pm here in moscow you're watching your headlines now sanctions on syria and one sided pressure just one russia's foreign minister condemns the west through ignoring atrocities committed by armed opposition groups so give up it off said the gangs want to create a humanitarian catastrophe and pave the way for foreign intervention in the country . supporters of the former ukrainian prime minister storm of the court building where conviction is being appealed. yulia timoshenko was sentenced to seven years

behind bars for abuse of power while in office. and barack obama hailed the end of the occupation of iraq with american troops finally due to withdrawal by the thirty first of december but many people say that off the nine years all the u.s. forces have left behind is political infighting destroyed infrastructure and security. despite america's withdrawal of its military out of iraq washington is preparing to control the country's oil reserves in any case that's according to iran's india's former ambassador to iraq his discussion with us here at r.t. is right now. president obama has announced the united states will definitively end the war in iraq at the end of this month but as the united states attempts to get the military personnel and contractors out of the country questions still remain about the implications of this decision for security in the region joining me to help discuss

this is the former indian ambassador to iraq and the author of the book the ultimate prize saying kala things so much for joining me first of all i want to ask you about the recent terrorist attacks in iraq obviously there have been quite a few in the past few years and they've claimed hundreds of iraqi citizens lives do you think there is still a role for the united states in iraq when the americans walked in good not to have done anything but to introduce some semblance of democracy otherwise what was going in. and once they went in and they decided to introduce some semblance of democracy it was going to be a shiite led government. and because it was a shia government it has very strong links with its. religious in iran. and therefore the main aim which i should say was sure that

the oil be. the means available would be in jeopardy and i think that is basically the president if you withdraw from iraq completely you leave this why must the oil wealth of iraq in the hands of a shiite led government which very close links with iran and therefore upsets the political balance as far as the middle east is concerned so to that extent. to counter this the americans have now for. withdrawing the troops but at the same time strengthening their position in iraq now the u.s. embassy in iraq is going to be about almost twenty thousand strong it's going to have numerous what they call some offices like training training of troops etc who will be. basically americans who would be basically military men

but working for the u.s. embassy similarly there will be a consulate in there will be a consulate in. good cook there would be a consulate or not and each one of these gauntlets is about a thousand strong it will perhaps be the largest u.s. embassy anywhere in the world i mean normal embassies are usually between thirty to forty maybe if it's a very big embassy perhaps one hundred strong but twenty thousand strong it's means that they're going to be lots of other people who are going to be still in iraq. now the reason why i say this is that they cannot afford to be completely absent from iraq and therefore the. what shall i say while agreeing to withdraw troops as per the agreement they are in a way coming back varying civilian clothes and in fact i don't see any lessening of american influence as far as iraq is concerned. and you sort of just spoke about

these sectarian issues within iraq one and if the united states technically leaves the country how do you think the iraqi government will be able to stop these sectarian divisions into becoming a full fledged civil war it's going to be extremely difficult because if you see the communities of iraq as they existed most of the military in the u.s. invasion iraq was sunni dominated most of the officers were sunni. the shirts were basically foot soldiers they had more basic military training as such and therefore because it was a similar government they were able to keep them in check it was basically by force of arms that people were kept would be called in check and of course the strong arm methods of. the who has been there whether it was or even earlier most of them were

using very tough methods to keep. the population in check now whether the new government that is the shiite led government will be able to equally dick strong on message. control be what they called situation is a bit doubtful because frankly i don't think they have the experience to be able to run a country like iraq and therefore they're going to be for see sectarian violence perhaps may not be of the scale that it is no but may have little more than what is presently going on and you mentioned the united states troops going to crawl way how do you think the arab gulf countries are going to react to that are they going to welcome the americans i don't think so because i don't see i don't see this. actually i think it's just the shuffle of the cards so as to speak because the americans are not going very far they're just going to quit which is next door and you can always come. back because the bases will be kept intact and as i mentioned

