which grinds if you move from funds to. stunts on t.v. don't come. if you feel that you would not accept i mean there were six of you it's a bit as the saying goes it's a long fall from the top and it looks like the american ego may be taking the plunge with only half of americans believing the u.s. is still on top we'll take a look at some of the motives behind this changing mentality. obviously muslims would be a would be someone you'd look at absolutely those are the folks who are the radical muslims are the people that are committing these crimes as we say but by and large as well was younger males throwing the p.c. playbook out the window looks like g.o.p. presidential hopefuls aren't afraid to get their hands dirty if it means winning

their party's nomination so with twelve debates down and countless more to go we'll take a look at the boulder is better republican mentality and the outlandish comments coming from the right. from start to finish just as quickly as a nuclear disarmament treaty was signed russia and the u.s. are back on the defect and neither side seems to be backing down so in this chess match over missiles are we at a stalemate. it is november twenty third four pm in washington d.c. i'm christine frizz out here watching our team. let's begin this afternoon with a closer look at the mood around the country right now and is of course the day before thanksgiving people are traveling to spend time with their families and soon many of these people will be shopping at least that's what retailers are hoping but

something has changed in terms of the way people view the country and its ideals and really the result of a new report released from the pew research center this part of their global attitudes project when asked the question our people are not perfect but our culture is superior to others there is a change in the way people have answered in two thousand and two sixty percent of people agree with that statement in two thousand and seven that number went down to fifty five percent and today just forty nine percent of people agree that's less than half of people so in other words when it comes to the idea of american exceptionalism exceptionalism changing are the correspondent on the going to want to talk to folks about this just regular people to get some of their thoughts on what it all means. sense of exceptionalism traditionally a big boost to american patriotism and pride in the u.s. but these days something is. major survey for the first time in years that feeling is in decline less than half of americans and forty nine percent are holding on to

believing in their country's exceptionalism let's go find out what's going on here are you feeling it steps. are you feeling exceptional today what. do you think american exceptionalism is alive and kicking. you know what that means . is anybody feeling exceptional today. no you're not do you think he was exceptional well. i don't feel so good why don't. we. over all ways for all the countries doing these days terrible are you feeling exceptionally. well i have a job do you think the u.s. is exceptional. why. we get out of trouble. we're not exceptional we were exceptional. exceptionalism stems from strength at

home and abroad a booming economy allowed americans to proudly carry themselves politicians lecture other countries but with an economy turned upside down and foreign respect dwindling. what's causing the women feel about the state of affairs in the blue. collar. jobs what's going on. to many people right to work and i think the general. from the from the big to the small since or the reagan era or the born this country lowered intellectually can find employment it doesn't seem to be any growth quite upsetting it's extended period of time so many people are unemployed and that's a very many there's a lot of laws that should be. plays but what solutions do american see to their country's woes let's see what people say about how do we fix this this is a serious problem we do the jobs but. get it here so we can all work he was like

are you. better better. better better source of living for which we need to support things that are made in the us so so much stuff does it go overseas. you know the intelligent as a people the world many analysts are seeing people spirits are not going to be lifted any time soon americans are preparing for things to get worse before they get better is this a trick or treat. so things are going to get worse before they get better certainly something we've heard before we do think this is important to examine though and to put it in the context of what's happening right now both on our shores and off from occupy wall street to a new revolution in egypt i was joined earlier by author and historian william engdahl i started off by asking him about this notion of exceptional american exceptionalism and that it's on the decline. well i think americans are feeling more and more depressed economically so the are they feeling like they're the

leading nation of the world. the united states is in a situation i've said this in my books comparable to that of the british empire before the first world war the decline has begun years back perhaps twenty five thirty years back but it proceeded very slowly because it was artificially covered over money from asia and other places and now with the financial crisis and the collapse of the home mortgage market americans are finding themselves in middle class americans are finding themselves in a desperate situation america's role in the world is not the pillar of democracy and freedom that it was once seen to be it's regarded as the the brute force that comes in and bombs countries like libya or those things in asia or all around the world that are not exactly the kind of things that people expect from the united

states so i think that since the exceptionalism doesn't seem to be working i think it's also safe to say you know with the internet with this twenty four hour cable news that people living in the united states of america have just more of an understanding of what life is like outside of america i think a lot of people have been looking at what's going on in egypt with the sort of second uprising there's increasing talk of u.s. relationship with countries like iran and syria i want to talk to you about how all that relates to occupy wall street and the movement the sort of revolution that's actually happening on our own shores what is your take of the occupy wall street movement as you've seen it over the last class month i think. the focus of the occupy wall street movement isn't very very important one because for the first time since the financial crisis broke out in two thousand and seven the attention has been put the spotlight is being put on the source of the problem the fact that wall street banks seven or six giant banks banks and balance sheet is

