watching r.t. with me kevin i win tonight our top stories for you get the final shortlist of presidential candidates put fear into mubarak's era with his prime minister now back in the race. border leaders pandered to a flourishing right wing factions for the french president even threatening to quit the show and free travel. protest mood sweeping through russia and relations with the u.s. president. his legacy and his final media q. and a before leaving the kremlin. massive blast has thrown a rebel bomb making lab in syria as the successor to the infamous blackwater mercenary company seemingly takes the opposition under its wing. morning news

stories on r.t. dot com our website next contradictory statements from the israeli leadership about the iranian nuclear issue have made clear just how tension on the subject soared lately next year on r.t. we discussed that very situation with retired u.s. colonel douglas macgregor. we're sitting down with douglas macgregor a retired army colonel who fought in the gulf war and was referred to by some officials as the best fighter the u.s. army has got mr macgregor thank you very much for joining good to be here president obama's put forward an ultimatum for iran either make progress with negotiators or face consequences consequences meaning war some say a strike may happen within the next few months in your opinion how realistic is that should we expect the war in summer topical question right now in washington

d.c. i think the answer right at the moment is no president obama is not remotely interested in waging war against iran so let's be clear about that no one at the top of the united states military establishment is interested in waging war against iran and the intelligence community has made it abundantly clear that iran is nowhere near the development of a nuclear warhead or the capacity to deliver one so we had those things up it's very very obvious that it least in the places that count the white house the department of defense there is no interest in waging a war on iran and let me say something that's so great there is a great push from israeli influence groups not president obama to just back a potential strike and as you said they had ministration says the iranians haven't even decided to build a bomb so all this war talk is based on what it's based really on i think the american israeli public affairs committee and it's

a subordinate elements or affiliated elements they represent enormous quantities of money that over many years have cultivated enormous influence and power in congress and you simply are talking is just to appease the lobbyists well i think you've got a lot of people on the hill who fall into two categories one category that is interested in money and wants to be reelected and they don't want to run the risk of the various lobbies that are that are pushing. military action against iran to contribute money to their opponents colonel macgregor some say these leadership see this summer as that window of opportunity that they don't want to put two reasons one iran has very few friends in the wage and syria its closest ally is a mess right now and second presidential elections coming up in the u.s. some say israel is going to use their leverage over president obama and it's going

to be very hard for him to say you know what do you think about that window of opportunity if as well well if you were to launch a strike in the summer this would cause a dramatic downturn in the economy just consider that we had a rumor that supposedly iranian commandos had destroyed a pipeline in saudi arabia other fanciful nonsense and eventually denied by. in that short period of time or oil skyrocketed on the market up beyond a hundred fifteen dollars an. action. we reported destroyed but i don't think. this is. a ploy it's not assume that everyone in israel is anxious to see iran destroyed i think that's a. big. gain. and put.

that. i want to put it. in a big. something but. this involves a test. because you could if you're sitting in the white house right now and you're sitting at the cia and. and say in the pentagon you can always say what we said capability we don't see it yet so is the purpose of that to to keep the swale ethan this in vagueness well president obama is preeminent concern is to get reelected and that's a very dangerous proposition right now for him depending upon what the israelis do if they launch a strike but a say on their own without consulting us independent of us entirely and they do it say late october shortly before the election obama then can say well you know we're

obligated we have to help our israeli friends and he looks good if they do it earlier then the consequences could be very profound for him because it would certainly tank our economy we would be in severe difficulty here in the united states if select we have a very narrow will so only an interventionist elite inside washington that operates independently of the american people that thinks of itself as being morally superior and justified in taking action anywhere against anyone that it deems appropriate that's the problem and the iranians are justifiably concerned about that but they have not reached the point where they can weaponize anything they don't have that capability and we do have the ability to detect that know it and respond to it they know those things what we need to do is move beyond this ridiculous confrontational setting that both of us are trapped in and that's very

hard to do in an election year when everyone is pandering to various elements of the electorate for money and votes colonel let's say world powers p five plus one negotiate something but the results don't satisfy as well and the west and they do go to war in summer as some predict what kind of the media backlash should they expect iran to trump card is subversion. the ability to subvert so the retaliation would be in the form of terrorism it would be in the form of what i would call asymmetric attacks in other words high payoff low investment in other words use what you can beyond your borders in populations friendly to you to attack the other person's interests now we shouldn't underestimate how much damage that could involve and remember we know that if for instance hizbollah as well as other as iranian elements are here in the united states so we know that we would sustain losses here at home there would be damage here in the united states how many bombs

would you have to explode in public malls to do enough damage to awaken everybody to what's going on my point is you know those are the kinds of things that i would expect but a direct military confrontation would be a losing proposition for them they might be able to inflict damage on our forces and our naval forces but not on the scale that would make any difference to the outcome they they would sustain enormous damage and enormous losses what about long term the fact some say even if you weigh and haven't decided to build a bomb they sure will if attacked well i was something more important that we talk about what they will do if they are attacked i think we should look at the rest of the world what will the rest of the world do if israel attacks iran remember this is an unprovoked assault. did the israelis can claim otherwise and insist otherwise and paint this picture of enormous danger represented to israel but the truth is no one buys that my view has always been that if you do this if israel does this that

