they cannot be phillips not directly if a company is present a good pair of beers but on the open market according to wednesday's market quotations the share costs of three hundred fifty million dollars. last year update from my colleague uni a block of will be here next hour to take you to business the rest of the day in the meantime you can always find more stories on our website.

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the war. but the long and bloody years of conflict have come with little reward while the u.s. might claim it's not only fighting against the taliban but also fighting for democracy and freedom afghans have seen little sign of success in any of those author and journalist and jones shared her thoughts on the decade old war. r.t. is sitting down with journalist and author ann jones her most recent book is called war is not over when it's over and thank you very much for sitting down to speak

with art it's my pleasure i'd like to be in by asking you about your time on a u.s. military base in afghanistan and to tell me what you saw and experienced well i was at a forward operating base on the border with pakistan and. it was a strange experience for me but i think the the foremost thing i learned there was from the base commander when i talked to him about the counterinsurgency strategy in afghanistan and he said i'm not fighting counterinsurgency here i'm fighting conventional war since his battalion had taken over this base only a few weeks before he'd lost a lot of man. he was right there on the border of pakistan and there was a lot of activity and of course all the news that was being reported here was about

the build up to the great assault in khandahar and all the journalists who were in the south and i apparently was the first american journalist to go to that base and they were really fighting for their lives at at the same time it was very bizarre because the base itself is very cushy it's very much like home you can go to the child hall and have lobster tails not not very well cooked but they are loves details. so on the one hand there's this great effort to separate the troops from the war to make things seem. as much like home as possible and on the other hand every time they go outside the wire they were they were in danger of losing people and they had lost a lot so there's this disconnect between the base and what's out

there. and they go out in their enormous armored vehicles and patrol and get ambushed or run into bombs while the afghans and the taliban are out there running around in their little cotton he's fighting the war their style. and when these american troops are fighting in an area that is particularly destitute and when they go outside the wire they have to see that this civilians surrounding them are terribly poor and struggling people i don't i couldn't figure out how the soldiers computed what they were being asked to do and why they were doing it and how the commander was officially fighting one kind of war but actually fighting quite desperately another

kind of four and and why he was the folks in the in the eastern part of the country were just kind of on their own wall all attention was concentrated in the south in the east they didn't even have enough military helicopters to evacuate the wounded you mention the taliban and i want to also ask you about something you recently wrote an article about afghan women being abandoned you said the taliban do terrible things at the problem with demonizing them is that it diverts attention away from other equally unpleasant and threatening facts let's not make the common mistake of thinking that the devil we see is the only. they want as i continued reading your article i made the assumption that. another devil you were referring to as also those that are in charge and the government that is backed and supported by the united states thanks actually the us the devil in afghanistan well

the us is yeah i think you could say that in a way because we are supporting an administration that is not only corrupt but of course as fundamentalist in many ways as the taliban. not just the executive branch and the cabinet but the parliament as well they're all controlled by former mujahideen. islamic extremists that the u.s. the bush administration put in power and so we're on the one hand talking about spreading democracy and equal rights for women and all of those nice things and on the other hand in many ways there's not a dime's worth of difference between the government we're supporting and the taliban were fighting against and now of course where we keep talking about having

negotiations cars i want wanted to negotiate for years in the us opposed it but now seems to be supporting it as a way out but you can be sure that if these negotiations go forward with the taliban and the karzai government. it's afghan women and minorities who are going to suffer in the long run based on what you saw when you were in afghanistan what does the u.s. fundamentally want with afghanistan at this point in the position there and what is victory or what is stabilization what is spreading democracy and what does the u.s. lot i have no idea i can't. answer that question and many of the soldiers i talked to couldn't answer that question many officers couldn't answer that question certainly there are a lot of people in our political system who couldn't answer that question i think they're struggling with that in the white house as well. of

a friend of mine just contacted me from kabul this morning complaining that last night. in kabul general petraeus was on the news broadcast on the one hand saying that negotiations with the taliban were going forward very well and on the other hand saying that the united states was gathering all its forces to fight the taliban to the death and she said in a very desperate way. what does this mean please make up your mind we afghans are suffering who benefits from hundreds of thousands of americans being there i mean the soldiers many of them it's been reported in some of come out on the record saying they don't want to be there clearly the afghans never asked for america to invade and occupy their country who benefits from all this that's happening more contractors a lot of money is being made off the war. the armament suppliers the

contractors who are supposedly providing the security. for the people who supposedly are developing the country. there are many reports of the u.s. paying the taliban so that the taliban who don't shoot at their convoys so that they can supply their troops so that they can go out and battle against the taliban. if you're on the ground there you see all kinds of catch twenty two like that doesn't make any sense. people are making money off it and. some of those people are afghans and some of those people are americans and and others but the generality of afghan people are suffering enormously you know we've been we've been at this since we went in in the late

