a declaration of war that tells syrian officials have described the latest israeli airstrike and when a tree research center near damascus was pummeled with rockets overnight the arab league has condemned the strike demanding action from the u.n. while the u.k. calls for an end to the embargo on the opposition saying peace in the region is now under threat. also this hour in bahrain a quarter sentenced thirty one protesters to fifteen years in jail for throwing fire bombs during the regime riots last year. a look back at the past seven days top stories and the latest developments this is the weekly here on. syria says israel has effectively declared war off

to its planes bomb targets in damascus the second airstrikes in as many days syria's state media says israeli rockets targeted a military research center on the outskirts of the capital video footage an eyewitness account suggest the attacks hit weapons dumps triggering large explosions sirius says a number of people were killed and wounded amid widespread destruction the arab league has condemned the strikes demanded the u.n. security council act to stop any. later on sunday a t.v. station run find evidence has been a militant group showed images of what it claimed was the site of an israeli air strike in syria this verified footage was reportedly taken at the site of a military research facility in genre after the attack but the center itself appears to have been hit a strike apparently left a major road filled with and shell casings well for more we can now talk to artie's

middle east correspondent paula celera paula syria says that it will protect itself so should we expect a response. well it's hard to say whether or not a response is forthcoming but certainly tension on the ground is increasing and increasing by the hour the syrian information minister on man hours old be said after a special cabinet meeting that syria will not accept a breach of its sovereignty all of its security and that all options were on the table syrian officials say that they've turned syrian artillery also to face towards israel the syrian deputy foreign minister feisal our mc that said the alleged israeli attack on syria is a declaration of war now make that has said that syria will retaliate against israel in its own time and in its own way meanwhile iran which has a defense agreement with syria says it will respond to alleged israeli air strikes on sunday morning and it's also urging neighboring countries to stand up to israeli

aggression as we search for from the israeli government these strikes. now we haven't heard anything so far from the israeli government the israeli military also continues to refuse to either confirm or deny the reports that are detect syria in the early hours of sunday morning israel however has declared the north of this country a no fly zone to civilian flights this is a precaution that's also a way of defusing the situation and for allowing it to be allowing for the iron dome defense missile system to be put into place the iron dome is being deployed in the north of israel it's aimed at protecting northern israeli cities from short range missiles that could be fired from either levanon all syria or both the mayor of haifa which is israel's largest city in the north is also taking steps to potentially increase the level of readiness of the cities citizens meanwhile the israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu held an emergency security cabinet

meeting that meeting adjourned without any statements in fact the only statement we've heard from the israeli prime minister was after his weekly cabinet. on sunday morning and he did not comment on the strike the only thing he said was we had to wait in his commitment to israel security they were early reports that a senior and named israeli official conversion confirmed that tel aviv was responsible for sunday's strike so what we've seen is that the scale of that strike goes beyond the capabilities of just the syrian rebels so the suggestion is again that israel was involved if at any time israel is confirmed to have been involved in sunday's strikes that will be the third strike inside syria that israel has carried out since january this year for the fight for the city of ots paula three of them in tel aviv. what egypt has condemned the israeli air strikes on syria with the arab league also demanding action from the u.n.

security council the league says there has been a dangerous violation of arab states sovereignty article two of the united nations charter bans the use of force against the territorial integrity of any state or he's got a check on washington and london told us earlier about more of the reaction coming from the u.k. and the u.s. . the u.k. foreign secretary has said that this latest israeli air strike is making the case stronger for lifting the e.u. arms embargo on the syrian opposition according to william hague this recent escalation of the conflict shows that there's a real risk that the violence could spread outside of syria and into the wider middle east of course this isn't the first time that the u.k. has called for an end to this e.u. arms embargo in fact it's become somewhat of a regular occurrence this is just the latest reason that they're citing for

