islamic state carries and. i'm glad i'm a putin has published an article outlining his plans to battle corruption to strengthen civil society and to tackle poverty it's part of his campaign to return as president with the election now less than two months. the us projects its influence all around the world but its problem home front that the republican presidential candidates are using to try to woo voters right now american foreign policy scholar john feffer explains now how this actually very little to choose between them. thank you for joining us on r.t. thank you for having me on the show. let's start with the g.o.p. results and i would do you think they indicate an ideological divide among the g.o.p. well i think in general the g.o.p. is has a consensus certainly a consensus on economic matters they don't want government interference in the

market and this is a consensus that even includes ron paul if you look a little closer at some foreign policy issues there's a little bit of a difference with ron paul obviously being the outlier wants to scale back u.s. role in the world the rest of. the way or the other take more harker's position and see in the current obama administration sure there's a general consensus there too so i don't think there's a lot of differences between the republican plan or i mean santorum comes from a completely different school than mitt romney and ron paul. they certainly do they're appealing though to some of the same voters and i think in a general election we of course would see the republican candidate move toward the center in order to get as much of the center and independent votes as possible but right now during the primaries they're pretty much going to be clustered around the same kind of positions and they're running against the obama administration and

there isn't a lot of difference between them we've seen their positions we've heard their positions countries like iran right now way which is the hot spot what role do you think they foreign policy play in their campaign right now to be honest foreign policy doesn't play much of a role in part because the obama administration has taken foreign policy off the table certainly national security issues it's very difficult to run to the right of barack obama foreign policy after what he's done the killing of osama bin laden. the expansion of drone war in pakistan but it's also difficult to run on the left either around him because of course he's ending the war in iraq so he's essentially don't criticize him they still criticize him but it doesn't really get him a lot of leverage or a lot of interest from the media you know the red meat issues for the republicans are going to be the economy and some cultural issues as well foreign policy you

know i mean as herman cain said i don't know where back to back a back a stand is i mean that unfortunately is a popular position in the electorate here in the united states a kind of will for all willful ignorance of what's going on in the world and yet that might harm their position on local issues i mean when they're talking more when they're talking iran they seem to be connecting the foreign policy with the here at home well that they sometimes do and you know they're always trying to make a point connected to the economy whether it has to do with say reducing military spending or increasing military spending ultimately it's got to come back to what we call pocketbook issues i mean what americans have in the last couple of elections voted on that is jobs you know the point of an issue you know whether they have houses you know the foreclosure more dangerous. general kind of milling

about the u.s. economy in general judy trade balance and so forth those are going to be the key issues at the end of the day for the republicans and me of course we have to appear presidential they have to talk about foreign policy but they know alternately that that's mostly for show i mean when they really want to appeal to voters they really have to grab the bottle once and they kind of me it's not going to get any better well that's hard to say i mean even economists have difficulty predicting what's happening with the economy. slight improvement with the unemployment rate i think for the president the most important thing is perception if americans feel that the economy is getting better they tend to overlook the numbers. but they don't want it to look better now as long as obama still president. the republicans yeah oh absolutely. the breaux publicans have been doom and gloom i mean this has been

their bread and butter during the campaign if they can make it seem as though the world is getting increasingly worse they themselves will be superman who comes in to save the situation relations with countries. countries like north korea countries like china russia seem to be managed differently under. different presidents how do you think that's going to change now. for the remainder of their i mean yes a year well president obama made a big point at the apec meeting and why to say you know we're we're making the pacific pivot you know we're moving away from the middle east and we're going to focus more on asia. in some sense be wishful thinking because of course united states has a certain limited range in terms of foreign policy opportunities it basically is still in afghanistan still has to deal with iran and pakistan still do dealing with the aftermath of iraq still dealing with the arab spring in the aftermath there

it's very difficult for the united states to to make a pivot like this so it's more of an aspirational pivot it's what the obama administration would like to do and so it's made a couple of gestures by putting some more marines in australia by saying that we're going to kind of focus more on china but whether we'll actually see some concrete changes it's going to be very difficult. you know what the obama administration has already done a modest opening to burma a very very modest opening to north korea to press. doesn't have a lot of political capital it doesn't want to waste it initiatives it might appear from republican critics to be appeasement so appeasing china appeasing north korea peace in burma he doesn't want to get into a situation in which if there is eventually now especially in the lead up to the elections where either congress or the republican candidates can say we told you we

