in the early twenty first century military bases the network of military bases all around the world forms the belief empire that the united states is trying to build it's astonishing most americans have no idea there are more than a quarter of a million or more than two hundred fifty thousand u.s. troops stationed on these bases all around. we don't have power bases in america we don't have any british base we don't have any korean base we don't have any french bases or you know we just all american bases in bases of. the noises around north of those bother us at all because they're all bases but for other people it's almost like a cancer here for these people. since the end of world war two the spaces i've been . working here to provide safe and secure environment for everybody.

the questions they have thing else get everything you needed. looking back at the week's top stories here on r t dozens killed in libya's capital as nato embarks on its most intense bombing raids yet while there is heavy fighting as rebels renew attacks in the oil port city of zawiyah in syria tension is rising as the government continues a severe crackdown on the opposition security forces have now retaken the northern city of jews or else who are reportedly following heavy fighting. in greece anger at the introduction of a new wave of austerity measures spilled onto the streets the new cuts are to secure a second stage of the e.u. bailout but problems remain as germany and the central bank of europe argue over

how to get private investors on board. a u.s. navy ship in the black sea sparks outrage from moscow and claims it's a prelude to the planned nato missile defense shield for europe the u.s.s. monterey docked in odessa ahead of joint military exercises in the area. up next our interview with nato secretary general anders fogh rasmussen in an interview he gave this week to artie's a nice and now way he defended the alliance actions in libya and insisted the organization has no plans to act in syria stay with us. thank you very much for joining us here on r t it's much appreciated i want to get straight to our first question the u.k. and france want a u.n. security council resolution condemning the syrian government and your opinion are we having for libya two point zero here no i would like to stress that nato has no

intention whatsoever to intervene in syria at the same time lots of critics expect that that could be the case if we see a resolution russell saying that the fact that it's even being debated is going to cause more violence in syria. there might be some kind of intervention do you think not if the u.n. goes had it goes ahead rather and approves that resolution once again let me stress we have no intention to intervene in syria having said that. the international condemnation of the brutal attacks against the civilian population syria the only way forward is to accommodate the legitimate aspirations of the syrian people let's look at the lack of an entry strategy into libya it could be said that you were dragged into this rushing to regime change have you accidently gone to war in libya definitely not on the contrary we considered this

very carefully we laid out certain conditions that should be fulfilled before we took action and the decisive factor was that the united nations are just wrong correct me if i'm wrong but obviously the u.n. resolution was laid out for a no fly zone and lots of people would consider what's happening in libya to be much more than a no fly zone actually the u.n. security council resolution goes beyond a no fly zone cording to the u.n. security council resolution we are mandated to. protect the civilian population in libya taking all necessary measures and that's exactly what we're doing right. now all the necessary measures if i might speak of what admiral pollo has legitimize strikes on any command center in libya i just want to clarify for some of our viewers who have seen homes bombed they've seen civilian buildings blown to pieces does that three in a car on a phone or in a hospital on a phone constitute

a command center for your purposes when you say any means. i would like to stress that we are not targeting individuals we hate. military. targets. and of course the control centers can be used to plan and organize attacks against civilians show amount of control. military targets that's what i'd like to read a question to you that was written to us by one of our viewers on facebook. who's from paris france wants to know why nato is bombing metropolitan areas in libya and civilians are being killed what do you say to. we do all we can to avoid civilian casualties we are in libya to protect civilians against attacks and this is the reason why our commandos are very very careful in

identifying legitimate military targets but the g eight has to mediate in libya they sent an envoy and as mikhail margelov arrived intensified bombing of libya began why is that. there's no link between the two events we appreciate all attempts to find a political solution to the crisis in libya because obviously there is no military solution only we need a political process having said that i still think that a strong military pressure on the ground after the regime will facilitate a fruitful political process mr mcc.l.o.y. yesterday in fact stated and you just mentioning that that the military conflict doesn't have to be there means that it could be resolved peacefully he's stating that he believes that both the rebels and the regime forces are ready to negotiate

