poorest countries, from advocating free trade to campaigning global energy and security, the united kingdom and united states have shed priority. there is no better chamexample between britain and the united states is with afghanistan to help afghanistan become a stable and secure state, able to control its own national security, and through that, to protect them. we're second only to the u.s. on the number of british boots on the ground. and we've taken the lead in helmund when there was work to be done. i salute extraordinary bravery of our sources in seeking to create a better afghanistan. to the hour of awakening, in conclusion, have already drawn some of the conclusions at this stage, but there are many questions still remaining. we cannot be certain of how the situation will unfold at each

country and each country is, indeed, different. the concept of the arab world has taken a bit of a change, and maybe it's less united than we thought. all of these countries have responded and responded differently. the signs of the prognosis, however, is positive. what we can be certain of is how the united kingdom and the united states energy sector can employ its right of the countless add ro savocates thate to see. strong civil society, rights of minorities, plans of growth and prosperity, employment opportunities and human rights. these will help the countries of the region get back on their feet and to travel in a new direction. we face many challenges together in the past. we face new challenges. one thing that's constant that remains: the relationship between us, the understanding that we face the world from a similar point of view, i suspect, will always be there.

this is a new chapter to it. many of you will have experiences in the regions i've spoken about. don't be afraid to share the in sights as well as what's at question. ministers and politicians. refresh me. give me the benefits of your insight, and at least one british minister will return to the united states better informed, if not wiser. thank you very much. [ applause ] >> no pictures, please. >> we do have time, and he was very kind to take some questions, so we have our usual pass the paper on the tables. >> and if there's a good lawyer in the house, it's whiplash,

isn't it? >> as a favor, i'll handle both sides of the case for you in the federal reserve and make it much more efficient. at -- you mentioned sanctions. we have a question about sanctions. do you believe there is a point in which the world has to give up on sanctions in iran and consider a multi-country action, whether military or otherwise, against the country? >> well, as both the united states and united kingdom and other allies have said, no option is off the table. but let's be clear. the preference has got to be for the sanctions to work and negotiations to be around the i ra -- iranian regime has to turn back. the proliferation in the gulf, one of the most volatile areas in the world, would be a mess.

they already said they would have to follow suit. so the nuclear proliferation treaty in the '60s, which actually has been the world's most successful nuclear treaty which has kept it within clear. it wouldn't be just a strike. it would need a prolonged activity, and they only end up delaying rather than destroying. iran will retaliate in some way. iran may find itself put on the right side of a moral argument instead of the wrong one. so the consequences of that are incalculable. the best one is the sanctions root, and that is what the world

powers are generally doing when not doing this and carrying on something covert in the background. we really are determined. it's a difficult place. iran has no peace between ahmadinejad. they face a serious evaluation, the bank having a run on them, people are buying gold, the banks are not honoring their commitments. it's very tough. we keep in close contact with the iranian people. don't mistake the regime for the people. they know what's going on. i described them as a people held hostage by their governor. and we have no argument with the iranian people. we hope the pressure works. is there a point where -- the democratic government to engage

with iran. we will see. . >> at least half the questions are related to iran, but i'll only ask you one other halfway related question. do you see any possibility of the arab spring? >> it would be nice. but the cruelty, the cruelty with which the regime put down the green revolution after the freudian selection of a few years ago was intense. this is a country, this is a regime with one of the worst human rights record in the world. this is a place that competeexe more people than china. they have kept very tight control of their people. the pictures i remember most from last year were those who were executed -- they were standing on the bus and the bus was driven away, and they were left dangling from a bridge. this is a country that has a

regime that keeps a grip on it very tightly. so you don't know. but ultimately, of course, the best solutions must be growing. we'll wait and see. the opposition appears to be repressed in iran and we all hope something will change. >> several questions regarding arab spring and the other countries. perhaps the easiest way to consolidate them would be to ask if you might compare and contrast your view about tanisha, libya and egypt and how different they are after the arab spring. >> okay. in no particular order.

i did a program about the arab spring. we didn't mention any particular one, and we didn't talk about it because we concentrated on egypt, libya and syria. went through the process there. it's a structured country. they have their elections, there is a minority islamist government that has fixed the coalition with a number of partners. i saw the minister for education a couple weeks ago in london, and he was from a secular left party that was in coalition with the islamic. and the news there was what arthur had campaigned on, which was domestic stuff about the economy in tanisha. they were seeking to deliver. the secular party has no

involvement, and so far so good. but there is a base of structure there and something to work on in terms of their capacity in government, and at the present time they're saying and doing the right thing. we're engaged with them, we have an arab partnership of bilateral support and financial institutions are also supporting -- we have them different, and it got to be rebuilt. and egypt slightly different. egypt much more important. bigger, much more of a regional player to history and influence a key to the future. the removal of president labarack, by a citizen in power pro dusd a situation where the military held the ring.