told you this guy likes to sit down with dictators we would have none of that if we were president does that mean that the u.s. is changing its strategy in that region in the mid i mean in the middle east and in strategy in general not just in middle east you know i think the obama administration is have a. pretty clear trajectory for the last three years it's tried to extricate the united states from the worst kind of legacies of the previous administration primarily in iraq but also looking ahead in afghanistan but at the same time dealing with what has been considered a key issue and that is counterterrorism and the perception that democrats are weak on national defense issues and so the president has been very careful to say hey you know we will go to war if necessary and we will use force when necessary so i think this balance will continue for the remainder of his term all of the presidential candidates. make israel the centerpiece of their foreign

policy discussions do you think it's because it's really the most important foreign security issue for them or are. elections well it's primarily elections i mean if you look at the obama administration's position toward israel. even israel will say it's been the best relations in a long time. the obama administration opposed palestinian initiatives in the us going after statehood continued military support of israel doff basically when netanyahu refused to do anything on the settlements issue again there's been some aspirational language what the united states would like to happen in solving the arab israeli disputes but generally speaking there has been no transformation of the united states remains for hours of research all the republican candidates are thinking well there are two constituencies who want to reach out to one of our

evangelicals evangelicals who have very strongly said that we stand with israel and the others jewish voters who if they can peel them away from obama would be a great coup in the two thousand and twelve election could you elaborate a little bit more about that specially with the g.o.p. presidential candidates right now and it was specially after what you said that obama has done everything to what seems to be appeasing israel yet the candidates the g.o.p. candidates are saying that he has not done enough that's right i mean it makes for good headlines i mean strangely it might seem because of course it seems like the republican candidates are trying to outdo themselves in saying that they're friends of israel even to the point of almost outsourcing foreign policy decisions to netanyahu with the debate between romney and gingrich who would you know call netanyahu to get approval prior to any kind of u.s. policy which in some sense is unheard of in u.s. foreign policy circles again i think this is primarily because of who they were looking toward in iowa and the constituency in iowa there was

a perception that maybe whoever kind of grabs hold of the evangelical vote will be able to determine you know the course of iowa and to a certain extent. that was smart politics whether this will translate into a real election year issue when the republican candidate is chosen i doubt it i don't know i can't really see mitt romney using the israel issue to much advantage come the fall but certainly in the republican primaries it's useful politics and now with the arab revolutions do you think that has anything to do or affect in any way that presidential candidates campaigns i would like it to you of course this is a major event on the world stage unfortunately the united states is rather poor especially with our elections and sometimes even the greatest transformations have very little effect on politics here in this country of course there were some statements by michele bachmann of course to try to suggest that the president had

made a mistake by aligning himself with arab spring protesters because that would assure in islamists and this of course was the greatest fear for michele bachmann and several other republican candidates beyond that no effectively you know obama from a from a strategic point of view could leave moral questions of assad but from a strategic point of view do quite a good job he didn't dive in he waited and then divorced himself from problematic u.s. alliances with mubarak for instance in egypt. said he would lead from behind in libya which seemed to be. a smart strategy as well so he's essentially protected his flank against a republican is this issue it's going to be hard for the time in the michele bachmann has to go kind of out on the limb you know and with a rather farfetched argument in order to try to attack the president on his positions on the arab spring so like it or not i think the president has taken arab

spring off the table as well as an election year thing so i mean with the fact that they have gone into war and we. and that was criticized criticized by john mccain it was and they are saying mitt romney that's right now mind you if the situation in libya deteriorates if the situation in egypt deteriorates if we have full scale civil war in syria that's another matter but the situations as they stand now with elections in egypt with the situation relatively stable in. libya and the situation of course is not good in syria but the level of violence hasn't escalated to an all out civil war. status quo if that remains i don't think some of the election year issue thank you very much for joining us on our team.