with a twenty thousand strong u.s. embassy most of the staff etc will always be there and secondly they have made sure that there is no law the air force in fact that there is hardly perhaps not even less than they don't even have five planes to fly around so they don't control the airspace the airspace over to be controlled by the americans. which means that you can reinforce at will whenever you want however you want and you can also prevent anybody else from coming in perhaps even if the say the iranians were to decide the american air force would be available make sure that they don't cross over so i don't see i don't consider this an american withdrawal i think it's just a reshuffling of the pack and what about iran do you think iran could potentially be ready to fell some sort of void if the united states leaves iraq well that is always a possibility because the iran iraq border is very porous it's very difficult to

police the entire border it's a very long border and. in many areas you find of course the mountains then there's the bed of the plains and there's a river the shuttle which is the boundary between iran and iraq and then most of the tribesmen living on the iranian side are also arabs. and there are two so there is a lot of two inferring going across the border and it is intermarriage and it is also. a lot of. illicit trade which goes on across the border so as far as the iranians wanting to intervene or to create problems in iraq that is always a possibility and don't forget in the past it was the iranians who used to provide arms to the kurds to create problems for saddam hussein and it won't be the first

time and proper probably not the last time either when they would do so obviously you know president obama also has announced that he's going to pull the troops out of afghanistan we're about to enter an election year how much of pulling out troops from iraq and afghanistan do you think is part of for domestic consumption by the americans when obviously he has to meet deadlines which have been set by himself i mean in the u.s. administration of set the deadlines themselves and as i mentioned in the case of iraq it's basically the shuffling of the pack i mean you give it another name you change it around call them what you like but as far as advanced on is concerned perhaps a similar kind of started you may be followed where you may be able to withdraw u.s. may be able to withdraw troops from afghanistan but leave a very strong component behind perhaps in the form of civilian advisors military advisers and training teams except who may not be taking part in combat.

role but they can certainly act as an advisory role to the new afghan army as in many develops but many cases i think that's a little far over let's see because i don't think it's going to be a decision is going to be taken so quickly and the united states has spent so much money in iraq three trillion dollars what do you think the americans can gain from . everything that happened there i've always believed anybody who lived in iraq as i have lived in iraq that. nobody goes there for tourism. it's a complete. a country which is hot it's fifty degrees centigrade most of the time flies that. there's nothing to see except plain does what are you there for you there for your own obviously otherwise why would anybody spend a trillion dollars to go lose about forty five thousand two thousand what for

and the reason is the oil is plenty. and secondly it's very high quality very high grade you don't need to find very much to some for content is very low and just below the surface costs a dollar to take about a dollar and a half to three. and therefore anybody who has access to the. can be. a game changer as far as the politics of oil is concerned and i think that's precisely why the americans are there and how do you think the united states' pulling out of afghanistan is going to affect india well obviously it's in our neighborhood. gonna stand is in the neighborhood of course it makes a difference because naturally the people who are indulging in terrorism will be encouraged that they've been able to force an american withdrawal now it all depends on how this video and takes place doesn't pick place because of

a defeat does it take place because the united states gets. byard of. understand does it take place because of very strong domestic compulsions or does it take place as a result of an agreement it really depends on how the withdrawal takes place my guess is that if it takes place as a result of an agreement perhaps it can be done gradually may not be done completely in the sense of a complete withdrawal one bit may go over a period of time and i think that perhaps is the best case scenario all it'll definitely be interesting to see how president obama polls the troops out of iraq if that happens and what the implications of it are going to be i want to thank you so much for your time thank you. twenty years ago largest country.