crucially choosing not to fire up on their own people. >> but they have a longstanding governor. they have a close veelgs ship of 20 to 30% of the economy, which is right off the books. and they are conflicted in wanting to work toward a. but there has been an election. it's that long. a number of people voting high. it reflects the will of the populati population. it mufbl.

the. >> the stal -- was about 23% of the vote. the muslim brotherhood are looking not to go into alliance. they're again looking toward the center. they campaigned on social rights with the things that you need to get a convent going. they did not campaign on this eye how they can put that into practice. their economy is taking a bigger hit. but the other one has been much more open to ifp. one of the knees to all of this is groped with others on the road. again, it the precipitation.

it's the house. >> a little bit -- there are countal revolutions. i take a square. if there is a clash, we worry about the integrity any. and had been pruktd. now feel under pressure. from extreme. so each and in the balance. >> impression is good at present there the capacity of government is extremely low. this has not been a tungsly, and i was told by one of the.

. and rung to the load. that means you can't hit a group of ma lish as. i want to see that their kmunts on -- they are working very hard. but their farther. their hoping to have. the intent is good. they're working very well. our expectations should be realistic. our democracy did not spring up overnight. it took time for us.

and i think -- we're a bit unrealistic about what can be in these companies. >> least postpone what to syria and how you see things playing out in. your understanding of the susquehanna position. >> a, in the past. you have a certain continue. >> exactly rye. your assistant of state. >> they are all one or 2020 and

they've been grat. they're very identical. many of you will work on as it eye. we sent william. we showed how important this was to all of. we are seeking to back the arab league, the arab league the way pent. calling for a transitioned how? for the first if i am.

you're doing things here that aren't, you're not ready for that, are you. >> this is agd it -- this is their z. the bidding of the west is what the russians are trying to do. they're complicated, too. long relationship with syria in commercial and political terms. they know what's going on is wrong. they're doing what they can behind the scenes but they can't quite bring themselves to support a revolution that we've been looking for. so what's happening yesterday and today is to try to get that resolution. it's got to be syrian led at the end of the day. it's not capable of a solution like libya as there is no western intervention boots on the ground. if anything, it has to be arab inspired. the best thing that can happen is the austerity opposition should come together to support what the arab league is

proposing in the way of a transition. but the united states. he has lost its grip and we must let him go. so we must work hard with the arab league to produce a decision. i'm afraid it will get worse before it gets better. >> so staying in the general geographic area, at least, we have a few questions. i summarize. >> there are the surprise jack

in the box owing this. this is a little. we'll tell about exciting taliban to their engagement to libya as supporting some of the military, and they're very strong center of the two store. with french base. our sense is that they're looking to be noted. they've got strong opinions. and our thought of the moment is they've seen an opportunity for the arab world to do better and beat the sciences. their intervention in libya, they told us, was because they wanted it to work.

they weren't prepared to see things just drift on, so they supported people on the ground they thought could get things done. and they have the legal ability to do that in a way in which perhaps we didn't get things done. they want to be a player, and the way in which they're promoting themselves is ending a forceful good in these places. al jazeera, as much as people were commenting this time last year of the facebook rev nuolur, net book revolution, all of this was true. for ten years now,al gentlem al has been talking to our leaders if a way the arab world had not known, something much more that

we're all used to. serious questioning, comment, criticism. a world away from the state television stations that many of these countries have. al jazeera's ability to inspire people what was the great phrase? i'm mad as hell and i'm not taking it anymore or the translation of that. there is something more out here. that is being quite remarkable. of course, it's based in qatar. it is in dohar. interesting, we talk very regularly to qatar. so far, our sense is this is a push for the good and we will watch and see how this develops. all of these things are so new. no one is quite sure of where they are all going, but qatar's intervention has been significant in a number of areas and positive and helpful in most of them. >> so turning to another country that plays a role in the area,

being turkey. have they been playing a constructive role in your opinion and what other things would you like them to do to make things better? >> probably the most effective and well expounded foreign policy of recent times. the turks look at the world around them. maybe they feel rebuffed from europe. i'm sure you are all aware the turks applied for membership of the european union. united kingdom supports the membership of turkey. it is not supported by other players. negotiations have been pending for a long time. there is a sense that some in the turkish government have said okay, if they don't want us, let's maybe go in a different direction and they set out a very strong stall. they look back at the past where they were a significant influence in the region and perhaps we can do it making the