when an uncomfortable question leads to a grave accusation the world series more as you know foggy with. the president who isn't supposed to hide anything. or it's someone asking him why do you make a secret of it when the powers to be suppress the voice of those who think different. when you get experiencing very serious problems off of the saakashvili government came to power in two thousand and three but in the book that was when the problems began piling up. well the interviews were now off limits to our journalists they were all from peace not been humiliated in public and one of the attempt to protect property puts life in real danger is that we have been deprived of the only means of living i have gone to the regionals with all the papers. then

legalized the ownership rights on the basis of companies freedom becomes just a stage prop. full story tonight the arab league at loggerheads while qatar calls for intervention in syria. could lead to why don't rest meanwhile damascus has announced general amnesty for political prisoners in accordance with the peace plan . the u.k. ups the ante against iran and pushing for a tough new orleans. to rand's promise to come to. london says it will take military action in persian gulf if the islamic state carried out . a bloody bill clinton published an article outlining his plans to battle corruption to strengthen civic society and. it's part of his campaign to return as

president of the election now less than two months away. this is our team now it's catch up with kate and all the sport. hello welcome to the sports and here is what's coming up ins and outs raffaello dollar overcomes injury to go through with roger federer but for now and i would ask our antique ally that we don't go back out on day one as this trail you know open. while top form defending champion came prized and top ranked caroline wozniacki win their openness in the women's draw in melbourne. and pakistan as the giants upset champions green bay while baltimore be tasted as the battle to decide the super bowl finalist steps up. but first to tennis where world number two rafael nadal has overcome

a knee injury to spearhead the seeds charge into the second round of the australian open the spaniard sealed the deal with his ninth place against american qualifier alex has not solved six balls six one six one was the final score germany's tommy haas is up next. roger federer was also an easy winner against russian qualifier alexander good lots of seven five six two six two is the way this one finished. it was a nightmare start when they collide i think of the russian for what was number three crashed out in five sets recently flavio to paula and later admitted his new racquet was giving him a lot of problems however local favorite bernard time it is true to round two off that he fought back to beat twenty second seed fernando verdasco in a five that thriller the nineteen year old came from two sets down and said his mental strength is the key to his victory. here on this it's very hard in the position to sit still love him having three said points in seconds. you know it was

someone else i think you know that would try to tell but. i don't i found the energy today that i knew would have been knew i had so many chances to mean first and second i mean as one of the reasons that made me push through in the absence of some confidence. well meanwhile martin del potro is also through the argentinean dropped the first set against his little line friendship and at the end i don't really know whether the u.s. open champion recovered to record victory in just under three hours sealing it with a fine exchange the nets. found on the women's side how long does the ascii lived up to her world number one status as the top ranked dane swept aside local home for one of the theologian ever to get a quest for a mate his grandson title off to a quick start. reigning champion kim clijsters was taken the distance in the first set dropped just one game in the second half of the belgian sort of portuguese qualifier. seventy five six one.

third secretory hardly broke sweaty her comprehensive six one six love defeat of great britain's heather watson the twenty two year old by the russian had too much power from the baseline for her opponent he's ranked at side the world's top one hundred very easy who said the hardest thing is trying to get up in the morning. interim didn't get my coffee in the morning. i was really. so far are definitely getting it was so early and i wanted to come play. a little bit longer and sent a quote that was everything was closed. so i can try and talk with my eyes without it. meanwhile last year's beaten finalist and french open champion lean out of china this scene did fit and came out an easy six three six one winner against.

who used to represent russia but is now playing to kazakstan. russian qualifying you know russia give a shot to nineteenth seed flavia pennetta in three sets that's going to matter it. is hours after going down in three sets for implementing the from. it's. over now and also as hopes of closing in on the premier league top four were dented on sunday night after they lost three two in a stroller at swans a sunday i shall then set up robin van persie to open for the gunners after five minutes by the home side to sing level through scott sinclair's penalty and nathan di of the welsh side ahead early in the second half see a walcott maybe two to one sixty nine minutes but this one's immediately went up the other end and scored the winner through danny graham for me while early at leon best netted the winner as newcastle went to six with a want to win a time to q.p.r. while also stay focused and manager asvab get blamed their defeat on terrorism attack and missed opportunities. over

a difference of performance was not good enough. that's why we lost a game where when you came back to our food we had a good chance to win the game because we looked like. we could be dangerous the keeper killed them as well after. in the game and. made some great thinkers where we missed some unbelievable challenges. well meanwhile fourth place chelsea have announced they've completed the signing of england's central defender gary cahill from bolton the twenty six year old has reportedly set the blues back just over ten million dollars manager under a large bonus first when deciding underwent a medical on saturday and then watched his new side win one nil at home to sunderland turned into milan have tabled a twenty five million euro bid for cost tigers but it's unlikely to meet manchester city's valuation for the argentina striker into his rivals ac milan withdrew from talks to sign the twenty seven year old on thursday of that example apartheid refused to join. milan had already agreed personal terms with the players but were