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headlines on. sanctions on syria one sided just. russia's foreign minister condemns the west for ignoring atrocities committed by. groups so to give up to offset the gangs want to create a humanitarian catastrophe and pave the way for foreign intervention in the country . supporters of the former ukrainian prime minister storm the court building with conviction is being appealed. it was sentenced to seven years behind bars for abuse of power while in office. barack obama. with american troops withdrawal by the thirty first of december but many people say

that after nine years old the american forces have left behind it's political infighting destroy the infrastructure and the people secure. sports is with us next. hello welcome to the sports and here are the stories that will make ned a. substitute for grabs the winning penalty is chelsea inflict a first defeat of the season on leaders manchester city blow open the english premier league title race. while spectating skipper injured capping the meter lost both will watch his side in belgium as locomotive search for a big win over on the lights in the europa league. on a happy new year and a legend photo you've only on encounter announces his next fight against in the olympic judo champ in december thirty first. the first

a vocal and frank lampard came off the bench and five times the winning penalty of chelsea won two on its hind to ten man league leaders manchester city to defeat the defeat was the first of the season for a better man chinese man blows open the english premier league title race well victory the city would have put five points clear at the top and an obvious thirteen ahead of chelsea and they might have the perfect start of headline hitting strike at mario balotelli opening in ninety four seconds but the blues fought back and half an hour later they leveled through an unmarked nadal is volley city were down to ten men on the hour after that she picked up to quit yellow cards and with eight minutes to go joleon lescott handles daniel started short one called converting the penalty into a chelsea victory to wrong the blues leap frogged also ask them to go third seven points behind city state topped by just two points not nine points separate first in its place later match winner frank lampard who scored started from the bench the second successive games as he was unsure why he's not been in starting lineup.

meanwhile talismanic captain dimitri last golf has defied injury and flown with the rest of the locomotive squad to brussels today on local side and allow. in the europa league on wednesday the thirty seven year old midfielder is nursing a fight injury and will watch the group l much from the sidelines. on the left have already qualified for the knockout phase of the russian side as an onside chance to overtake their opponents and the new group as it is sarah's men are trailing and elect by three points and need to beat them by six goals or to produce an unlikely turnaround. well meanwhile real madrid manager josie marino was in a confident new despite someplace three one el classico defeat at home to boss alona as his life prepares to take on thirty one in spain's capital rae this tuesday night during his team saw their own big start and fifteen game winning run ended the ban about my pet wadia on a site you go top on goal difference the rail have

a game in hand but the portuguese coach is determined to get back to winning ways and has a particular motivation in the spanish cup as the holders a you to retain a title as john just boys my motivation is that i would like they want to or to have my name be said that of my game years one of the most successful managers at the biggest club in history my motivation is to be the best don't we give them years and shows them we knew the two highest achievers in real madrid history fifteen victories champions league record leader of championships with barcelona but if we get a point on saturday we will be a cylinder's and your asking about much of a sion please come on. but in the meantime spain manage assented has been named as the best national coach of the year the war comes from the international federation of football history and statistics the six year old lead the red fury to their maiden world cup glory last year and hopes a high back in spain that will help them retain their european cycle in ukraine and

poland next summer. when i'm going to remember them more than we can complain about their results and their competitive games and we have largely accomplished in the show we have had some setbacks we have faced some very strong rivals but we have managed to cope with the expectations a little time to prepare for the euro two thousand and twelve we have only one more game on the twenty ninth of february because the league and the local competitions are very intense and there is also the champions and we got it on let's see how the players get on and we have a good base the fundamentals are in place and everything will be there when we go on to do your most you know that is the. in the meantime some dos will get their fee for world's top cup campaign underway on wednesday in japan how the brazilian player there they mark has a lovely surprise on both possible and their star striker you know messi the nineteen year old forward is hoping to play against the club he considers to be the best in the world in the title decider after a massive take on the qatari side in the last four meanwhile his side santos are

pitted against local outfit. in the semifinals and the south american champions at a training session in the where ahead of that game. marshall are the best club in the world if i have the opportunity to play them i will be very happy and we'll certainly try to win the game to be compared with messi makes me very proud and i'm very pleased to have this comparison. now here in russia m.m.a. legend shadow you will be hoping to end twenty eleven on a high after he announced his next opponent will be judo experts at all she is she with the fight taking place on new year's eve in japan the thirty five year old broke his three fight losing streak after beating jeff monson on nov twentieth courtesy of a unanimous decision now you want gallacher is preparing for a showdown with the olympic two thousand and eight if you don't gold medalist the twenty four year old japanese fighter is a newcomer to the world of mixed martial arts he holds a record of four wins one loss and one draw in his sixth however he is likely to

