why hasn't assad been brought to justice? i tried to explain some of those complexities but i think i tried to do human stories to make it more powerful and real, more alrelatable to people. >> the human stories are compelling. so i guess the next question is how did you go about connecting the material for this book because it's actually a dangerous subject. >> one of the great privileges of my job as we have this license to ask questions including two officials . we can say i work for the washington post. i'm an author and i'd like to add ask questions and you can get responses. that allows us to find people that may have the answers we are seeking. that was how i began to search in a way but it's always the starting point for me in this case is the question of how do you deal with this phenomenally complicated challenge of removing hundreds of tons of chemical weapons from a country in the middle of a war? who does it? how do you make sure that you have it all? because of my job history i done a lot of work on weapons of m

they were really fierce assad supporters. i thought, as always, when you're a journalist or a documentarian, i wondered if they were afraid and that's why they were saying this to me. but i genuinely believe, after seeing them and spending time with them, that they did support assad. so the thing about molula is it then changed hands so many times. it was in government control and then it went to free syrian army control, opposition, then it got overrun by jihadists at one point. then it went back to government control. and throughout it all, the nuns that i knew disappeared. a few of them got kidnapped, and, you know, stood up and they're okay now. but a lot of people left, the christians that were there who were frightened of, as they told me, the black flag. they were really frightened of radical sunni groups taking power. they said, we support assad because we know who he is and we know what he stands for. i thought this was, purely from an anthropological point of view, to kind of live under a dictator like that, because

or journalists that supported assad. so they would give them diseases, any other way was you went across the border to turkey and you would illegally, that was possible until basically ice is the control of the checkpoints and started kidnapping and killing my colleagues. steve sakharov and jim foley were both beheaded by isis. in the very beginning for some reason i slipped through the cracks in the regime was giving me jesus. i went and, of course, i was followed and targeted by the secret police, but i managed to do some traveling around and i got to this extraordinary place because it was really like an oasis of peace in the middle of a war beginning to break out and doing it in those early days that is going to be a horrible war. i met these nuns, and they were so peaceful, so gentle but such vehement supporters of assad. literally they were chanting the same thing that the guys who were destroying entire sections were chanting, , like with our blood, assad. they were really fierce assad supporters. i thought as alw

they were fierce assad supporters. i thought as always when you're a journalist or a documentarian, i wonder if they were afraid and that's why they were saying this to me but i genuinely believed after seeing them and spending timethat they did support assad .the thing about melula is it changed hands so many times. it was in government control and it went to pre-syria are in control and it got occupied by jihadists at one point and it went back to government control. throughout it all the journalists i knew a few of them got kidnapped and stood up and they're okay now but a lot of the people left . the christians that were there who were frightened as they told me, of the black flag. they were frightened of radical sunni groups taking power and that's why in a sense they said we support assad because we know who he is and who he stands for. >> .. i'm looking to all these questions coming in on the zoom chat so we'll get there in second. the copts are the largest christian community in the arab world, and you note in

another national security issue and a powerful working story and how that worked to destroy bashar assad. and then it is a very compelling book and i'm sure we get a lot out of reading it i published a book a couple of years ago that russia and the united states together and with the chemical weapons but of course if you read so the beginning of the first question can you tell us why. >> first of all angela im honored to be with some premier russia expert's in the country. it is terrific i cannot recommend it highly enough. thank you so much for doing this. so really asns a storyteller that is the currency of our trade and this is an amazing story as tragic as it is but the drama of trying to get the stuff out and then having that collapse around it. so the more i got into the subject. and with those activists and to con united states into doing something and then isis coming into the future. and then to figure out what to do with these weapons they're all these wonderful fascinating stories and then the other part this is my third book and then focusing on and then back in the early 200

worked to destroy basharal al asad -- al assad's chemical weapons in syria. it.lished a book a couple of years ago where i accepted the conventional wisdom that russia and the united states worked together on chemical weapons, but of course if you read joby warrick's book, you will see they've done a lot to obstruct it and that is a whole another story, so i'm going to begin with the first question. can you tell us why you decided this. >> guest: i'm honored to be with the experts in this country. it's terrific and i couldn't have recommended it highly enough. why i do this book is for several reasons, but as a storyteller, story uses the courtesy of our trade and this is amazing as tragic as it is. all of the drama of trying to get this stuff out and then having the syria policy collapse around it so that was part of it and then the more i got into the subject, the more complicated and fascinating the storyline began heading off in so many directions from activists trying to prod the united states into doing something just to the pure cruelty of some of the comb