presence felt. they have a very able foreign minister. he is very clear and honest and direct. agn, a profound influence of good for the work. they have a different relationship to iran than we do, but maybe that is not a bad thing. there is a door open there. that is important in the business that people don't feel themselves boxed in. they are working for the good there and they are working in a slightly different way to us. they were very much part of the libya contact group and the work that was done there. they are a center for international conferences. i have been to istanbul five times in the last year. i have been to the city once. you go to the hotel. you go to the palace where they have the wonderful conferences. you gaze at the boss over lunch and they pack you in a car back to the airport and you go back home. it is one

tragedies of my work. we have one afternoon off for the blue mosque which was just wonderful. so again, they are a key player. one thing i would like to do is reestablish the relationship with israel. that break is serious for israel. israel could do with turkey back as an ally and friend. it is a difficult state of affairs between them because of the flotilla incident over a year ago. it would be good to find a way back to each other. we are encouraging both to try to do that. >> turkey is a member of nato. the u.s. has announced some reductions or deletions of troops in europe and other areas. can you views on where nato is going with the bases which impacts the u.k.? >> one of thehing i

get to do is not comment on other a comment on your defense budget which is your affair. it enables me to avoid questions about primaries and other current entertainments on your television screens. ll hold me off and i would be in deep trouble. nato is strong. nato came through this year well in terms of its ability to act in libya under clear direction. we have turned a bit of a corner from the difficulties over iraq. again, i don't want to go into that too deeply. i think this audience will be well aware that conflicts and questions over iraq and engagement in iraq have been not raised because the u.n. direction was clear. the arab league position was clear and the actions taken by

the coalition forces were very precise. the truth is in a situation like this, there are three countries that can deliver. united states, france and great britain. they are the people with the air forces capable of defending civilian populations. the work they did together was terrific. so that's been a good year. it's essential we all maintain sufficient force to be able to do the job we need to do. that's a matter that the defense chiefs discussed between present, i don't envision a world without that american power. i think there is a book coming out later this month by robert kagen on the america's strengths. looking at america's responsibilities in the counter point to the view that maybe america's strength wasn't as it was. he is looking at a different

perspective. that is one we share. a world that doesn't have america as a cornerstone and taking a terrible risk. we see what you do and the way you handle it and being able to support the best of good values and our partnership helps to do that. nato has proved its way. i'm no expert on nato and where it goes next. it is a fundamental part of the jigsaw that helps keep the world safe and perhaps given an opportunity for those who are taking their own regions in the direction they want to do to feel they have some support for doing so. >> i know you will kindly meet with some of our students immediately after this. >> is there anything light ha lighthearted in the questions? >> there is one. i did have one question if you want a quick one. you hopefully know more about the truth. i'll read it as it is. i don't know the truth of the

fact. please comment on president obama's returning the bust of churchill. perhaps the author of the question? >> no, i think i'm aware of the story. i'm not sure about its truth or anything else. i'm not that well up on it. i think it was a story about him doing that at the beginning of his presidency. i don't know. again, if it is unwise for me to talk about -- your way ahead of me. i'm not going to -- >> let me rephrase the question. what are we getting back in return? [ laughter ] >> all right. that's a good deal. thank you. [ applause ] >> since you will meet with our students, let me impose on you for one more thing. i suppose you have a message to impart. those of us who like to think of

ourselves as younger. what would you like us to take away as great friends of the u.k. that are important to know at this time? >> i just think sense of go for it. i spent most of the year in dealing with part of the of the aspirations in terms of our children and education and job prospects and the ability to control their own destiny and to have a say in the governments of their country has been denied them. in a place where it was rumored it and they didn't care about it. there must have been several generations that have been through those areas in despair. if you look at the writings of people in those areas. characterized by a world that

sees particular examples that don't relate to their experience of life. everyone says that is what that world is like. that's who those people are. that's what the muslim community is like. when the reality is different. and by their own efforts, they have brought themselves to a position where the world has seen them differently. it is not over yet and they have something. it is because people just said we can do this. i would say the same to any youngster i come across. firstly, i think what we are engaged in in politics, it is all the same. somebody has to do it. if youngsters are interested in being engaged in political life, the decision making that comes with being a representative, just do it. if you are interested in being engaged in the wider world away from the united states looking at your responsibilities and shared challenges of being