that they both think that war is not the way out of this conflict so why are you still bombing libya with this information coming from the russian envoy that both sides are are ready to talk. we are continuing our operation because we still see gadhafi regime attacking each own population and it's absolutely outrageous and. has mandated an operation to protect civilians and we will continue our operation as long as the regime still attacks on people you met with the russian defense minister sort of call of yesterday and he believes that troops on the ground in libya are now a possibility do you think there will be troops under your command in the future. we have no intention to put troops on the ground in libya what if gadhafi doesn't back down well i do believe that the combination of a strong military pressure and

a reinforced political pressure will eventually lead to the collapse of the regime it may happen tomorrow it may take some weeks but we would stay committed on until we have fulfilled three very clear military objectives firstly a complete end to all attacks against civilians secondly withdrawal of gadhafi military forces and paramilitary forces to their barracks and certainly immediate and unhindered humanitarian access to people in need so we will continue our until these objectives are met talk of post-war libya seems premature doesn't it given william hague and him seeing stating that nato as he sees it will be there until after christmas this of course are all despite a ninety day deadline when do you think you'll leave the libyan people at peace. well i'm not going to guess about any time frame what i can

say is that we are prepared to stay committed as long as it takes to fully implement the u.n. mandate and that is to protect the civilian population against any attack what about the civilians that are being attacked in syria indiaman in bahrain. yeah of course that's a legitimate question the difference is that in libya we are operating on the basis of a un mandate and was strong support from contras in the region actually a number of countries in the region contribute actively to our operations for these reasons we are in libya. what do you say to critics who aren't convinced that nato is and goal is to protect civilians and that in fact is a regime change. we have been very open about our military

objectives. to compete in two attacks against civilians withdrawal of gadhafi forces and humanitarian access these are all military objectives and we will continue until they are met. in parallel there is a political track defined by the international community. recently the g eight group including the russian president called on at afi to leave power. and. these two tracks are separate a military price and a political track but having said that i think it's hard to imagine a complete end to attacks against civilians in libya as long as gadhafi remains in power i'd like to move on to missile defense in europe if i may defense minister surgical also said yesterday that he has been largely ignored by you in your plans for a.m.d. over europe of course you wouldn't accept that but the facts they certainly at this

stage speak for themselves don't they. no russia is definitely not ignored on the contrary we have invited russia to cooperate on missile defense the fact is that nato has decided to develop a nato based missile defense system because we want to protect our populations against mr low tax from whom but we would all like will cooperate with our secretary standing or we are faced with file tax from who from russia. we are faced with a common threat and this is the reason why we would like to see two independent missile defense systems a russian system and a nato system cooperate for instance by exchanging data the whole system would become much more effective that way to the benefit of the russian population and population nato countries you do understand that it sounds a little bit of

a contradiction there you talk about joint trust about a mutual threat and then about separate systems why want one system between nato and russia be acceptable to protect both sides from any kind of threat. because i don't think at the end of the day. the russian government and the russian people would accept to be subject to a common commitment. i think. the russian nation as such would insist on having control of its own missile defense system and this is the reason why the most realistic approach would be to have two independent systems but with a common purpose but the common purpose is protect our populations now mr rasmussen has been proposing a joint european defense system. and i think the best way to join efforts would be to relate to independent systems cooperate with

the aim to protect the russian people as well as people who are nato countries russia constantly claims that nato can't guarantee. that its interests will be protected why can't nato it's not these guarantees. the best guarantee whatsoever would be to engage in close cooperation because close cooperation between russia and nato would clearly demonstrate that our missile defense is really a defense and it's not aimed at russia. let's face it. we do not consider russia as threat to nato and nato does not constitute a threat to russia so let's join efforts let us cooperate but russia sees it our as they can't go forward on promises why put you down to the russia on paper that a missile defense system would not be directed towards them. either but it's very

easy to guarantee it because we do not we don't have any intention to attack russia not whatsoever but the best guarantee russia could get would be to engage in a close cooperation meant for instance to establish a common a joint center where we could exchange data that would clearly demonstrate that this system is not aimed at russia. mr rasmussen the sox might demonstrate otherwise thank you very much for taking the time out to be live with us from brussels it's very much appreciated help to see you.