seventy's to try to lure the the soviets to come in we've been meddling in those affairs and we've consistently backed the wrong people who have blown back to haunt us and i think that the this whole that we've made for ourselves in afghanistan now is is so entangled so complex. i don't know how the united states could extricate itself with some sort of honor and consideration for the afghan people you know when you look back in history when it comes to war and conflict uprising we've seen a soviet union fail we've seen britain falle but we've seen those like china is caught on alexander the great succeed but they had to exterminate majority of

people any chance the u.s. would use that type of measure go to that extent i really have no idea there's a possibility i think that today so much of the planning and even so much of what's being carried out in afghanistan is secret from us just as our operations there against the soviets in that proxy war were kept secret from the american public so i think there's too much that we don't know that we have no way of knowing to make any kind of educated guess about that with the thing. that's troubling is that obama has said consistently that he wants to begin withdrawing troops he doesn't really want to be there but at the same time the generals are offering him. no range of options at all they're

just wanting to remain wanting to increase the number of troops and this raises i think a very troubling constitutional crisis because the president is the commander in chief and as we see his generals boxing him into a corner what does that say about who's running the government in this country when it comes to our military affairs and foreign policy it's very problematic and with respect to the people of this country to americans do you think a day will come where this war will follow us home and americans chip you know the public will be suffering the backlash the blowback of all the years that the u.s. has spent in afghanistan and all the death squads well we've already suffered that that's what nine eleven was it was a blowback for our interference in that part of the world and now it

comes back to us in many other ways. obama himself said he hasn't ruled out the possibility of another similar terrorist attack that would be blowback for our continuing involvement there but also it comes back in what's happening to our own country in. as our soldiers come home in a terrible condition with. appalling physical and mental injuries and casualties and of course in what it costs this country. fight these illegal unnecessary wars and what it's costing us at hold now in the deterioration of our own structures and are our own constitutional structures and jones thank you very much for your time thank

you. the. wealthy british soil is on it's time to put on. the. market why not. come to. find out what's really happening to the global economy with mike stronger for a no holds barred look at the global financial headlines kaiser reports. news today volunteers once again flared up. these are the images the world has been seeing from the streets of canada. giant corporations are old today.

headlines on r.t. and nine years since u.s. led forces entered afghanistan public support for the war is at an all time low u.s. soldiers have only been making matters worse after they uploaded videos of questionable behavior. just days ahead of the parliamentary election on wednesday i stormed the headquarters of a leading political party after a protest staged by relatives of those killed in a polls riots turned violent. and ahead of us overseas broadcasting is seeking to broaden its reach while slamming the competition he said america must combat the rise of so-called autocratic t.v.

stations the list of which includes r.t. . and up next all the sporting news with. hello thanks for watching the sport and this is what is coming up. bottle of the league's phoenix stand unama rageh in the latest clash between the n.h.l. and k h l. plus is this the new world number one caroline wozniacki could top the women's rankings today with victory in beijing. and rowing back the years how russia is renewing links with britain in a sport to produce well class talent once again. but first the final game in the battle of the two best ice hockey leads in the world came to an end n.h.l. side the things quiet a space in the k h l is the nominee get three one in that area here followed scarse and the fate of carolina earlier in the wake and has revived old rivalries between

interest and west explains. following a successful premier of the cage and a shelf they sell for the russians latvia picks up the baton to claim its place in the history books and i'm a regal welcome to the phoenix coyotes and what's seen as a revival of a tradition that ended roughly twenty years ago elevated interest for such a game would be an understatement this storm the ticket offices long before the start of the match as much as saw the last game. it was really good so i hope it will be the same here that's what everyone wants to see a good game. wardens of the standoff between the n.h.l. and a show clubs there is greatly on either side of the. well the two games held in russia in latvia are considered a historical milestone in those countries the united states and canada are still cautious when talking about the significance of such exhibition matches for their

teams experience of this is intriguing experience you've got a massive time zone difference and. it's also the start of the season right now it's football season basketball camp star of the playoffs now a free ride to major league baseball so there's all kinds of competition for the entertainment dollar and for everyone's attention so right now it's a little bit of a climb six going up the escalator of the top or you guys are yes but i would imagine if this were a little bit later on getting geared up towards a full speed of story rica and as a whole have some of the most dedicated and noises fans in the kontinental hockey game it's no wonder since the local outfit tsunami was personally the base of the country's national team and those two factors alone were considered strong enough to trample the this is think n.h.l. side phoenix coyotes however the first period resembled nothing of that sort most of the enthusiasm appeared to be in the stands as the two teams played with caution

at best scored suit of their goals in the dying moments of period one and soon as another one in the third. does more cards again even this four in the second but that was all the inside could do despite a multitude of opportunities all in all the game lacked the intensity of the first exhibition match in st petersburg but both sides were evidently satisfied with the outcome always there a little bit quicker. every time we had a turnover they took advantage and create a lot of opportunities our goalie kept us in a whole film and it was a lot of fun out there so it was fun i think for both teams. played all right. before the regular season starts so different situation for us where trying to ours and getting her. playing on a rank that's much bigger than we put on so good experience for our players up before boston so. there i was i was glad to see our team when we came to win