ah, instead it's julie and assad's locked up in a london prison, recovering from a minor stroke. under maximum security conditions, a journalist treated like a menace to society. what he really is is a menace to governance secretive ones, including to that, like to talk up their democracy and export their values, so called people, especially in the us and u. k. we want to believe that we have all of the same fundamental rights and freedoms that we promote in all parts of the world. but what is happening to julian sanchez so clearly political, he has been targeted for his contributions to journalism and his treatment. especially if he has actually added to the united states and prosecuted. there will have implications for public interest reporting around the world for many years to turning to american politics. now the investigations into the january 6th capitol hill riot are proving damaging to fox news. terracon offer is keeping his social distance, but he's here with the details. well, richard, the story is about what fox news hers were publicly telling their audiences that nig

we've seen many people close to bashar el assad and other people in the country facing sanctions from lot of these people in order to keep their operations going and earning money have gone into illicit trade, primarily in drug, so much so the drugs they're escorting are actually more valuable than any of the legal things that syria's exporting. >> the drug is called captagon, the main drug. explain what it is and why it's as dangerous and it sounds like it is. >> it was originally the brand named of a pharmaceutical drug manufactured in germany used to treat attention deficit disorder, narcolepsy. it's an amphetamine so it sort of gives you a boost. it was basically outlawed internationally in the 1980s after it was discovered it was addictive, but around the same time caught on as a recreational drug around saudi arabia and some of the other persian gulf countries. you had elicit captagon production take off in places, most importantly for us lebanon, and as syria completely fell apart during the war, a lot of that production moved up into syria and powerful people in the syrian gov

that this latest court decision overturned an earlier ruling, which opposed extra dining assad's due to his failing health. and the conditions he face in an american prison. julian assange has one more appeal coming, but his fate remains in the hands of the u. k. and the u. s. government secrets he helped expose our starting point this week, his lunch. i irony. friday, december 10th, 2021 day a high court in london, ruled the julian assad's could be extradited to washing. happened united nations human rights. it was the same good to other journalists were receiving the nobel peace department. it was also the day the violin ministration posted more than $100.00 global leaders and what it called summit for democracy in terms of the international media cycle. it was a day where the focus on journalism would very much been on the nobel peace prize, because of course, 2 journalists were receiving the nobel that day, maria, philippines, and dmitri morocco from russia. and also in the us where the biden administration was concluding its big summit for democracy. we've shown a spotlight on t

have, has never closed its embassy and min paid its contract with the legitimate government of bashar assad. so we discussed ways that you keep working at this illegal sanctions against this country. we shared some information about this as corman and how it, how further the political process in geneva. and we had some extensive cautious boot, actually on the meeting of the s and not troy, with observers from countries. this meeting is expected to take place in north fulton county. within a matter of weeks, we also informed our indian colleagues with matters of strategic stability and the issues that remain in this field in the context of the breakdown of many of the international instruments. except for the new start the treaty and bessie. we informed our indian colleagues on the.

saddam hussein and assad and mubarak did protect the questions. >> like tito in yugoslavia.re's always an army like gadhafi can hold strong minorities together and protect them. but the fact there are other factors at work which are driving them out. the rate at which they were leaving is absolutely shocking. there's not many censuses done, but let's take iraq. there were something like 1.5 million christians at the last census, which was in the time of saddam. now the numbers are between somewhere ten 150,000 and 300,000. we don't know but more towards 150,000. >> do you think part of this is people in the west particularly have a conception of christianity and christians which is entirely western and white, if i may say so, and the truth is the original christians, jesus, was a middle eastern jew, who then -- people don't realize that these are all middle eastern guys that are probably brown skinned. >> yes, they are. and i cannot tell you how moved i have been by being in some of the masses in let's say mosul where they speak aramaic, the language of praise. to hear them,

