, by the administration, we would see more emphasis on the in the pacific, more emphasis on our own hemisphere as well as some sustained engagement. i would

hope with africa and obviously europe remains a partner. first resort, not last resort when it comes to contending where the challenges we face. just as a matter of time allocation and budget priorities, i think, where would be doing less, not more in the middle east. ah, let's bring it all gus in washington, dc. hillary. my leverett chief executive of the political risk consulting firms trust go. she's also former director for iraq. afghanistan, i'm persian gulf. a fan of the national security council is not born in turkey. matthew bryce, a senior fellow of the atlanta council thing tank, is also a former white house diplomat of the national security council from cambridge in the state of massachusetts, rami horry, senior fellow of harvard kennedy school. he's also

a professor of journalism at the american university of bailey. welcome to the program, henry the, the picture of the last american soldier to get into the military playing of cobbled airport in august. and then the taliban take over was for many, an iconic moment, an indication that the region won't be the same again. do you see that as an indication that the americans are starting to disengage from the middle east? well, that, that moment was certainly iconic. important had ramifications throughout the middle east throughout the world. i think most people, after that moment came to see the united states is a bit weaker as a bit less competent than they had previously. i think within the administration here in washington, within the, by the ministration, there has been some important, deep rethinking. and they've come out, come up with this policy that i think the u. s. middle east coordinator breton kirk

outlined in bahrain a few weeks ago, which is back to basics. the united states will be back to basics in the middle east, which does not mean withdrawal. but it does mean a strengthening of traditional u. s. relations with traditional allies, especially israel and one that will be focused on the use of force, not, not rebuilding societies as george w bush tried to do after $911.00. rami is it back to a success follows the u. s. foreign policy is concerned in the middle east. do you see it as a real disengagement, or just a perceived withdrawal? are seen as a real threat to the region because of the basics of american foreign policy as well as they want a craps in the region and many others, israelis and others. the basics of the last 3040 years have brought this region to a point of almost social collapse. you know, we just had a couple of reports are published by un agencies and others showing something like

around 70 percent. 70 percent of primary and secondary school students from the arab world are not able to read and write properly. they're almost a literate. that's a credible sign of what's to come in this region when you combine it with unemployment and poverty and the thing. so it's the basics that we have suffered for military intervention. 100 years of the i was really conflict unchecked. talk, prosy, rampant corruption, and out of control. militarism, very much fueled by foreign military sales. those basics are a real, real nightmare for the region. and of course, the us thinks, going back the basics from administration point of view, there's something sensible for the rest of us. it's really scary. and this is one of the problems that people in the region in the region especially really have no no way to confronted. they, iranians are the only people who are seriously putting up some resistance on their

now doing it. so in the go shooting process header, if this is a reset of pile or tears, when it comes to the middle east, them back to basics. what kind of impact would it have on the middle? it would be the same middle is that we've known for the last $67.00 decades. what is likely to be a different one? well, it could be, it could be even more unstable. i think many, professor curry's points are very, very important. especially the one about iran, the reason that the united states did not go quickly back into the iran new killer deal when president biden 1st came into office was because to work cooperatively with iran really would be a to have a whole new approach to the region one that could actually facilitate somewhat of a u. s. withdraw from the region. united states is, is really focused on keeping its influence in the region and containing iranian power so that the united states can continue that influence and continue the

approach it's taken for the past 20 or 30 years if not longer. so there is, is a cut me calibration of priorities to what they call back to basics, but it's not one that's going to be less militarized or more stable. it's one that will, i think, in many ways bolster our traditional. but what we call allies, especially in israel, but in other places with advanced military systems and one that will be focused on containing any independent power, any rising power that could challenge the united states in any real way. and that focus is very much on iran containing iranian power. i mean, we've seen over the last few months, gulf states leaders saying that it's about time to mend fences with the iranians, particularly saudi arabia, of the united alabama us and for money. this was a sign of anxiety in the region about a potential vacuum power vacuum. if the americans say it's about time to turn the