forced to pull out of negotiations while p.s.g. themselves have also expressed an interesting is not played for situations that we burning in the on september twenty first when we lost if you will be looking to reclaim their three point lead at the top of the premier league table this monday night for both of mancini's men go to wigan who are rock bottom and two points from safety. now on to american football where eli manning was the star as the new york giants stunned reigning super bowl champions the green bay packers thirty seven twenty at lambeau field to win the n.f.c. divisional playoffs while a major upset didn't look on the cards with the game even the poorest going into the half time break pots on the last play before the intimation manning picked that hacking mix with a thirty seven yard pass with new york and twenty ten lead mobile home side struggles to get back into the game and guilty of giving away too many turnovers and the front effectively sealed their place in the n.f.c. championship game when running through

a four yard touchdown pass to marion manning and to give the visitors a thirteen thirteen lead in the fourth the final score again thirty seven twenty one next by san francisco the price this is people. told me mom baltimore ravens beat the houston texans twenty thirteen to reach the a.f.c. championship game for the second time in four seasons despite playing golf or even to high. into an early field goal ravens were soon in front of joe flacco scoring a one yards touchdown pass to chris wilson with the home side seven three ahead and the quarterback again connected to it unfold and gets the ravens and seventeen three advantage at the end of the first quarter. about five minutes before half time a one yards touchdown run by arian foster trim the deficit to seventeen thirteen however all to most defense remained resolutes and despite houston's best efforts they were able to force iverson so it's the ravens anomic tom brady's new england

patriots. went to sports now and after a seven year gold medal drought russia have a new freestyle skiing hopeful teenager pulling off a surprise ariel's when at the season ending world cup events in canada all the new formats will see the top force of the attack in the super final and the russian nineteen year old jumper while the judge is the most out point highly favored and mediation. we are playing a role in this to give your pal their first ever world cup aerials medal russians previous freestyle top gone back in two thousand and five and now touch up people in the moguls event. and finally to ice hockey which has got moscow be raining. have three one on home ice to clinch their third win in a row and boost their claims for a playoff spot in the western conference roberts onion reports. cisco used to be one of the most degraded sites in soviet hockey but while it has changed over the

last twenty years now the club is struggling to return to the summits over the kids and facing the leaks reigning champ and so lucky life wasn't porton dest only way and the only man lasted in up to what twenty eleven they won at the foresight and then on sunday they met again in moscow where the hosts broke a showed their intentions to beat that success and the condition of moves around the visitors do coleman is with me as the boss research shows seven minutes in one eye the home side kept up their pressure grading more goals going chances and they were soon rewarded domo sure always finding net from the blue line to extend their men's lead to nil i remember the second period so solid fired back with one of the league's most skilful players and then never gives up alexander

a living the visitors assault however they only managed to break the deadlock after the second intermission. i just over a minute into the third week in a move gave solid a glimmer of hope to one i. kept breaking through the amens defense with this individual efforts but it wasn't enough to theorize and once his town's failed the hosts scored again solely because the ball i bring to the fire lines the ring and wrapped up the scoring i knew on the knees and time again i mean you can see there we didn't think much of my points. we tried to focus on our game and this approach were we played greats defensively we managed to switch from the fans too often. quickly and effectively they're a very strong team so we had to do with some tough pressure in this game i'm

delighted the way we played tonight that we should keep it up well she worked as a team we helped each other on the ice and we we try to fight hard and battle hardened final both that sound you get to get to victory today and there is very satisfied with this guy have the perfect record of two victories out of two games against her in the garden cup holders so let's wait for the other man looking to get even stronger from it well known marty skill. by. culture is that so much as i can which of course his wife monica and so here is a recasting america's global military strategy or just more of the same braga mommas new vision for the pentagon is aimed at saving.

wealthy british style sun it's time to.

market. 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 in to conjure reports . on our team tonight the arab league a longer head swelled cutoff calls for intervention in syria. could lead to the rest that says damascus announces an amnesty for political prisoners in accordance with the pace of. london ups the ante against iran pushing for a tough new oil embargo which the rams promised to counter by blocking a vital trusted route to the u.k. says it will take military action in the persian gulf if the islamic state follows through with its threat story from london in just a few moments. i'm going to approach him reveals his plans to battle.