providing extra assistance to the syrian opposition and we know that germany has to provide extra weapons to provide weapons to the syrian opposition we also know that yes the united nations have big reservations about it they say that flooding the region can only create more violence underscores many international observers of been keen to point out that arming the syrian rebels could have some very dangerous consequences for the wider region and for israel of course as well a lot of people are still very wary of what took place in libya the libyan scenario when weapons flooded out from one gadhafi is army and into mali and algeria into neighboring countries there's still a lot of problems to do with that so it's a lot of countries are very fearful about making that mistake again guyon so you know are there any indicators that the you are about israel's attacks in advance

the u.s. and israel according to both governments work very closely in terms of intelligence gathering so it is difficult to believe that washington didn't know anything about israel's plans to bomb damascus the question that is very much unclear at this point is whether the strikes were really about has a lot whether it was an intervention into the civil war in syria the sources in the u.s. government on officially called for a major strike just as they did. days ago when said they were targeting weapons headed for hezbollah in lebanon the meskins sees it differently they see the strikes as an attempt to boost the morale as they say of the rebels whether or not the strikes were actually intended as an intervention into the syrian civil war they may affect it anyway there is another concern the strikes are based on some secret information and also so what is heading somewhere you can tell will be of no washington have officially confirmed anything and many worry that we're stepping into the spirit great area worse right against another country can be carried out

in absolute secrecy strikes come days after the u.s. defense secretary said washington is rethinking its position on or mean the rebels for the past two years leave misprision has been reluctant to arm the syrian rebels directly the events of this week which now include these really strikes may have created a certain momentum and this kind of momentum could actually bolster the forces on the ground in the world live in a country where it's already devastated. going to check on their womanhood is a former diplomat and an expert on the african and arab world let's talk to him know about these latest developments syria says that israel is helping the rebels with these airstrikes but is it really is it actually pursuing its own agenda. well one has to understand that the whole strategy in order to destroy the syrian government and to destroy the syrian state the last two years almost three years

they didn't succeed why they have these release now intervened in. syria it is out of for a solution as everybody knows the last three weeks that the syrian arab out of me is gaining on the ground and the so-called rebels are losing their ground and they are not meaning and they are in the learn but i'm sorry to interrupt you here israel says israel in effect is saying it's acting in self-defense it's very concerned that weapons could get into. the right to defend itself on that basis and no it is not this is a false flag and it is a political utilizing in fact it is a panic and a frustration which made them to behave like these it is even dangerous for them and i'm sure that it is the syrian leadership they will give a good answer for that but it is the issue is that why is israel now after two years and something have intervened three times and one bad thing syria it is because of on the ground that the syrian out of out of me is winning and it is the

syrian state as they expected that it will collapse within three months like in libya it didn't collapse of the syrian people and the syrian government are united and out of winning and around that the terrorists are they are supporting from outside they are not reading so easily it is part of this and they had expected she was that is the syrian state will disappear and it will be back and eyes and that hope had been dashed and now it's. hard to intervene in iraq i mean just really say it's a blow you said that syria will give a very good answer to israel over what it's done indeed they've said this is a declaration of war we really lucky then to see some sort of response some sort of military action from syria against israel well first of all duty is a violation a server in the state of syria which is member of of united nation and member of all of that. and all other international organizations but the syrian leadership they will answer for that i'm not part of that leadership but they will discuss read this differently and they will give their answer but the issue is that it is

just to create a panic but i don't think the syrian army is in panic the sinner and me is winning on the ground and it will clear the so-called supported by israel and united states and other forces who are trying to destabilize and break the syrian adjust and recently but i think it is the only use they are disparate just briefly how dangerous is now this turn of events many are saying this is exactly what people feared is turning into a regional conflict or worse briefly is it that they are well it is very it is very dangerous it is the balance of forces is still thing agonist israel israelis have intervened and two thousand and six in lebanon and you know what was going to result even to earn two thousand and eight in even know what was the result and then again in gaza two thousand and twelve it was very clear it is incorrect it is the balance of forces of the resistance against the incorporation of soonest expansion in the area is is getting stronger and i think these rallies now they

