first. go. to st petersburg gold and jewels and secrets. every. single visitors to russia for over eighty years interest will ensure your visit to russia never. touches down on the. far eastern. u.s. . for the first time. the

operation came as a result of the increased pressure from. the flood. has refused to confirm. the u.s. over the threat of terrorism. billions of dollars on military operations abroad that's according to a. blogger and author. who's been speaking to our. sitting

down with tom engelhardt tom dispatch dot com a blog described as a regular antidote to that means to media and author of the american way of war how bush's wars became obama's sir thank you for sitting down with us today good to be here i'd like us to start off by taking a look at the extent of the u.s. military presence throughout the world right now it's global i mean that's the first thing you can say the pentagon is a little hard to tell in detail the pentagon usually admits to about yearly to about eight hundred military bases or sites from macro to micro but in their count they don't include anything in a war zone and that tom dispatch you know we've done some reporting for instance on the afghan war the present afghan war zone where we have upwards of four hundred bases again from tiny combat outposts to enormous basically american towns with boardwalks with fast food joints and whatever that we just built more or

less from scratch and there are certain countries where the countries are embarrassed that their military bases there it's really hard to say i mean eight hundred to a thousand maybe more depending on what you're counting it's an awful lot it's an imperial presence of a kind i don't think we've ever seen in history and it's particularly strange because the bases traditionally bases more or less where the way you kept a couple of days but for us the bases are actually the thing when you say global it's a frightening word it sounds like every single country throughout just globe has some form of military presence from the united states that i can't swear that it's every so it probably isn't every single country but a striking number of countries i don't actually know the number right here but i mean if you think if you if you take this another way and you think to yourself. of . the u.s. military now has a kind of secret military inside it and those are the special operations forces

which have been incredibly peeved up and taken over certain activities that once were more cia type activities in the bush and now obama period special operations forces and there are thirteen thousand of them according to the washington post stationed outside the united states their station now in seventy five countries there are only one hundred ninety two countries in the u.s. i think that's the latest figure so you're talking about somewhere upwards of forty percent just for special operations forces so it is a lot now it's very interesting that to draw that dividing line between declared war is an undeclared war is what you raise this point in your work often most americans are aware of declared wars with iraq but afghanistan over the last several years what about the un declared boys how come nobody really talks about that the war's skirmishes whatever you know it's hard to know in this country what people know i mean i mean even the wars the afghan war for instance has disappeared

more or less disappeared for years at a time from i think from the media public consciousness you know it's hard to say what the u.s. media you could always find something i mean there's something there and that is that is it's not that there's ever no coverage but you have to be a news jockey like me you have to be reading the inside pages of the papers the war in the pakistani border line and americans obviously know very little about that i mean we are proud of our drones and so we're caught always between calling it a covert war and actually. that actually bragging about it and americans are remarkably detached from the wars that being are being fought in their names and the various other military positions and so on and so forth on the globe it's one of the things that i focus on as is just the degree to which we are doing things that americans could know about basically don't we have to put some of that blame on the media who is essentially responsible. we're bringing some of that information to the u.s. and i have to ask you do you feel like the media and the military are sort of

sleeping in the same bed at this point i think the military may have but there's a there's a history with the military of a post vietnam history of trying to put journalists in bed with it when you are embedded with the military there's an element of stockholm syndrome that just has to be with it and you tend to if you're out with american troops in afghanistan you are in the end i mean your life is at stake you are at the end going to a dead a fight with american troops let me ask you this you've spent years the ciphering sort of the military is agent of the u.s. foreign policy when when what should that line be drawn between you know reasonable national defense and really kind of paranoid extensionality is that line ever drawn any more no but basically it basically is no longer drawn and so what you really get is you get american treasure poor into by the multi-billions into you know into into remarkably strange wars approach i've long been convinced that if