iran will very definitely have nuclear weapons they will have to build them they'll get them people will provide those to them they will have more help than they know what to do with any iran will grow more hostile and more bitter and more angry and more dangerous than it has ever been i want to ask you about syria the obama administration has kind of ruled out a military intervention saying it's too complicated what in your opinion. keeps the u.s. from attacking syria there are several things first of all there is a quiet recognition behind closed doors that if assad is removed however much people do not like hoffa's or assad that the government that succeeds in will be a radical islamist sunni muslim government hostile to israel hostile to the west hostile to shia islam in other words. not

a good development from the standpoint of the united states or europe. so i think that's understood secondly there's an understanding that syria actually has despite the fact it's much smaller than iran what twenty to twenty three million people i think very good armed forces it does have an integrated air defense structure that would take some time to dismantle but its ground force is actually very good and it's of the arab forces i would describe the syrians is probably being among the best if not the best best disciplined best officer what would be the main argument that you would suggest for the u.s. not to attack iran right now we see iran through one lens in one way we see this as a unchanging theocracy that is very of the american anti western incurable if you will know the words it's fatally stricken with this theocratic disease of religious fanaticism i don't i think it will change and i

think if we can back away from this iran will evolve differently over the next ten years and we don't have to have this hostile relationship work on from patients that would be i mean are you that's one of my organs see another was don't look at you want to change for the better you look at the future look at what is driving iran what is what is iran's principle interest internal modernization economic development what do its people want israel to focus of everyone's hatred in iran absolutely no most iranians could care less about it in fact most iranians are not very friendly towards arabs so the bottom line is why are we doing what we're doing we're looking at things as though they will not change my point is that nixon had the foresight to understand china was at the beginning of a long period of change my point is that we're going to discover in the next few years that iran too is at the beginning of a long period of change thank you very much thank you.

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more news today violence is once again flared up. these are the images the world seeing from the streets of canada. giant corporations rule the day. so i told stories egyptians get the final shortlist of presidential candidates but a return to mubarak's era with his prime minister back in the regs. border leaders ponder the flourishing right wing factions with the french president being threatening to quit the show and give free travel as a. protest mood sweeping through russia sure and relations with the u.s. president would feather the bally weight his legacy in his final media q. and a before leaving the kremlin. had a massive blast through an alleged rebel bomb making love in syria as the successor to the infamous blackwater mercenary company takes the opposition under its wing.

about with news in full in fifteen minutes to. sport. and i thank you for joining me to take part of the thursday nights for round up here's what's coming up. heroes come home kal champions dinallo touchdown in moscow with the going after coming back from the brink to win the series four three get out on guard. while singing the blues chosing oreo hopes chelsea buy in munich to win the champions league final after the german giants knocked out israel madrid side in a dramatic penalty shootout at the birth of our. own backyard while number one victoria azarenka kickstarts takes a court season in stuttgart having lost only ones in the year so far. but first to

go in cup winners deny wasco have enjoyed a jubilant homecoming after claiming the title for the first time hundreds of fans turned out to greet the team here in the russian capital after their trials over on god in siberia well their plane touched down at the neugebauer airport just hours after they'd won the title decider one nil to claim the best of seven series four games to three is the first time in the competitions four year history deny one have been crowned champions and the moscow side clinched it in a thrilling fashion to come back from the brink of elimination at three one down in the series and i'm a forward unit about a young girl who scored once during the finals was thrown in the air by fans and revealed a picture drawn by his young daughter that inspired the team to victory. in a charity and a lot of friends gave us great support but the most important came from my girls my princess and when we were losing that series one of them threw me these pictures it was with me for the rest of the series i showed it to my teammates and told them

the most important thing is that our families believe in us and tara think it's possible. well hours before the teams lined up in arms for the winner to. crashed i got fans had packed their team's arena but despite outnumbering the blue white supporters and winning team very little could separate the size and it wasn't until seven minutes before the final buzzer that the nominee grabbed the wait on yahoo clip issue beating goalkeeper kerry rama y one goal when all i was to find an equaliser and the place they keep up with an extra forward in a fine on throw of the dice but i couldn't find a way through the number crunching things. are going. to say it's not the start. of the whole season we are the best but. there's still a rebel about the goal your goal is most important in your career there's not that