wanted to play. to shoot in one bullet two birds one is that the answer to sickness and the three for the same go with his longer speech that he said that it is his more lies that i did to combat in three fronts and it have warned the israelis that not to take any out of interest it or so from that point of view probably for local consumption and at the same time provide really to bring the situation in the region in a difficult situation but after all this fire of firing it is it will also bottom them themselves former ethiopians and they are bringing a dangerous situation or i have a thank you very much indeed very interesting here your thoughts as a former ethiopian diplomat and expert on arab and african affairs thanks for joining us and showing us your thoughts here on r.t. . thank you for inviting me well earlier my colleague spoke to me at all and he's a correspondent for israel's had its newspaper and he believes the airstrike is

justified as a preemptive attack to ensure the nation's security this is part of the israeli policy which you can describe pounce but do not announce don't let the syrian regime transfer surface to surface missiles and surface to use of stupas of allah but don't brag about it so while the reason no official confirmation you can take you almost as face value when you hear the u.s. side confirm it officially what about the legality of israel bombing syria like this without even a u.n. mandate i mean how do you expect the international community to react to this well the israeli and syrian governments have been playing a fragile ceasefire for the last forty years however next door in lebanon on the lebanese government does not control hezbollah and has well i want to take these arms from syria and positioned within lebanon and while you may

say that flying over a lebanese space is not exactly according to international law this is nitpicking and while there are many reasons on other aspects to be critical of israeli policy it does seem that this time around if he's white balance he's only trying to prevent and preempt. conflict so i'm sure you talk about the israeli airstrike passive explosions you call this a balanced reaction to unconfirmed reports that the syrian officials are moving surface to air missiles to hezbollah which they are denying at the time you call it balanced ok let me clarify first of all the reason of course and regrettably so a massacre going on in syria has gone. for the last two years with many thousands of people being killed others perhaps in the hundreds of thousands being uprooted and now being refugees across the border and what israel is trying to

prevent is another lebanon war this is perhaps a minor price to pay the. price of the killing and be havoc which will be wreaked by another lebanon war. let's see what you have to say about the recent attacks by israel on syria on our website or online poll always good to know what you have to say about these latest developments so far on screen we can see that over forty percent believe israel is carrying out plans to help the syrian rebels thirty three percent think there's an undeclared war being fought just on the twenty percent feel that the attacks are a message to the u.s. that israel is ready to strike iran and a minority of those who voted think the actions of self-defense against has been are. those your thoughts and let me. be good to hear from you well at the risk is

a beirut based journalist and middle east expert and he believes that israel is trying to drag the u.s. military into the regional conflict. has there been any escalation against israel for israel to react has there been any military action has israel being been attacked by any side whether it be husband law whether it be syria whether it be housed israel in the been attacked by any side whatsoever israel has not been attacked so that we hear this talk about you know game changing weapons but all of this you know doesn't doesn't give you the right to war doesn't give the justification. for such escalation i think you have to put all the pieces of the puzzle together remember that the all of the fuel rather you have a clue about chemical weapons who was the one which made this first announcement it was a toy bruno the military intelligence israeli official made the announcement about syria using chemical weapons from

a very beginning after president obama had said time and again that is the red line that didn't succeed thus far in dragging the us to war against syria so now i think that we had two incidents there with i reported the israeli strike on a convoy and now we have been did an israeli strike on jim but i think we have a classical example of what we would call israel trying to manipulate us policy in the middle east israel is going to continue i think with these practices until it drags the us into conflict y. and the reason being that the syrian army has made military advancements very recently it seems that bashar al assad militarily has gained the upper hand and so is where i realize that our side won't be going unless there is outside intervention outside intervention as i said trying to drag the us by saying if you don't go in then we will we shall wreak havoc we should go ahead with our own

military escalation. well rule so closely monitoring developments in the region online it r t dot com later find out why dozens of bahraini protesters got fifteen year jail terms and how europe may day with tear gas and water cannons those stories after this break r.t. not in moscow.

