yesterday, recently, a worker who reported a safety failure was fired. his union is protesting, the decision to move to the safe to situation is spitballing the plant. the irony is when workers come forward to point dangerous conditions, they pin the blame on us and tried to silence, oscillates. those who clock in and out of here every day know the dangers, but it's steady work in a poor part of the country. jobs they hope will one day soon become safer. adarine al jazeera, toronto, italy. ah, hello, you're watching out here. these are the top stories. the salam south africa says it'll eas, restrictions after infections dropped by almost 30 percent this week. the government believes it's past the peak of the army con variance from in a miller has more from cape town. full indications,

all that south africa has passed. the peak of its 4th wave, which appeared to have started toward the end of november or early december. now they've seen a 30 percent decrease in infections, and that was the week leading up to christmas and compared to the week before, that's a significant reduction in infections and the government is saying that they have the hospital capacity. hospital admissions are low, the number of deaths are low, but people should continue to be in mind that the army cause variance is highly infectious. hey, zealand is one of the 1st places in the world to celebrate the new year. if i was, were canceled you to coven 19, and a light show was put on. instead, celebrations around the world of being impacted by the panoramic. almost 5 and a half 1000000 people have been killed since the virus was 1st reported in the chinese city of wu and years ago. and u. k prime minister bars johnson has called on lo, celebrating the need to get tested for corona virus as ami cron spreads across the country. people to be cautious and sensible. hundreds of homes have been destroyed

in the us state of colorado. after wildfire, driven by high winds and gulf to town from the denver is being described as a life threatening situation. tens of thousands of people have been told to leave their homes. the us and russian presidents have spoken for the 2nd time this month to be, to de escalate tensions over the ukraine turbine and repeated the threat of sanctions . if moscow invades, letting me approach and responded that such a move could lead to a complete breakdown of ties between the countries. and more than $100.00 were hinge refugees who spent almost a month of drift at sea in a damaged bars. and now in quarantine in indonesia, the group made up of mostly women and children was allowed to do some back and change. they will be moved into temporary housing. one's health checks have been completed. indonesia initially planned to turn the boat away, but allowed it to land after international pressure. those are the headlines i'm emily, angling at the news continues here on al jazeera,

after inside story. happy me 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 hash. hm. uh huh. bar. america's 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 panter 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 blink and has this to say before becoming your secretary of state in the 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 tries ago. she's also a former director for iraq, afghanistan, and persian gulf of the national security council. in istanbul, turkey, marcia bryan, 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 the harvard kennedy school is also professor of journalism at the american university of bailey, welcome to the program, henry the the picture of the last american soldier. busy 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 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 6 as far as the u. s. foreign policy is concerned in the middle east. do you see it as the real disengagement, or just the perceived withdrawal are seen as a real threat to the region because of the basics of american foreign policy. as well as the autocratic 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 that were published by u. m. agencies and others showing something like around 70 percent, 70 percent of primary and secondary school students in our 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 on check 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, thanks to going back the basics from administration point of view is 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. the iranians are the only people who are seriously putting up some resistance on their and doing so in the go shooting process. henry, 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 this 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 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, the united alabama, us. and for many, 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 the, 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 because they don't know if the u. s. is going to protect them, some of them israel might protect them. a few of them might be looking for turkey in desperation. so, but also countries by and large have not been able to, to fully assert their own sovereignty in terms of protecting themselves. and they actually rely on for, and 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 threat. 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. it 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. s. tried to impose and essentially the, the shorthand of this, what henry said, i agree with the short time. this is that what we're seeing is a new form of colonialism. imposed by the united states, a kind of colonialism by proxy higher tests to local people and mercenary armies. you create the mercenary forces as they didn't say and,

and syria. and this is a new kind of control that essentially means what washington launch. the lumps is going to be the rule of the game and people in the region are pushing back hillary this moment of uncertainty and anxiety as 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 interests in a way that can be very, very d, stabilizing, as it tries to fight off a growing chinese influence russian influence. and the growing power of regional countries, especially iran, a quite interesting, since we're talking about those new political realignments in the region at the u. a conference when to turkey, the 1st visit in 9 years. could, could it be an indication that in the this bought this predominantly sunday, part of the will, 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, the 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 into all these fascinating symes, especially they are on turkey relationships because iran and turkey at several points in history. rule the middle east, they are huge powers that,

that shape and define much of what happens and middle eastern, our other cultures. today, you can just sideline these people are sanction of 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 maturity them political leadership and our country's kind of an amateur rhythm sovereignty hasn't worked very well. say to it hasn't worked very well. citizen writes, someone worked very well, the accountability is non existent, parliament, so a job. so the structures of state or the most out of countries, not all, but most of them have not worked on the leaders, are especially around trying to figure out how to keep the whole things together. they will figure it out at some point and what they'll realize is that, sovereignty and legitimacy come from your own people, not from foreign military sales, left from israelis, biotechnology, martian,