face his toughest test yet against the last emperor in japan. while the most anticipated boxing bout is once again the put on hold as heavyweight champions without a hitch go has chosen derek chisora over another briton david haye the kids go overseas chisora fight a shared goal for february the eighteenth and what takes place in munich in germany the forty year old ukrainian will defend his w.b.c. belt against chisora thirteen years his junior last month which coach said he plans to retire after another two fights so a possible showdown with insomnia could become just one stone. rugby now in england fly half jonny wilkinson has announced his international retirement at the age of thirty two bringing to an end an illustrious thirteen year career the high point of his run in the national side came eight years ago this is go one the two thousand and three world cup for england against australia following not triumph came years of injury to more however the flyhalf managed to return to the highest level to

help his country reach another world cup final four years later the thirty two year old will still carry on playing for his club side to them. now seattle kept that kept alive their slim hopes of making the n.f.l. playoffs like convincing thirty thirteen victory against the st louis rams it was seattle's special teams that helped get the seahawks off to the perfect start they managed to block the rams punt attempt and the ball fell kindly to michael robinson who ran it on the post into the end zone of the game was in the balance going into the third quarter however it's a virus jackson connected to doug baldwin who was wide open. just a hundred yards to the rest of the final drive of the game was capped off by seattle's running back marshawn lynch. press again. hundred yards for the first time in his last six games seattle that your season hopes alive. after months of uncertainty the new n.b.a.

season will finally get underway on the twenty fifth of december and the miami heat will be looking to get back on court perhaps more than most and try to make up for the disappointment of losing last year's playoff final miami opens their training camp on monday as they look to win basketball's biggest prize and the team will certainly be raring to go after last year's failure despite boasting a star studded squad including the likes of le bron james dwyane wade and chris bosh the heat failed to win the n.b.a. championship for the first time since two thousand and six they were beaten four two in the final by the dallas mavericks however their head coach says there's plenty this team can build on coming into the new season. there's been so much talk about last year being an absolute epic failure for us now we don't view it that way and that's part of this journey sometimes and sometimes things frankly as much as you don't want to admit it sometimes they just don't go your way it doesn't mean we want committed doesn't mean that that was an article we have another shot at it

this year and that's what we're committed to doing is give ourselves a chance there at the end and to do that we've got to start now the only thing we can control that is now. and when this day but it's a different film and come into this year honestly you know for me personally i'm more live. more being back to myself for one moment i'm excited i mean to have two months off you know my work and being used to being back in in a season two months ago i was excited. now russians like in team got to show have reached an agreement to sign one of the country's best road riders these men show off the saudis three year old is expected to put pen to paper on wednesday but he's already joined the team for training camp in italy to prepare for competition next season and shelve is a double spanish well to champion and the warren side has also won the jeer at italia in two thousand and nine and came third overall at last year's tour de france but you should also signed a three time former world champion oscar for that of spain you know. finally kimmie

reichen and maybe a former f one world champion however it seems the fan hasn't quite got to grips with driving a snowmobile just yet the thirty two year old who recently joined lotus ren i sustained a wrist injury off the crushing his snowmobile proselyte pretty race in austria however the finn who is returning to f one all to two years that competing in the world rally championship is quick to dispel any rumors of picking up a major injury right on twitter that there's nothing to worry about is absolutely fine the main event was won by the eventually just six teams which took the checkered flag ahead of defending champions you can't sack a racing team but as the two thousand and seven f one world champion says the main goal of the event is to have some fun. maybe it's the first time for me here this is a bit fun but it. is very died so i get. the fun of it. and that's all the sport more in just under two hours they show me again

. mission creep going to take three years for charges three arrangements three. three. two three. three blood video for your media projects and free media. tom.