after going down of the sun and good morning we will remember that we will. continue here in our to a court in bahrain is sentenced thirty one protesters to fifteen years in prison each and all aged between sixteen and thirty four and have been found guilty of carrying out follow bomb attacks during anti-government protests which engulfed the kingdom last year one of the lawyers claims his client was tortured until he gave

a full screen fashion the monarchy has been widely criticized for its violent suppression of protests rallies all these years you cut it off has will first know this group of thirty one protesters as you said is aged roughly between sixteen and thirty four so you can imagine for the sixteen year olds this is an incredibly have to sentence they all come from secure island in the north. west part of the country which has been the hotbed of protests that have rocked baccarin since early twenty's and levon now these protesters have been sentenced on a range of charges including for example setting a car on a flyer protesting possession of petrol bombs and also attempted murder this is according to their lawyers but the protesters deny these charges they say that they're innocent and they in fact claim that they were coerced into confessing in order to get these charges now the background to all of this is these escalating protests that we've seen in bahrain that as i mentioned began in two thousand and eleven basically what you have is ongoing unrest with the majority of shiites in

the country demonstrating and demanding a greater voice in the political system that has been ruled by the sunni monarchy ruled in many ways with an iron fist these protesters allege and so what began as peaceful gatherings people taking to the streets to protest has really transformed into what we've seen in many cases brutal crackdowns by the police with tear gas being used mass arrests of protesters in fact one of the most best known cases of people who are in the regime essentially cracking down on some of the protesters was the case of libya where job who was actually interviewed here on our t.v. by julian our song and in august twenty twelve he was actually sentenced to three years in jail for participating in one of these protests so a lot of human rights activists say that this is untenable situation and that these people are really stepping out to demand democracy but they've really been met with an iron fist so of course continue to washy see how this situation develops but it's quite possible that the sentence sentencing of these thirty one protesters

could spark fresh rest in that country. this week workers around the world joined a day of protest against unemployment poor salaries and violations of their rights a number of may day rallies in particular made the headlines in turkey there was violence with police resorting to tear gas and water cannons against angry crowds at least twenty eight were injured and dozens were arrested and these are pictures now from barcelona where the rally was also marred by clashes with police thousands took to the streets there in spain protesting against austerity and unemployment which is at record highs may day protesters marched in athens as well part of a twenty four hour walkout following the recent cutback of fifteen thousand public sector jobs and it comes as the e.u. faces the prospect of another year of recession and job losses according to latest forecasts well these are the three countries with the highest unemployment rates in the eurozone at the moment in greece over twenty seven percent of the workforce is

out of a job one in spain one in every four is unemployed and portugal's rate is not far behind on seventeen and a half percent a lot of silly has been finding out how people across europe are dealing with skyrocketing unemployment and find out that leaving their country is a popular choice. the unemployment rate in the years old has recently reached a record twelve percent of for those aged twenty five and below in countries like spain and greece that number is as high as more than fifty percent with very little signs of any economic improvement and for those who are looking for a job that search is no longer just about trying to find work many are now trying to leave their home countries. like niccolo wriggles a biology graduate from italy now working initial clytie in brussels and the situation in italy was actually awful because the only thing i was able to get is a really short contract for like free mouth for six months with absolutely no

possibility of growing out in an industry or in the laboratory anything most two of most of them were totally unpaid because you can't really think of your future he says it wasn't a walk in the park in beijing either as many companies are working knowledge of both french and dutch a barrier that may be hard to overcome but perhaps still more attractive for some the going back home i read that in two thousand and twelve. the person the person of young people who immigrates from italy grow up by thirty forty percent in two thousand and twelve i really don't know what will be integers in it for you and it's not just citizens feed the kids foreigners would come to europe to see new opportunities started the business is building their lives to now

will suit change their minds threads this meant leaving greece and david all the way back to their native ecuador involved long sickness was the initial reason for the move she has no regrets about making that decision the six one hundred also helping and many for. when is the side to leave greece and lose to countries like germany and switzerland but the greeks who stayed behind are saying that the situation is really difficult there when for instance servicemen he used to get one and a half thousand euros are now paid just nine hundred m. our place has been open for two years and there is still new i believe we have very good prospects for the future is that something she says just isn't possible here right yeah trent look at the figures and countries like ireland some people argue that the whole generation has left and perhaps so good. i don't think so. there are still here for the same day or so since our team process.