osama bin laden you know had a dream for him in a nightmare for us it was to involve us in in inconclusive wars in distant lands that would cost us a fortune there's a kind of intelligence national security bureaucracy that's fed in this country all fear and americans are irrationally scared of terrorism since two thousand and one the number of americans who have been you know killed by by terrorist actions is it's a shark attacks but below anything else dangerous in our world you know and yet the fear level is so who remarkably high and everything is justified upon us those lines are drawn and we don't think seriously about what our national interest is and we're paying for it now you've mentioned money and apparently the pentagon is going to be able to enjoy as much as seven hundred twenty six billion dollars. next year or something along those that i say that's and i have to ask you i mean it

might seem a sort of a naive question but it has to be asked couldn't this money be put to better use and especially now in this economy of course you know commanders in afghanistan can walk into a village they have they have a fund so they can find an afghan village elder if they want to do a hearts and minds' sort of thing they can see that the infrastructure is weak that they have canals or field or whatever they can just pay money to people to start digging out those canals you can't do that in the united states we're a can do nation here we can't build anything we just we just decided not to build a tunnel between new jersey and new york city where i live because it was too expensive but we can spend billions building these bases very efficiently and if there are extraordinary in a way can do x. these huge bases in afghanistan or iraq or wherever else i think it's quite startling actually and. the cost of civilians on the ground civilian lives we have piled up many towers in response to the towers that went down to two thousand trees

three we have piled up many towers of dead they don't have memorials nobody thinks about them i mean except obviously their families and their countries we don't know the numbers in iraq or afghanistan but they are they are startling numbers not only has the idea of peace gone just go on the idea really if diplomacy in the normal sense as opposed to a militarized kind of diplomacy but the very idea of victory at the most basic thing to a military culture is going on in one of your latest articles you ask this question how old will you be when the american envoy stared state goes down as you often bring up this point of a terror of an eternal state of war you know is that essentially it america's destiny ended in one war and started i actually think not this can only go on so long all things of course must end but in the american case you know we cannot simply continue fight. trillion dollars to three whatever it might be trillion

dollar wars ad infinitum i this country simply can't afford it and washington thinks that we're in a slow long manageable decline i think this country like the soviet union in an earlier period it's in decline now most this is what americans know asked the question is this country in decline sixty five percent of americans the most recent polls say yes we are in a state of decline americans feel this washington doesn't fully feel this yet but that reality is going to shape this war world of ours will it continue to go on for the next couple of decades or what i know it's a time when i don't know i don't think it's a couple of decades no i mean longer no i think it's less i think it's really significantly less i think we are in a steeper decline than we realize we won't be able to afford to eat it too eternally. it will be a necessity to to lessen the american military on the military mission on the planet talking about these issues and to us wars and us military isn't. there are

many authors out there here in the united states talking about it how come this point does just not get across to washington is it different planets i think washington is had many ways remarkably sealed off from most fresh thinking i think one of the startling things and disturbing things about the arrival of the barack obama in foreign policy terms is that is the people he chose to put around him you know obama picked james jones as his national security adviser general marie a retired marine general who is a friend of john mccain's you have made him a lections coming up right out nothing's really going to change after that right it's going to be the same thing over and over again it will be worse it will be worse because the we know before the election happens and without being there are november second without even thinking about it we know that whoever comes in and. the cruelty to it what america will be a country that will be able to do less and congress will be able to do less less is

going to happen for a while i mean less and in the sense of anything new any change anything that would really set us on a different course i think this is not going to be a happy moment. not a very optimistic prediction telling those hard thank you very much for sitting telling us today it's a pleasure. culture is that so much time in which of course he's right on it and so here it is as americans go to the polls it would appear that nothing is interest on the republican party more than hot tea tea partiers of the g.o.p.'s. wealthy british style missing. out 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 tune into cars a report on the admiral no human. passenger liner sailing in the blank sea. august thirty first nineteen eighty six. twenty three twenty. four kilometers off shore. crashes into another vessel. four hundred twenty three people die. russian titanic. more news today violence is once again flared up. and these are the images cobol

has been seeing from the streets of chatter that. china operations are all. download the official altie uplink ation to your i phone or i pod touch from the top story. john t. life on the go. video on demand all teens mind broadcasts and already says feed now in the palm of your. question on all t.v. dot com.