but i thought it was a very good game sold the latest episode of the n.h.l. case shells down dolphin leaves us drool wife rita. home so i didn't say because berg and three wanted the visitors in latvia it's impossible to state that those results resemble the state of hockey on either continent but it's safe to say that the russians. are happy to witness their bible over tradition and they hope it will be a one off affair romana call sort of artsy riga latvia. good stuff now in the cage or else a bit edged metal on penalties to pick up their fourth straight win mesler twice playing from behind with alexander goal of in time the game of two will with just a minute to go before it went from fear of his there in the shootout as he failed to school a lot of running mates had a saying they were importing. elsewhere because that side bodies a more fight. in tennis venus williams will miss the rest of the season with knee

problems that means the former world number one will not feature in the fed cup final or w.t. a championships the thirty year old hasn't played since losing the semifinals of the u.s. open and is still receiving treatment for me at least was hoping to get on in the next month and have a good chance of qualifying for the season ending championship. meanwhile denmark's caroline wozniacki could become the winner's new number one today patrick of it of in the quarter china sure placings the sister serena at the top of the rankings the current number one has not played since foot surgery in july. and other news a new problem has beset the commonwealth games in delhi it's thought contaminated water in the main pool could be responsible for a stomach virus that is affecting swimmers the england team say twenty percent of its women have come down games federation president mike fennell says the matter. i

mean all the aussies don't seem to be suffering through much they won six of them on. thinking things. two hundred. while on the track the first gold went to murray's is. choking by fast. i but i just came in the n.b.a.'s pre-season tour of europe so minnesota get the better of the new york knicks in paris arena the venue it was the knicks though who were ahead of me in the second anthony randolph three point putting them fit into twenty two in front then tie it to move to come back kevin love scene here martell webster both getting seventeen points and they were seventy one sixty three on top by the time webster eight. points. to minnesota lead at the

end of the third but the next giant russian. that eighty eight eighty four you know. what that symbol was managed to hang on to this one hundred six to one hundred. finally the hundred fiftieth anniversary of russia's first rowing club has been held in simpatico it was built by the british and as our correspondent richard found that relations between the two countries in the sporting field still going strong. europe has played a crucial role in the cultural development of some petersburg over the last three hundred years italians took care of the architecture french was we are soccer sees language of choice but dutch gave the city's distinctive canals while the united kingdom helped set up the country's first ever rowing club one hundred fifty years ago but which unfortunately over time has fallen into a state of disrepair original water existence. and a couple hundred meters from this place. during the sea go for

a second cold war. building. here and. the russian always for decided to initiate their work a structure not just for you lee i need the director of the russian army to rowing association this place has a special meaning she learned how to row here during his student days and personally wanted to restore the club to its former glory to help a new generation not to learn the sport. this idea came to us a long time ago because a lot of us used to train here and it was sad to see just how low the standard of rowing in russia had fallen to we all got together to see how we could try and restored the place and keep the tradition going ascent because berg has always had a number of places where people have prote. in the field of rowing between russia

and the u.k. still remain strong one hundred fifty years on five time in pick champions to steve redgrave his visit to both sides of a clubhouse has a distinctly british feel so it's from a technical and coaching expertise the u.k. is able to offer is likely to see a marked improvement in the standard of the sports not just around some petersburg but across the country is a hold over of like two or suborder. team roman eight zero four zero centers and averse to. among the other all the other things to help them to. and the royal regard to a year and a struggle for the challenge cup a special. training. in regard to. the also the brother would like to use the experience of britain coaches one of the main aims of a crime is to help develop you can interest in a city especially among students the oxford and cambridge boat race is famous the

world over and university rowing is popular in the u.s. but the same can't be said of russia and besides he has the backing of one of the world's greatest ever rowers is that every two years is completely new people coming into it. in the seniors you have for athletes that will go on for five ten. even longer. and it's difficult to break in. people at the top what happens is you slowly get your everybody's level goes up by then the older people retire and the next level of their this is imperative given the current state of russian rowing the country is just one one gold of the last prelim big games and the prospects are looking good for london in less than two years time this is a far cry from fifty years ago when the roman lympics proved to be one of the greatest moments in rowing not just for russia but also for some petersburg living grand as it was known then twenty six people from just one club. came there

and national team and half of them were back with the medals. hundreds of thousands of people went for on a. different other cities or rush. hour days station has become. proper again to help the helper to do well with an abundance of water one would think that some petersburg would be a mecca for rowing lovers from around the country however the sports fall upon hard times over the last couple of decades but due to a long standing partnership with the united kingdom there are hopes but rowing can return to its former glory in russia which a bump or played r.t. some petersburg. now brings us to the end of the sport. every month we give you the future we hope you want.