the face of british politics appears to be changing with some unexpected results coming out of the local elections this last week the e.u. anti establishment u.k. independence party picked up a quarter of the votes propelling it from the margins into a real force now let's have a closer look here on the screen ukip gained one hundred thirty nine new local councillors that's up from just eight the labor party finished up with two hundred ninety one seats the two coalition parties were badly hit with the liberal democrats losing one hundred twenty four seats and the tories the conservatism with three hundred thirty five seats left to contemplate how to get their frustrated voters back from ukip or the prime minister david cameron is now planning to focus on the main issues of ukip program that's e.u. membership and immigration in his speech outlining the government's legislative plans with lottie i asked the deputy leader of the u.k.

independence party paul nuttall if he felt the conservative party were about to wrestle the initiative away. david cameron is committed to the european union we know that because he said if there is a doubt friends and he will campaign to stay in and if you're members of the european union you can't control your own borders so we have a problem in this country where we have twenty two percent youth unemployment a million kids in britain who are going to work every day and what about to open our borders all to twenty nine million. bulgarians when restrictions for on january first and governors are permitted that is not think he can do about that so quite frankly we're not worried that he's going to park his tank on our because he simply can't we will take a seat in the house of commons if not two seats before the general election in two thousand and fifteen if we continue on our opera trajectory in byelection zameen we are finishing seconds and a lot of by elections now particularly in the north of england and i think that we

can eventually take a seat in a byelection but let's not forget that a big elections next year the european elections take place in june two thousand and fifteen these at elections that we will win i genuinely believe we will send more any peace but so brochures than any other party and then in two thousand and fifteen ukip will be standing in every single constituency and we will be putting up a good fight if we enter the election on double digits ahead of the liberal democrats we have leadership debates in this country and will be on those leadership debates and he would wipe the floor with clegg cameron. while u.s. president barack obama is pushing for tighter gun control laws those opposed in the idea of pledging to never surrender their annual meeting the national rifle association said the fight against the proposed legislation on extended background checks is far from over and salties miniport reports and takes is a lot short of support. the national debate over gun control maybe among the most

divisive issues in the united states but it's also proving to be a p.r. success for america's largest and strongest gun rights organization approximately seventy thousand people turned out for the national rifle association annual meeting taking place here in houston texas those in attendance are not allowed to fly any of the weapons or ammunition but they certainly are allowed to pick up the guns hold them in their hands aim them and get a good feel of what these weapons are all about for the kids there are air guns that the kids are allowed to shoot also virtual gods to play with in recent weeks u.s. president barack obama's first furthering gone control legislation failed in the senate that effort of course was for strengthening the background checks when you hear from the people that turned out they say that they will stand behind the n.r.a. to continue to fight any efforts washington makes on furthering gun control legislation

make it shows americans feel. free to second amendment. most in this show are supporting the n.r.a. because they are a backbone for believing in fighting for our rights former vice presidential candidate sarah palin and texas governor rick perry are among the long list of names of pro-gun conservatives that addressed crowds throughout this three day event all those that spoke accuse president obama of leading a vicious attack against the second amendment now the n.r.a. is c.e.o. wayne la pierre referenced last month's boston terrorist attacks asking the audience how many bostonians wish they had a gun two weeks ago as an unprecedented manhunt for the bombing suspects was underway now ironically as the u.s. leader has been making his efforts to strengthen gun. laws gun sales have been a creep increasing and membership to the n.r.a.