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stopped stories on our t.v. dozens killed in the libyan capital as nato won barsaat its most intense bombing raids yet while there's been heavy fighting as rebels renew our oil port city of zawiyah in syria tension is rising as the government continues a severe crackdown on the opposition security forces have. retaken the northern town of jews are all sure reportedly after heavy fighting. in greece anger at the introduction of a new wave of austerity measures spilled onto the streets of the new cuts or to secure a second round of bell outs but problems remain as germany and the european central bank over how to get private investors aboard. the u.s. navy vessel in the black sea sparks outrage from moscow and claims it's a prelude to a planned nato missile defense shield for europe the u.s.

says monterrey docked in odessa at a joint military exercises in the area case up next with all the latest sports news stay with us here on r.t. . hello welcome to the sports series and here are the top stories. winning in the way he started the fire is the rain to try for the british grand prix top of the overall budget g.p. standings. while yet more rain bad weather ensures the final at queen's club and joe will be tsongas held by that until monday. he who waits robert rock wins the italian i think to take his maiden title after eight barren years on the european tour. but first there's been a change at the top of the motor g.p. standings casey stoner usurping world champion who again the runs are thanks to

a superb win at the rain affected british grand prix started last at the poor in rain at silverstone to a flag to victory his fourth and six races so far this season has truly unfinished a massive fifteen seconds ahead of his repsol from the teammate and they're the physios so american pilot had words came in third with a tree in stone at leapfrogs former lead and the renzo in the overall standings delayed by eighteen points the spaniards didn't finish after crashing out at high speed and speeds and the same in chile also. once we got a bit of a lead for a lot more relaxed just trying to make sure we didn't crash in those conditions because it was so easy water in different parts parts of the track and i were getting quite a lot deeper during the race but a little bit better but i mean it was it was torture sort of you know ten laps seven minutes i was counting down and they just took too long you know my hands are freezing i couldn't break probably i couldn't understand what great pressure i had

and i was see it was a very very difficult conditions. i mean one it might have been an ill fated limb or race the team audi in france but the german manufacturer still one is listening . number two cops tailed off a challenge from persian it was title number ten for our day at the famous insurance race but their champion from last year what rock and philip was involved in a bad accident at night the german hit a barrier heavily and the wrecked car caught fire but the driver got away with minor cuts in what was a second escape friday after the twice formal winner allan nish also emerged in one piece after a spectacular early crash on saturday moving to two wheels now and in cycling a spokesman has confirmed alberto contador will take a stab at claiming his fourth tour de france title next month but it's britain's bradley wiggins who is the in-form rider in the mountains after winning the criterium didoes in a this race also in france is considered the key warm up event ahead of the top producer ride out the rodriguez was fastest in this final right over almost one

hundred twenty kilometers a spaniard broke away with a loss along with her came his second stage victory in a row but it didn't stop worrying triumphing over all the thirty one year old grabbed the lead after stage three on choose day and never looked back to win by one minute and twenty six seconds from australia's good elegance. and elsewhere former champion fabien country lara has conceded the yellow jersey is home and the two switzerland kwan solo of colombia is the new man in the lead after winning stage two of the mountainous race between them young and canadian a second across the finishing line twelve seconds behind and trail so that by sixteen seconds in the overall standings the country for the almost eighteen minutes behind quite a blow for the swiss who won the time trial prologue on saturday. now it's been a long way in this goal for roic rock has held on to his maiden title on the european tour after winning the italian i've been in cheer in iraq enjoyed

a two stroke lead going into the final round this was cut to just one shot on sunday after what held off a charge a day tour going also in the uk carded a five under par sixty said. and finished top of the leaderboard at twenty one under and is just enough to give him his first ever trophy on the tour with thirty four year old had gone when less in over two hundred twenty minutes over eight barren years. ago it was. a long. while in the meantime andy murray and joe wilfried tsonga have had to make do with a game of table tennis instead of a lawn tennis after their rain hit finally queen's club was called off until monday the decider was washed out for only the third time in the tournament history as we've done this living place was finally abandoned it means murray will have to