chapter, well, it's a sensible thing that the gulf leaders are doing to talk to iran. they should have done it years ago. and then we'll see what comes out of it. they're doing it in a moment of some panic. i'm a little bit of desperation that they don't know if the u. s. is going to protect them, some of them, but think israel might protect them. a few of them might be looking at a turkey in desperation. so the gulf, countries by and large have not been able to, to fully assert their own sovereignty in terms of protecting themselves. and they're actually reliant on for in the military and other support. but this is a good thing to do with the iranians and the parents around the adults are going to have to work out a mechanism that provide some kind of stability and basic rights for all people concerning the military threat. the sanctions threats. you know, all of these so tough guy approaches that have come out of washington and israel,

very much driven by israel and was the are both say it's kinda hanging on as bit actors in this process that hasn't worked. and we've seen now incredible stories coming out of iran by good reporters law, foreign and middle eastern ones, all saying they have a much, much more advanced nuclear industry. now that you know, 3 or 5 years ago. so the approaches families that the u. s. has tried to impose and essentially the, the shorthand of what henry said. i agree with the short time that this is that what we're seeing is a new form of colonialism. imposed by the united states. a kind of colonialism by proxy hire our tasks to local people and mercenary armies. you create the mercenary forces as they didn't say in and syria. and this is a new kind of control that essentially means what washington launch. the lamps is

going to be the rule of the game and people in the region are pushing back hillary this moment of uncertainty and anxiety. this other same time. do you think it will offer some sense of an opening for iran to further expand its political influence in the region or at least to reassert itself as a key player in the region? i think we've already seen that iran has more and more and more deep alliances throughout the region. then almost any other country, whether in the region or outside iran has alliances that stretch from afghanistan and the taliban to the who t. as in yemen, they have alliances. throughout the region, so they have already done that. i think what we're also seeing though is other countries gaining more influence in the region even beyond it. so of course, china, russia, even france with its, with its new military cells to the region. so you do see, you do see a recalibration in terms of the regional geo politics and global politics affecting

the middle east. the united states is becoming perhaps less of a player than it has previously. but it does not mean that the united states is not active in the region for it's what it perceives to be its interest in a way that can be very, very destabilizing, as it tries to fight off a growing chinese influence russian influence and the growing power of regional countries, especially iran, are quite interesting since we're talking about those new political realignments in the region at the u. a chrome prince. when to turkey, the 1st visit in 9 years could, could it be an indication that in the this bought this predominantly sunny part of the world? somebody does as saying if the americans are not going to be a reliable potter in the near future, it's about time to have a strong ally that we can go to in case the situation gets worse. i would discount

what you mentioned about this. the predominantly sunni, this has nothing to do with sunday or shower. anything else? this is a, this is national viability, national sovereignty, national dignity, national rights. but they are, countries are clearly most of them leadership, some of the people, necessarily, the leaderships are really quite flustered. they don't know what's going on with the realignments in the region. i'm smashing around, trying to find any relationships that will will protect them, but they turn to iran, the turn to turkey, the turn to china, russia getting more in all these fascinating symes, especially they are on turkey relationships because iran and turkey, you know, at several points in history rule, the middle east, these are huge powers that, that shape them define much of what happens and middle, eastern our and other cultures. today,

you can just sideline these people are sanction them or threaten them or ignore them. as the western countries are generally trying to do, and i think we're, we're still at a point of broad immaturity and political leadership. and our country's a kind of an amateur rhythm sovereignty has worked very well, say to it hasn't worked very well. citizen writes worked very well, the accountability is non existent, parliament, so job. so the structures of say to the most, out of countries, not all, but most of them have not worked on the leaders are rushing around, trying to figure out how to heat the whole things together. they will figure it out at some point and what they realize is that sovereignty and legitimacy come from your own people, not from foreign military sales, not from israeli by technology, not from chinese container ships as strong as the citizens of your country. and this is something we have to see borrow, matthew, i guess,