has been expanding so while the issue of guns remains very divisive for the nation so far in this ongoing political battle of the n.r.a. is clearly proving itself to be strong enough to go up against and defeat the president of the united states reporting from houston. are today. he learned here most of this is the weekly coming up a little later this hour christ is risen. indeed that child runs out in orthodox churches overnight as the stick itself with happy believe is baking cakes and eating decorated eggs a special report from the service is after the break. most

people in the western world would agree that having laws that officially create second class citizens is totally unacceptable we can look at the way jews were treated in nazi germany or black starting apartheid in south africa and the slavery jim crow errors in the usa as examples of legally dividing society by necessity i think most people with their modern sensibilities would find these practices me bob baer american backwards but my question is that why is there to this day officially sanctioned second class citizens in certain countries or to be more accurate i should say non-citizen residents of the two million people in last year around three hundred thousand of them are considered non-citizen residents who can neither vote nor hold public office these non-citizens are russian speakers of various ethnic backgrounds whose children also by birth bearer of the non-citizen status not happy being on the bad side of apartheid the non-citizens have logically decided to vote for their own parliament because they can't elect or participate in the left field what even if the parliament has no power whatsoever it will be their

chance to shine light on the issue which the mainstream media has been keeping quiet for years you know you'd think that people would be outraged over segregation but it happens to russians and russian speakers it's just not cool or hip or trendy or convenient enough for the mainstream media to take notice but that's just my opinion. weekly continues here in r.t.e. sharia law in the streets of london. but some muslim vigilantes are trying to make it a reality in some parts of the british capital the unconventional tactics of these so-called defense patrols have sparked controversy from all religious groups first caught up with some of the newly fledged vigilantes. but that is of misinformation on taste trying to pay serial or an unsuspecting members of the public first hit

the headlines there was an outcry of course and since then some arrests have been made because r.t.d. stoned out self-titled most of them but cells still in operation the most should we need to continue to patrol the streets and clear the streets of the us isn't illegal activities this group called themselves the shari'a project. they make a point of differentiating themselves from the more hardline missile and patrol his videos cause such anger we think with things like this we're almost. out of nowhere proud of. our work. a little longer a little bit calmer and really focused on our control on this patrol they say that whilst they share many of the same keys as the other patrols they've never employed the same question tactics. for the bank.

to listen i mean looking at those patrols i can say that is commendable but since i've come out and actually decided to take some kind of action against you know these things taking place. there are actual actions and the shouting of people sitting. by intimidating obviously there is always a better way to do things my approach as a muslim is to advise my muslim brothers i see you do an action that perhaps more appropriate always advise me to say what is this in many in the mainstream islam community these patrols across the concern was if it is ensuring widespread media coverage many muslim leaders have condemned their actions and i'm representing. these individuals are a fringe minority you know they don't represent the muslim community there's two point seven million muslims in the u.k. . and they they they you know they would never. condone this type of

behavior osa groups were very clear to us that they have peaceful intentions some of the members are alleged to be involved with the more extreme patrols one member served three and a half years in prison on charges of terrorist fund raising and fighting terrorism eva stevens and it didn't take him long to make his more hardline he's known all over the land going to hell i believe so because i believe those who disbelieve in the oneness of god did find this vision would be the end point anyway and those laws that they establish with that would go with them would for our. exit or into the empire so i have no respect for visual whatsoever i asked the leader of the sharia project whether he was concerned by statements like that i said you know if you take it from the passive approach that i don't think you fix the country and these are great but we're doing no shouting and protesting your food before you start to see the charade richard i think that you some things are really costly for

your day to day this in many base amongst the muslim and the why to push this community there are worries not just about these actions but about the potential repercussions for other cities who minority kids have on a much larger scale so. has begun vigils held last night kicked off a week of celebration. his health. one time. resurrection of christ is somebody joining in a religious procession tradition more than a decade ago short of being prepared for the easter parade during the fall made symbolic but the most exciting part of the celebration the traditional. fetal. point does friesen the phrase our two dogs read each other with the celebration