president medvedev touches down on the critical islands could become the first russian leader to visit the far eastern territory the archipelago has been for decades a point of contention between moscow and tokyo. the u.s. and russia join forces for the first time to wipe out drug labs and more than two hundred million dollars worth of heroin in afghanistan the operation came as a result of increased pressure from moscow to block a flood of heroin entering russia. spy scandal is brewing after reports georgia

has detained to twenty members of an alleged russian espionage spring she has refused to either confirm or deny the claim. dilma rousseff voted in as brazil's first female president pledging to continue the outgoing leader's anti-poverty policies she's beat opposition rival jose serra in a second round. let's now take a look at what's happening in the wide world of sports with our very own kate. hello welcome to the sports news point here the headlines marching on alexander could recall scores a senate win three now it's time to catch six points clear at the top of the russian premier league. ball moving up a little gravel like one mill when it falls into rice six places to twelve in the

english premier league. last lowest and highest mccall usually loses the final of the st petersburg open but kim clijsters triumphs into. the restart was football was an instant petersburg have restored a six point lead at the top of the russian prime relayed after a comprehensive stream ill high when i were a lot who are in a real relegation battle the host went in front of the quarter of an hour off to dine collazo vitrified home to see. their second in three minutes before the break leading would be strong launched across the incident there's a cough provided an easy thing and. then six minutes off the restarts dani rushes strike us through again yet it isn't the second of the afternoon to take his tally of the season to twelve so it isn't it again six points clear of the game from a routine. meanwhile there was a dramatic finish in the net net unfinished democrats late in the first tough maka

fashion was sent off for a second card after what looks like a debatable call by the referee but luck i still took those three points distance the citroen stats in the dying minutes at the corner why taking the brunt spot celebrations and on screen time not checked just this in the table. housewives on one one many times one cause of the only goal time in the fifty second is out on the soup this shot a lot of thank you after is that five inches on. i stay in the drop zone along the severe. wall spot enough to conceive it and i only don't only when we got to that we didn't have to spoil him and he climbs up in kenya john salvaging a point for the visitors who stick to six table. i am the last game of the day ten man sasson fame back to a long long effect as to sky who lose ground on the top two so much nets it open for the all in man off to thirty nine minutes before alexey yvon off level to the

one side straight off to the interval but stay with quickly on the back foot as rizla naku chef sol read off the fifty three minutes however sanson held on for the draw on the points. and on saturday fourth place sponsored moscow came from behind to stay in the hunt for a place in europe next season one side find themselves a goal down went on ruth gauche netted off to twenty minutes but spotlight went into the right level aiden mcgeady provided the cross in its top spot verisign on to the finish line one won it was the way it strays into the final minutes and substitute it's in was no less not done with ups and again to make no mistakes on the spot spotlight such a cursory glance reports the m six placed on moscow also remain in the chase for you right the league spot off to coming from behind to lead the wrong time to look better on c.b.s. but one leg gelato gave me this it is a surprisingly often our not been six minutes the pace of taking means cutting

franchitti to the level i was in on days with mostly dentical at the turn why is that to the chinese ones today and send us some good off this entire time it's three one i was tired and was shocked at the force right across from alex on the ball than i am i reading one might see rodriguez scored the eighty six minute winner as liverpool rose six places to twelve after one though when the bolts and the reds. just a point out of the relegation zone but the late victory ensured that and back to back wins for the first time really hodgson well there were two dogs in england kevin nolan scored a hat trick i mean i added a brace this new costa thrashed ten on sunderland five minutes in james's park the black cats have titus bramble sent off after fifty three minutes and grabbed a late consolation for darren bent's aston villa against birmingham and scholes.