larger than the gross domestic product of most countries of the world these six or seven banks goldman sachs citibank the morgan chase and central bank of america are literally taking over the policy of the united states of america the senate the congress and the white house and that's got to be reversed so i think in that sense no matter who from the white house is trying to create liberty groups within the occupy wall street and police provocateurs have been sent in there to give it a bad name i think the focus is very very important to the protest movement and i support it entirely from that's regard i think it's interesting to just sort of the increased talk about subjects like income inequality you know a corrupt system that favors the wealthy and powerful an order to keep them wealthy and powerful what about you know i think it's important as you say this changing the conversation and changing the dialogue but what comes next what do americans

need to do those who consider themselves you know in the ninety nine percent i guess you could say what do they need to do to bring about actual change. well this is the question we have a presidential election year coming up in two thousand and twelve and up until now it's been clear the lead in who has done the same wall street money goes in whether it's a democrat or republican and it's you know it's like a horse race where the game is fixed before you get out of the game so i think if the population of the country wants and wants to really have change it's got to be grassroots it's not going to happen if it's done by something like the tea party where you have money from the cock foundation and the different groups like this who have a. very specific agenda and they use the frustration of the population and steer it in very definite directions to their special interests so it's got to be a grassroots based thing it's got to have an economic agenda which it doesn't yet

have and one one that addresses the fundamental problems of the out of control federal debt the out of control private household debt of the country and the fact that the economic policy of the last thirty years has let the industrial base of america go into the scrap heap and allowed outsourced by large multinational corporations to asia and elsewhere that has simply destroyed the the productive work based on the traditional american economy that has to be brought back through real infrastructure not not when build projects but real infrastructure building rebuilding the highway system the water system is and dire disrepair the bridges of the country the electric we have these are these are things for the basic infrastructure in the country that that could provide jobs and really get the country back on its feet let's tie in that if you think that you stop. the corruption of the system and the upcoming election i noticed last night we had

another g.o.p. debate there seem to be just about one week here and the united states i want to talk about on your concerns based on some changes that happened over the last. i'm talking about the citizens united. case that basically allows corporations to give in and do so in an undisclosed way and also i mean we just see every single day dozens of super pacs popping up you know on both sides of the aisle how do you think this will shift both the direction of the elections and the power of whoever is in office. well in reality written a book on this called gobs of money and wall street and the american century in reality the united states over the past thirty years with the deregulation of the big banks and wall street banks. by the congress and by the white house tim geithner and larry summers to talk about it and financial officials of the obama

administration actually wrote the legislation in one thousand nine hundred thousand that opened the floodgates for the banks to do this criminal enterprise called asset backed securities ation. they didn't do much with the insurance companies like g.e. . the credit rating agencies so that's got to be rolled back and we have to get back to. basics focus on the real economy. we can leave it at that i know you have a sore throat today i totally understand. winter is coming i guess you could say well you mangle joining us. here. thanks so much appreciate having you. all right so we just spoke about the twenty twelve election and about g.o.p. candidates well they are realizing fast that the world is getting smaller and that understanding the relationship between the u.s.

and for example with china and iran and yes herman cain even uzbekistan that that's important there are new questions about what has been done well regarding national security and foreign policy and also about what should be done in the future but eight candidates squared off just down the street from our studios here in washington last night and i was a correspondent liz wahl takes a look at the policies and the politics of those who hope to be this country's next commander in chief when it comes to foreign policy but they asked me who is the president. i'm going to say you know i don't know you know g.o.p. candidates appear to be stumped now with the president he put us in libya he is now putting innocent africa we already were stretched too thin any put our special operations forces in an average of just well michele bachmann forgot libya is in africa cain is at a loss of words when asked about the situation there president obama

supported euros. for the removal of. department she would probably say yes i. know what the president is going to hire lawyers who will focus on particular things but you want somebody who can challenge those advisors if they say things that are super stupid or destructive foreign policy was front and center during the g.o.p. debate here in washington d.c. aside from ron paul the republican presidential candidates of blood consider going to war with iraq we are fighting a war against radical islam and what radical islam is telling all the radical islamist leaders are saying is that just wait america out syria is a partner with iran in exporting terrorism all across that part of the world and around the globe the meal ticket for the republican party is who can out hawk