wait for a day in his bid to reclaim the queen's cup title the fourth ranked scot won here two years ago what's on their aims for a first title in twenty months the event now goes into a second monday for the first time since boris becker jimmy connors in one thousand nine hundred eighty seven. but elsewhere danish women's world number one caroline wozniacki delighted the home crowd megan a twenty year old. from the czech republic to retain his danish open crown it was a comfortable wins of as nancy picked up her fist title of the season. now to modern pentathlon where czech david spear bother won the inaugural kremen cup as the world's top pentathlete descended on moscow over the weekend as one cost were reports. russian men have plenty to boast about when it comes to olympic pentathlon events starting with the sydney two thousand games the country is yet to relinquish the summits of the podium and they will be hoping for gold number three

of the upcoming games in london but the next generation is already breathing down his neck at eighteen years of age sugar of his already making waves for the national team the youngster who made his senior debut at this first ever crammed in cup one the fencing event and followed up with a great performance both in the pool and in the show jumping arena and that elevated him to fourth overall before the combined running and shooting events where he encountered some difficulty with a newly introduced laser gun finishing in nine of us i like it here with the c.d.'s and loved everything today except for the shooting i just can't get it right but i won the fencing tournament today and that's great since i'm going to take champion and they might say finished in eighth place that poor result could be attributed to a recent rule change that so air pistols are replaced with laser guns plus running and shooting events have been combined into one making it look more like a summer biathlon adjusting could take some time for the champ but the twentieth

century world championship runner up alexandre list soon looks set to dominate in the near future the russian taking second place and the silver in the kremlin cup. despite the second place i'm very happy with my performance because david svoboda is the real star of the combined event i have to beat that we weren't prepared as well as the other effluents because our main computer the european championship is two ahead. so let's recap check david swoboda the winner of the first ever crime in cup rushes alexander listen in second with third and fourth place is going the way of the hungaroring athletes the london olympics are just a year away and that means nations wanting to qualify will have to work hard right now some will be able to get the coveted licenses for that's what it's all games at the upcoming european championships room on cost for a r.c. moscow and finally there are just under a thousand days to go before the twenty fourteen winter paralympics in sochi so not

as an ambassador for the games and has used the countdown to inspire others with her own incredible life story robert that onion reports. the. beijing two thousand and eight the paralympic games will russia's eligible begin a straw gold and silver new world record in the women's one hundred meter breaststroke what was even more marketable is that the twenty three year old did sue just five months after she'd lost her left arm in a car accident while she was in whole day in thailand and prior to that had contemplated quitting the sport her victory was a triumph of mental strength and she's always ready to share her thoughts with those who desperately need it the swimmers know in embezzler for the sort of twenty fourteen olympics and with one thousand days to go to the games physically disabled people in one of most was rehabilitation centers had the chance to see and hear

firsthand what it takes to accept the challenge of overcoming injuries and winning . the sport is what brought me back to life and made it worth living i managed to return to swimming and win the paralympics that's what inspired me and gave me strength i discovered any world new people and new goals to achieve. having got to know alicia. and the engines of whole band which consists of hearing impaired youngsters even those who once might have lost hope might get it back. i believe it's my duty to share my experience and views with anyone who is interested no matter if they have disabilities or not for some of them it could be really encouraging i know it works as if seen it with my own eyes many times. it's very nice if i may say she's a great example for all of us some people would have given up but once they saw her and knew her story they didn't she helps us change our life so well done elisa.

despite her achievements many would still call people like alyssa ludwig in a disabled but in many respects they proved to be more able than all of us robert more than your own party. and that's all the sports news for this bulletin by fire. culture is that so much now is about the feeling that i was in the form of a real soul or a shield so was he a great man who made history or was he merely a product of his current opinions differ widely don't know when didn't. i.

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