much. but it all became a really good pass over there but once out there show it was a good rebounder no you know what i wanted to get up in that. was an honest and he's got to you haven't got players have received russia call ups but won't be starring in the czech games facing off this thursday night the tournament is part of the four nation euro talkee talkee russia all hold us and are taking on the reigning world champions finland in their opener while sweden who leads the standings are up against the czechs and sweden currently leading one nil. now moving on to football and real madrid coach jersey marino wants chelsea to be by in munich in the champions league final after the german side beat his realm adrift team in a string penalty shoot out in the second leg of this i mean final at the end about well the german team had held a two want to vantage from the first leg but that was overturned in the first fifteen minutes in madrid christiane are now they're scoring from the penalty spot early on before bagging and not to put right now in the driving seat botts by

halftime the time was all square again when i and robin himself scored a spot kick to make the tight three three i guess and that's how it remained side penalties were needed. justin. fired into the final which will be played at their arena against chelsea on may the nineteenth combine pain case paul white quite worrying at. this. minute. the drama today was at the highest levels and that's what makes football interesting there are wonderful players goals tension to the very end extra time penalty shoot outs you know throughout my career i've seen many games but when i think about the fact that we can play a final in our own stadium this is something to go absolutely crazy about it's such a great objective that we have achieved and this will be something unique.

of course. but respect for the reds. yes to the. heroes that. some people that. are the most those of the game. the same way to criticize the list two years ago but. well despite leading chelsea to the champions league out of the f.a. cup finals blues caretaker manager about the director won't know if he's been given the job full time until the end of the season since taking over as interim coach after the sacking of andre village voice for which i see midfielder has won ten of his fifteen games in charge and not only wants to won a title chasing the city last month how i got chief executive ron gourlay has ruled out the appointment. well in the meantime be rightly takes center stage this thursday night where unlike the champions league there will be at least one spanish

side in the final atletico madrid to travel to fellow league outfit but i don't fear and have a healthy four two advantage from the first leg yet despite athletico being the favorites away goals from the owners and ricardo costa have given the lengthy hope . obviously we need to win and by two goals but we have to take into account the potential that close you can madrid have we need to take into account the abilities of both the team as a whole and the individuals. and for there to be an all spanish final athletic bilbao will have to overturn a two one deficit as sporting lisbon the portuguese home side welcome back midfielder matty s. but then there's after a two game ban who will be missing midfielder fabienne right now though and center back alberto driggers through injury sporting are the favorites to make the final in bucharest but are playing down their chances. but rather than ask the moment or know the truth is that athletic and good school it's true that against us we didn't

get great job but be lucky to have been scoring a lot recently with fielding games and a lot of them so this is a moment of pressure for us we need to stay focused so they can't do us any harm. moving on to tennis now and women's world number one victoria azarenka is facing unseeded german andrea petkovic in her first clay court match of the season in god well this encounter is also as are his best since suffering her only defeat of the season so far at the hands of marion bartoli last month however the two one will be repeating their meeting in the quarterfinals after the french were surprisingly big in straight sets by local wildcard most of all tell me while also true is patrick quit about the wimbledon champion making light work former french open without francesca schiavone and she could play former world number one caroline wozniacki should the day overcome the challenge of injury. now meanwhile back here in moscow russia's best martial artists have been honored at a prestigious awards ceremony the men's best athlete of the year award was given to

twenty year old world super bantamweight and featherweight kickboxing sensation again off while the women's best athlete of the year title went to scotland got young and eight time sunbow world champion the event was organized by the russian martial arts union with some of the fighters saying it was more nerve wracking i think to go into the ring. it was a harrowing experience to have to get up on stage in front of so many distinguished guests it's easier to get in the ring than up there. and despite my young age and small frame i think the union simply look to how successful i was this past year would you believe it was a big surprise for me to win this award not only that the union picked me but also that i was able to achieve it i've always given everything towards improving their way in as a sport so that's a grows and continues to be a staple part of our country. and finally they have just taken a bunch of lucky teenagers on an expedition to the north pole but

a russian travelers are already mapping out another trip to the opposite extreme the sas pole next year not the father and son team of the me three a lot about all are behind these daring enterprises in fact it was the fifth time i don't deny scheme quest to the north pole earlier this month and with the backing of the influential russian geographical society more adventures and you for those brave at heart. welcome back to the brave new arctic travellers i think it's about time we created a youth section in the country's association for polar explorers. i've got a feeling that more and more people in this country have faith in the artist and understand exactly what we are doing more and more people are willing to help us so i don't think it will be too difficult organize an expedition to the south pole and would be proud to do it. and that's all the support for this thursday bison.

well to. talk about one mean cleaning machine from university labs to the outer reaches of the stratosphere the russians are going to find eco friendly solutions to big city travel take a spin with us and enjoy life on the green side. known him day here on r.g.p. . the future of coverage. you know sometimes you see a story and it seems so you think you understand it and then you glimpse something

else and you hear or see some other part of it and realized everything you thought you knew you don't know i'm tom harpur welcome to the big picture. wealthy british science. market why not come to. find out what's really happening to the global economy with mike stronger for a no holds barred look at the global financial headlines tune into cars a report on our.