the other person who can play in a more grandiose way for the military industrial complex that's the ticket more controversial statements from the g.o.p. on the interrogation of terrorist suspects this is one thing we know about barack obama he is essentially handed over our interrogation of terrorists so the a.c.l.u. to racial profiling obviously muslims would be would be someone you'd look at absolutely does are the folks who are the radical muslims of the people that are committing these crimes as we but by and large as well as younger males bold statements made by candidates determined so be the next commander in chief but with serious implications for the nation and the world if elected they will of course try to steer the country further to the right further in the direction of militarism taking away any possibility of a reduction in the military budget ramping up sort of racism against people of

color in immigrant communities and some say obama's best chances of getting reelected are his g.o.p. rivals while it's a sore point rare for an incumbent to get. reelected when unemployment is above seven percent with some of these extreme statements and embarrassing performances by the republican candidates some say they could be obama's chances of staying in the white house and washington does wall see. all right so there was so much that was that in last night's foreign policy national security debate a lot on the patriot act i'm a great sin and the role of the t.s.a. to name a few but there was also quite a bit now wasn't that a crisis in the eurozone more specific talk on china north korea or iraq was it a little deeper into what it all means with someone who is no stranger to presidential politics and foreign policy from a reagan administration official and columnist robert. dr robert it was very clear last night mostly for the question about the patriot act about more sanctions for

iran about more drones in pakistan a fear mongering seems to be sort of a political strategy and some wise talk about that and your take away from what you saw at the debate last night. well it was a comedy show you know if you knew these people on the ground point he's the only one qualified to be president when the american public doesn't have the sense to elect him. you know those who were elected to be like him you know an idiot and a superpower but i mean it's such an amazing collection of stupidity any of these people would be an absolute cold a danger to just americans but to the entire world what do you mean danger in what way well they all they all want to go to war you know michele bachmann wants to she says pakistan is more their ex's century threat and she doesn't even know what that means. but it sounds here you know like she's an intellectual and all of them

want to attack and we have a man cave saying that. the kurds want to kill us all well they're not having any success story and then. it says will live in fear for the rest of their loss. you know actually he's read about that rule loued fear absolutely very good warmonger police say the night from the terrorists hope somebody who are these terrorists who were really. you talk about you know the different mentions of the idea of going to war i know one of the issues that's really been out there in terms of foreign policy is this issue of iran and there's been an increased talk of the need for a plan to deal with iran especially after the release about i.a.e.a. report that suggested that iran is still developing its nuclear capabilities i know we spoke to you about that last week or the week before about you know many of the candidates say more sanctions are needed but i want to play what former utah governor jon huntsman said and then we'll talk about it ok we had

a discussion early urbanite about sanctions everybody commented on sanctions sanctions are going to work i had to break it to you they're not going to work because the chinese are going to play ball and the russians are going to play ball our interest in the middle east is israel and our interest is to ensure that is rid of that iran is not going to clear all right so iran is deadly not going away as a political issue huntsman and ron paul i think tend to differ a lot more than with what should be done about iran than the other candidates what do you make of what was that was there any good idea that was mentioned last night in terms of how to deal with iran now of course not we would not be mean do the rumors you read. this don't you think it's a lot hopes just like saddam hussein's weapons of mass destruction just like gadhafi is missiles and weapons of mass destruction which they can't find and i think it's all of whom us we'll get to first figure it out or syria or syria is

next on the list and wants to amazing is all of these arab muslim countries they sit there where they're not all of it was after leader you would have thought it long before now due to allies that share a common threat and organize and then. you sit there and wait for nato and americans to come get him syria is next and then syrian will be around i'm sure that will be the question for one of the future debates let's talk there now about china harsh rhetoric from many in the g.o.p. including those on states last night in a nutshell according to them china is a job killer china needs to have more pain inflicted on it on the other hand these ideas about limiting trade to china that some of these candidates want to impose these go against the very views of the majority in this country because it could hurt businesses now i should mention china was not discussed in last night's debate into literally the last two minutes i think but it has been discussed in previous debates and will be again that's roberts what do you make of what is clearly

a case of flip flopping on china at least in terms of rhetoric versus action was just barely the threat of time you know the thresh know everywhere they're all in the middle east the arabs and muslims. the russians the threat is everywhere it's just. it doesn't really have any basis to do anything you know china is america's largest creditor they're our biggest banker and certainly the corporations you can outproduce their production at this shelter americans abroad in china they're not going to do all going to strip china because interest strictures on their own profits and emerging corporations affordable powerful wind. because the government's in their pocket so there's not going to be any tree strips and shouting would mean restrictions and regulations are there i want to play another clip from the debate this was in the report we showed but i got to play it again