a backdrop of anxiety that we've been talking about in this part of the world about what kind of role the americans will likely play in the future. do you think that when you look at what happens, you know, god has done the invite you that vitally, that followed in this part of the world. this is something that will have an impact on the outcome of the talks with the iranians about the nuclear agreement. are we likely to see that americans think less good had whether did or the back is likely to step back to show that our lives in the region that the very core just about iran future. i think for certain invited ministration to check back, which means iran returns to compliance. but you know, i'm not sure if that's the limiting factor or i think the limiting factor is wrong so which it seems to be buying time and closer. closer to this breakout capability as the reaches morning, right into higher grades, it'll allow it to be in a position to, to be able to build nuclear weapons. so i'm administration determined to try to get

back, but it may not have enough time. and in addition to that, i think that wall is committed to a less boisterous mastic us foreign policy at least, which is so reliance on praise like maximum pressure on iran. you know, we recall that other states pressure happened right on the wings of president. trump's 1st trip to saudi arabia and i think the safe, green light in the registration is gone. i think we're going to see obviously a much more measured for policy administration. i wouldn't say that for meeting the us is leaving amenities. i think it just means this is a different style. ok, why me? what do you see of these rarely policy and conflict? move forward in the, in the future. it's not moving anywhere right now. the israeli leadership

has been full speed colonialism all over the region. they're destroying houses every day, their prison and kids. the next thing, more land, the palestinian leadership, is essentially nonexistent. this virtual leadership and what's happening is that the political activism of the palestinian people is shifting to grass roots. organizations like b d. s like media activists like people and taking up the law cases all over the world challenging as honest extremist moves or so there's, there's no real movement on the palestinian israeli question. but what has happened is that the palestine issue has now become one of the 4 global drivers of citizen activism around the world. if you look at the issues that move people to go to the streets and hundreds of thousands around the world climate change women's

rights, black lives matter and palestine. so this is based significant, this is a slow shift and they are was really conflict on this. going to take years. but eventually, hopefully some wise leaderships will move into a diplomatic negotiation that gives the exam isn't the palestinians. rice but nothing. now then matthew, the abraham a course did they undermine the chances of a bigger american influence in the near future. they still can restore the sense of faith in the peace process between the out of them. these rallies was 2 different questions and i think of course you ever have records really help back to that even further against the policy. and so that would be a measure yes to your question, be undermined us to build a broader along just to matthew settlement. however, we just don't know or so the order to actually choose something different with

the, with the pack of donald trump, presidents, i will of course there's a whole dynamic now i think throughout which is one know more maximum pressure on iran, much lower threat military force united states and therefore new vectors of possibilities . and then you could argue as a back in order to get started is opportunity, as you've seen on the course of the past years. so there been high context between turkish government for ministry and saudi government. we just united the, remember to city opera and also between turkey. you each sort of coming into the coal as well. and there been more relation to the teacher also which could have all sorts of applications in the eastern mediterranean stretching always

that at all. so i think the us, if you decide not to stick with the sanction of course, toward turkey, but wants to work with it's made around trying to shake the middle east. i think a lot of us, henry, russia in syria use both of diplomacy, admitted say, paula has consolidated its presence. that could it be the next key player in this part of the world? any time soon? i think russia is the key player guarantee player in, in syria they have an important relationship with turkey, a traditional steadfast american ally. the russians have a very important oil based relationship with saudi arabia in opec and opec class, russian saudi arabia are now the 2 key drivers for the global oil market. so, and much of course is selling i, selling my been throughout the middle east as well. and we'll see president, right, you see the ron, go to russia, i think in about