chinese container, ships as strong as the citizens of your country. and this is something we have to keep our matthew, i guess, a factor 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, gun is the advice that invite you to follow the 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 let's go ahead whether deed or the back is likely to step back to show that our lives in the region that they are very just about iran, the future. i think for certain the by the ministration which means iran returns to compliance. but you know, i'm not sure that that's the limiting factor here. i think the limiting factor is erotic, which it seems to be buying time, you know, closer the closer breakout capability as the reaches morning,

right into higher grade. that'll allow it to be in a position to, to be able to build nuclear weapons. administration is determined to try to get back, but it may not have enough time. and in addition to that, i think the binding is committed to a less boisterous mastic us more policy and then at least, which is so reliance on praise like maximum pressure on iran. you know, we recall that with other states pressure happened right on the wings of president trump's 1st trip to saudi arabia. i think those states, each and all they had a green light in the registration is gone. i think we're going to see obviously a much more measured for policy. i wouldn't think that meeting us 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. it's a 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 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 and 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 basic, never going to, this is a slow shift and they preserve the conflict. and this going to take years, but eventually, hopefully some wise leaderships will move into a diplomatic negotiation that gives the service and the palestinians have rights but nothing. now then matthew, the abraham a course, did they undermine the chances of a bigger american influence in the near future. do they still can restore the sense of faith in the peace process between the out of them. these rallies wasn't 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 that would be a measure. yes, your question would be undermining the us ability

a broader along just the last few settlement. however, if we just heard we be ever going to actually something different with the, with the packing of donald trump, president, i will of course there's a whole dynamic now i think throughout the lease which is one know more maximum pressure on iran much lower threat. but use military force united states and therefore new vectors of possibilities. and then you could argue back in order to get an opportunity to step into this oppertunity. i've seen over the course of the past years, so there been high context between turkish government for ministries and saudi government. we just all of united member to city and also between you a sort of coming into the coal as well. and there been working relationship

teacher also which could have all sorts of applications in the eastern mediterranean stretching all over into it all. so i think the us not to stick with the sanction approach to turkey wants to work with it's made around trying to shake the middle east. i think a lot of us hillary russia in syria views both of diplomacy admitted say paula has consolidated its presence. that could be the next key player in this part of the world. any time soon. i think russia is the key player. there are key 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,

of course, is selling i selling map in 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 conflicts in the region we're talking about, you know, for example, has a complex lemon. libya lingering conflicts in iraq and syria and other places. some of 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 my to is when it started to fall apart and most of the world just didn't care. and we're seeing similar things. it was not only do, does the world not care very much about the libya, palestine?

well, the things are actively involved in the military. you know, the british, the 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 for 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 medicine, 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 that they saw 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 indication that 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 retirement was in this part of the world. wow. certainly the pattern for a policy decade to favor or put stability over democratic reform. and you know, earlier, real duties you can have the political stability and country. people don't feel that there's justice and democratic changes. part of that when hillary high were working together, there was a very strong push to enable the countries of the middle east from the people of the middle east to better democratic freedoms. way 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. now in hindsight, and what happens when they us in iraq, the registration for products or democracy and aspen, dental concepts, sounds sounds a bit points to, to put my own. and so i think for a while you see withdraw from the dentist saying not to measure not okay, so i hello it. whatever the americans are trying to figure out and do hear this part of the well do think that the chinese see an opportunity 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 protests 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 bar 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, bryce on the line to hold out really appreciate your insight. thank you. and thank you for watching. you can see the program again any time by visiting our website, alysia dot com for further discussion. go to our facebook page. that's facebook dot com, forward slash ha inside. sorry, you can also join the conversation on twitter. our hand is at a j in facebook from the hash about about and the entire team here in doha bye for now. ah, along with chilling the debates, 90 percent of the world's refugees have come from

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trade bar and walk indonesia whose business firms for me, we move pool to grow and fraud. we balance for real economy, blue economy and the digital economy. with the new job creation law, indonesia is progressively ensuring the policy reform to create quality jobs. invest, let be part when the lease is growth and progress, invest indonesia now, ah clark and how the top stories here on al jazeera, the pandemic, has killed almost 5 and a half 1000000 people since a virus with 1st reported in the chinese. if you had 2 years ago, clyburn infections have hit a record high over the past week with more than a 1000000 cases to take it on average. each day. restrictions in south africa are being lifted after infections dropped by almost 30 percent last week,

and nighttime curfew has now been scrapped and alcohol shops will be able to stay open past 11 pm. the government believes it's past the peak of a wave fuel.