this is in regards to the patriot act and the role that the t.s.a. should have. the folks who are most likely to be committing these crimes if you look at i mean obviously it was people obviously muslims would be would be someone you'd look at absolutely does the folks who are the radical muslims are the people that are committing these crimes. all right so this is a debate that's being a theme by people around the world. how does this type of response fare internationally well it shows that the candidates for the presidency or indeed it's . the t.s.a. wastes eighty billion dollars a year they haven't called a single terrorist we do not have any cures for them catch morgan they don't focus on those limbs or people who look like terrorists a focused on everybody the area they harassed eighteen year old grandmothers and

wheelchairs six year old little girls they harass members of congress cia analysts here is people who dared security clearances for going all live big can't tell the difference between. how close to the american citizens and u.s. senator and possible terrorists it is they should simply be abolished it isn't for any useful function except to get americans a curse to them and having all their rights violated us the only thing let's switch gears now onto us russia relations for a moment for us to answer a missile defense system has been a sticking point between the two countries for a long time but just today we heard some very strong words from russian president dmitri medvedev aimed at the u.s. now we've got rather than a second to let me play what the president warns could happen if the u.s. continues to move forward with missile defense plans along russia's border. russia will deploy

a contemporary strike systems in the west and south east in order to prevent damage from the us missile systems would employ to get out of the system and deployment of the is going to the missile system it's only what i meet and will be one essential step if the situation develops in an unthinkable way from russia will reserve the right to cease further steps and here we are just eliminated and don't control. it in the next trickle leap between strategic offensive and defensive weapons reasons could emerge from russian officials from the strategic arms reduction treaty all right so so here we have him saying a russia could pull out of the start treaty fine back in april of two thousand and ten and stop nuclear disarmament if the u.s. continues to deploy its missile defense shield in europe that's wrong with what is going on here well i think two things we're puzzling about the russian pros and stating what does he mean here washington as we hear it's already in place what does it mean years like it's going to happen in the future it's already there and i state already has its missile bases and its radar system surrounding

russia there so to say here was a meeting of the second plane out bird told us was a russian president think we have a legally binding guarantee from the united states would mean a friend what does he mean legally bad and i would be in for it's once the united states and neutralize russian your shirt or russia is finished and that's what the purpose of this missile system ios is to take russia out of contention so that it can't have any effect on the american dry out for world did you meet. certainly the start treaty those seen as one of president obama's big victories it's probably the white house that is working on a reaction right now and we will watch and see what that is in terms of what's next for this plan which so far the white house insists is not at all

a threat to russia i want to thank you for talking with us former reagan administration official and columnist paul craig roberts well the capital account is up next on our team let's check in and see what's on today's agenda we have a really exciting show ok europe i don't know if you've been following it today but there was a bail bond auction of germany so we really want to get to the bottom of what this means is this a big deal are investors worried about germany so the euro zone saga continues we're going to get to the bottom of it also turkey at the thanksgiving of course tomorrow we don't want to overlook that and actually a turkey is something you really don't want to be as an investor especially when it comes to the euro zone right now so we'll explain exactly what that means also someone who predicted the housing bubble got that right among a lot of other things our viewers are going to be very surprised to see what he thinks is going to be the next big alarming trend oh my goodness everybody should

be watching i thought it was interesting lauren in the debate last night there was almost nothing discussed on this crisis in the eurozone certainly an economic issue but also in many regards a foreign policy issue absolutely i mean come on economics you can't really separate from foreign policy and national security it's also intertwined so we'll give you that goes christine of the economic side of things that you didn't your last night. all right lauren thanks so much i know you will be slaving away in the kitchen after the show so i hope i will get one. and we are out of time here but for more on the stories we covered on our to dot com slash usa or check out our youtube page youtube dot com slash r t america you can also follow me on twitter at christine for us out once again capital account with lauren lyster is coming up next.

the issues that so much of a lot of people are curious. to see what's next for the occupy but across the u.s. after police use strong arm tactics to disperse protesters should the movement seek a way to join the. you know sometimes you see a story and it seems so for like you think you understand it and then a glimpse something else and you hear or see some other part of it and realize that everything is ok you don't i'm tom harpur welcome to the big picture. perfect mission free accreditation free zones for judges free. arrangement free. three stooges free.

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