a week or so. so russia certainly is a player in the middle east in a way that it has not been for many, many years of i me, what does it leave of a conflict in the region we're talking about, you know, for example, as a complex lemon. libya lingering conflicts in iraq and syria and other places. somalia, the world essentially has written off these conflicts. what we're seeing now is the expansion of the concept of a disposable nation in somalia was the 1st disposable country in the world. and the late eighty's ninety's when it started to fall apart, and most of the world just didn't care. and we're seeing similar things. you know, what not only do, does the world not care very much about the libya, palestine, one of the things that they're actively involved in the military, you know, the british, french, the americans, the russians are the iranians, the turks, everybody is actively involved in these conflicts so i think we're going to just

see them continue. and the reason the underlying reason is that the social integrity of many of these countries is collapsing because about 70 to 80 percent of people in the arab countries cannot meet their basic weekly and monthly needs of madison education and shelter. so the integrity, the viability of these countries is, is rattled, it's not collapse, let it's rattling, and it's in some countries i think we're going to see this go on for some time. matthew, one of the defining moments in this part of the world was the spring in 2011. the americans were baffled at the beginning than this. so the port unity for political transition and they said we have to embrace it. then under the trump administration, the turn that back on the aspirations of the people. now you don't get any indications of the americans are willing to take an aggressive war when it comes to

we will fool with a political transitions. is this something that was likely to perpetuate auto attachment rules in this part of the world? certainly then the pattern of us foreign policy decades to favor or put stability over democratic more earlier real you can have stability, clinical stability in countries. if people don't feel that there's just and democratic changes, part of that when we're working together, the white house, there was a very strong push to enable countries of the middle east and people of the middle east to better democrats in europe. and not to think that for some reason they're not entitled to those are not able to to take advantage of such freedom in hindsight and what happens when they, us in iraq, the registration for product or democracy and the debacle. gaston bennett. sounds

sounds a bit, points to, to put it mildly. and so i think for a while seeing with withdraw from the dentist saying not to measure, don't go, i think hello it, whatever the americans are trying to figure out and do hear this part of the well, do you think that the chinese see unfortunately for themselves they are very problematic, the use the bell to and wrote initiative the economy to further expand that in for was do they sent a portion it isn't for the move to this part of the world. yes they do. but if i could for, for one moment, the issue of the arab spring and the protest that broke out in the middle east in 2011. because i think many of the topics that we're discussing about u. s. foreign policy or structural in their nature. but they also have a huge impact in terms of who is the president of the united states at any time. and now with president biden,

i think it's really indicative of his outlook in terms of foreign policy in the middle east. to remember that when he was asked as the protest, we're breaking out in egypt in february 2011. what he thought of then president mubarak, who was being besieged by these protests and president then vice president biden said that he did not see president mubarak as a dictator, because president barb was a good friend of israel. that is such an important indication of how the president biden sees the middle east through the lens of the traditional, what we call, traditional allies for china. china doesn't see any friends anywhere. china doesn't have a line. thank you kind of has interest. and that's what it's pursuing in the middle of fortunately, we're running out of time in time, hillary and by leverett, my fear brian, under the hotel, really appreciate your insight. thank you. and thank you for watching. you can see

the program again any time by visiting our website, amazon dot com for further discussion. go to our facebook page. that's facebook dot com, forward slash ha inside story. you can also join the conversation on twitter, our hand that is at a j and say story from the hash about about us and the entire team here in doha bye for now. ah and americans are increasingly say authoritarianism might not be so bad. there were several steps along the way where the chain of command, if you like, tried to cover dot what your take on why they've gotten this so wrong. that to me is political malpractice, the bottom line on us politics and policy,

and the impact on the world on al jazeera, we understand the differences and similarities of cultures across the world center might have when you call home will. but you can use in current affairs that matter to you with

mm pool. ah molly inside and doe here, top stories on al jazeera, the us and russian president. so spoken for the 2nd time this month and a bid to de escalate tensions over ukraine. the white house says the call between jo bought in vladimir putin last and 15 minutes and repeated the rush of sanctions . if moscow invades ukraine. feet and responded that such a move could lead to a complete breakdown of ties between the countries. john, hindrance has the latest gen, saki the press secretary for president. joseph biden has put out

a statement in that she says, president biden urged russia to de.