continues early on saturday believe. in the church of the holy sample in jerusalem and the fly is described by our two dogs believers as a miracle that happens alfre here on the eve of the easter celebration later that fire is distributed to the r.v. docks countries including ballo russia serbia georgia and many others and it was also brought to russia. in moscow. and was later delivered to the christ deceivers. are to dogs cathedral in the country and that's where the main easter service was taking place this service to began shortly before midnight on saturday chris and believers holding candles and carrying around the cathedral. glory following the resurrection of jesus christ and that service lasted for

several hours and well into the early hours of sunday it was also attended by the russian president vladimir putin and the rest of the team and really despite what about love of this day as it was pouring with rain throughout saturday still hundreds of people came here on this special night service easter is a pretty sedate it's a by quite a long. here it. stand for meat axe. products for forty eight days we stayed just praying and this and this is done by the easter sunday that's one of those give each other. the period and special russian easter grad school it is really a very special moment on this special day for millions of our dogs to believe or around the globe as they celebrate the most important day in the art of docs

calendar. that's a breeze don't play with me but with the news team with morphine about twenty minutes from now the mean time we hear from doctor to shoot he's author of how the u.s. has undermined peace in the middle east as a special interview after the break. i am from. the lord that i. said and every day she says mother body in the body in a syria or syria in arabic. my name. and where i came. the war beginning far from i was killed by. the syrian woman if you are. trying to.

identify the cause of. my name sama maha mug i'm planning to stay here russia. to build a new life in russia. wealthy british style. sometimes. 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 kinds a report on our.

a legal research and advocacy group called the constitution project has produced a sweeping six hundred page report on u.s. interrogation and detention practices in the years after nine eleven the task force concluded that quote it is indisputable that the u.s. and gauge the in the practice of torture and that the nation's highest officials

bore ultimate responsibility for that they also found no quote no for more persuasive evidence that these interrogation method it's produced valuable information that could not have been obtained by other beings present and former u.s. government officials who are part of the task force with me today is invested in james jones who co-chaired the group who is also a former pastor to mexico sir thank you so much for coming good to be with you thank you president obama at the very beginning of his presidency signed an executive order to stop torture but human rights organizations say indefinite detention itself is torture is it fair to say that the obama administration is engaged in torture now i don't think so i think he made a lot of good moves when he came into office our our situation our conclusion is doing things by executive order can be changed by the next president very easily and so the kinds of protections human rights protections that we're talking about

should be done by the congress and should be part of the statutory. part of the you know all of the united states not just exactly border but yes it's much better than it was we still have some concerns about policy on the drones for example but the kinds of abuses that we've found over the years since the nine eleven do not seem to be practiced these days what about indefinite detention without is this one the where the where the our task force was unanimous we. just do not believe that it fits into the laws and the ethics and the values of. to have indefinite detention and to not allow a court of law and adjudication of charges against a person to be to go through an orderly process more than half of those detainees in guantanamo currently have already been cleared by the u.s.

government that means all the intelligence the military the law enforcement and all the agencies involved have said there's no reason to hold these people and they still are indefinitely being detained in guantanamo we feel very strongly that they ought to be released and they are and that should be done immediately and the president we've called on the president to tell his secretary of defense to issue that exact that order to release the defense lawyers argue that even with the transfer restrictions in place the law even now allows for the administration to use waivers to some of these men and get those waivers are not being used why probably politics comes into that. everything that. the loyal opposition wants to criticize the administration for being soft on terrorism or things like that so i think all those things go into the decision i don't know

personally about being soft on the rule of law no i agree with that that's our position that we should we should meticulously follow the rule of law that's what we preach all over the world we preach our values and we have actually prosecuted similar cases. against other countries who have not followed what we say we ought to do and we're not practiced we're not following and practicing what we're preaching and i think that that should be stopped but what i'm saying is this is a highly political thing and the only reason that i can figure out why you are one of the administration is not releasing those for which they have no k. whatsoever is that it's politics or politics in what sense can came when it. well sometimes politics doesn't make any sense it's the charge that well the fear.