tennison compliance has been the w.t. a championships off the bench and wild number one caroline wozniacki in the final into leinster how it's true the i said to take its sixth straight and this cruising through the second when first nancy found a full time to bench me took it seven five to level a much that's the belgian regained her dominance again in the final set to take six six three and if the try fades. and the means on the skin has claimed a surprising victory over former champion you can usually find her at the st petersburg i think because i play i lifted the trophy off to the straight set six three seven six when it comes to the second from kazakhstan to win eighteen from title following and they're going to be a success and come good at it this year it. has moved on to the ice now and that was a stunning result in the kontinental hockey league as work as you grok came from two goals down two in st two on penalties defending champions. and the other big results on sunday night sky awesome pieces bag one four three west and close the

swedish h.t. did on the visitors were two goals up after the first period that were pegged back at you then she took the victory on penances the army yeah got net is the visitors were never in overtime as albion got one two one afternoon east after human xcor twice in the third period to win five three a time to die rhys spots at moscow and never behind and one three one hundred he set us back on the number one for three on penalties asked in a moment. as i say there was a shock three one defeat for not a moon to go to a qualified open for the high c. the end of the first period so straight to the second one on cooking that invented a power play to double and there's a film to watch however this past also converted a power play on the being lined on block and that's not to zip ghoulish media ileum it's still honest to go advantage in a quick counterattack sculls did give

a lot of hope of saving the gang of the strike back to three. this is first they got the big trade and turning. right to g.p. now and world champion who got lorenzo i held off a strong challenge from yamaha teammate valentino rossi two in the portuguese much a g.p. for the third year in a row the runs overtook rossi with eleven laps to go before speeding save for an eight point six second victory on the right and read the physio so kratz not only needs one race of the season but still arends that it was his first victory in two months it's fine it could wrap up the season. in small island for the next sunday. the fb i just award and i've been i was crushed many times i think everyone by you know in the lab a then. i thought is going to win the race but little by little i was simply my love dying he was just dealing in the same base so

i got him. and then. finally to rugby and this weekend russia where thrashed thirty two points to six by argentina's reserve side the loss was their second to that team in as many weeks done to their preparation for next year's when they will come up with will his which of empathy. is less many years ago till the two thousand and eleven rugby world cup gets underway new zealand and then beaten is russia have a lot of work to do no one is expecting miracles but the newest nation to take part in rugby showpiece event needs to improve fast if they're going to be competitive against the likes of australia ireland in italy and says russia's new banks coach henri paul they're a good team there are you know they do the right through the world cup oh no i so want to be involved in a short time but it's hard when the players they know themselves they need the front so they need to work on at a concert to be pretty much everywhere everywhere the checklist needs to be text

and you know we're slowly going to go through the course is what is this decision making here to make about who's going to go to the world cup so you know those are things that you know obviously of diamond nickel i will work on myself i'm going to have to work with the guys on technique and schoolwork to continue their preparations for the event in new zealand russia been playing two test against argentina second string the russians ross we're playing count of over forty points last we can and we're hoping for a much improved performance seven days main town for the majority of the first half they would give a good account of themselves i would have been in front but we would go on keeping an opportunistic try from of this to strum half promised to benny at home. the trail back to school points going into the home trying brain. despite applying some early pressure falling resumption russia would soon find themselves further behind as visitors no problem balls managed to bundle is way over the line from close range on the home side with less of a mountain to climb just minutes away turn despite being down to fourteen men the

certainly didn't individuals and one publish still is was on hand to finish a slick move and put argentina into twenty six lead russia needed to convert a tries just to draw level those to be no way back for the russians who were beginning to tire and argentina's greater fitness would prevail as they would run into late scores to skewer a thirty two point six victory. in the first office part a positive thing there are power from the try against a run a play by those who came in the first ten minutes because he controlled most of all we had most of position we were in small with and those off the it's a negative so that's the thing that has something to work on but i think way we keep the cells in the game we were able kick his ego has been working all or you know a lot you know with my style i'll fly after that one fly off but the last two games we were given a few guys who are on the fringe and all prefer a lot of game time and that's great for the development and improve performance by

the russians no way to plan if they continue then build on the ball count but in reality the team needs to become much beaten stop making elementary mistakes a big and on the chance of even competing on the same level with some the world's top sides in september two thousand and eleven which are bunkered to be counting. and that's all the support for this bill isn't by. hungry for the full story we've got it's. the biggest issues get a human voice ceased to face with the news makers on the party.

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