benefits us in terms of getting back to the normal, increasingly wonderful to get your insights. profess assad, oma from the al institute for global health in new haven. connecticut, thanks so much. my pleasure. some sad news from the entertainment. well before we go, american comedy. actress betty, what has died at the age of 99. i television curious benson 70 years, but she was best known for her any award winning rolls in the tv seat. come the golden girls where she played the loopy but lovable rose and the man crazy tv hostess on the mary tyler moore show. she remained in the public eye until her death. she passed away less than 3 weeks before her 100th with and that is all for now daniel winter is up next with dw business news that's coming up after short break. stay with us for that. and you can start to date on our website at any time to be found a d, w dot com on social media. the handle you need is at d. w. news. i'm anthony. how'd in berlin? thanks for your company. and we're, if you're watching have a happy need ah, internet knows all.

benefits us in terms of getting back to the normal, increasingly wonderful to get your insights. profess assad, oma from the al institute for global health in new haven, connecticut. thanks so much. my pleasure. it wasn't a doubly news. he's a reminder of the top story. we're following for you. this. our people around the world that began ringing in new york hong kong put on a fireworks display at victoria hava, accompanied by the music from the cities philharmonic orchestra. but many festivities in many places are being scaled back this year and made i shop rise in covey. 19 and a reminder, you can always get date of the news on the go. just download our app from google play well from the app store. that'll give you access to all the latest news from around the world as well as push notifications for any breaking news. and if you a part of the news story, you can also use the d w app to send us photos, videos. what's happening in your neck and that's it for now, robots will be back after short, bright with business needs for more headlines. you can staff the day with all the headlines and ana

benefits us in terms of getting back to the normal, increasingly wonderful to get your insights. profess assad oma from the al institute for global health in new haven, connecticut. thanks so much. my pleasure. ill cdw news. his or amanda of the top story we're following for you. this l. people around the world have begun ringing in the new year. hong kong put on a 5 weeks despite at victoria hava, accompanied by music from the cities philharmonic orchestra, but festivities in many places are being scaled back this year made a shop bronson covey 19 cases and that is all for now the cove, its special program is up after a short break on the channel for the latest headlines, don't forget, there's always a website to be found at d, w dot com on social media. the handle you need is at d. w. news. i'll be back with another bulletin in 45 minutes to stay with the fight against the corona virus pandemic who has the weight of infection in developing what are the latest we.

today it's controlled by the taliban and commander malavi mohammad salaam assad.t isis and daesh carried out a number of attacks here. how important, how much of a problem, is security for you? i'd like to ask you about the humanitarian situation in afghanistan. why are things so bad right now? after 20 years of war with the west and four months trying to govern the country, the truth, despite what the taliban says, is far more uncertain and desperate. but amidst the turmoil, suffering and loss, there exists another truth. one that can't be ignored. it's found in afghanistan's teachers. its students. its journalists. its women. afghanistan was given a taste of freedom, of a different world. the taliban's rise to power may have undone so much in the country, pulling at its very fabric, driving so many abroad. something remains here. something strong, defiant. >> the thing is that, still i have hope. maybe someone will think that it's crazy. but for me, it is some hope that maybe in the future, the situation will be better. >> we'll be right back. will be. you clean

the normalization of assad is a terrible thing because how many other dictator will see that and be, your reporting is so important, highlighting things that often fall through the cracks. thank you for that. >> great to see you. happy holidays. >>> there was no shortage of political headlines in 2021, an attack on the u.s. capitol, new president sworn in, the birth of a big lie. we're counting down the top ten ahead. we've been waiting all year to come together. it worked! happy holidays from lexus. get 1.9% apr financing on the 2022 es 350. ♪ is now a good time for a flare-up? enough, crohn's! for adults with moderate to severe crohn's or ulcerative colitis, stelara® can provide relief, and is the first approved medication to reduce inflammation on and below the surface of the intestine in uc. you, getting on that flight? back off, uc! stelara® may increase your risk of infections, some serious, and cancer. before treatment, get tested for tb. tell your doctor if you have an infection, flu-like symptoms, sores, new skin growths, have had cancer, or if you need a vaccine. pres, a ra

mazzuca was tried in his accident -- absence and has been describing president assad' s paragraph -- sayid's paragraph as a coup. >> this novelist, playwright and essayist were -- was not for her descriptions of the counterculture in the 1960's. has much to do more to resettle thousands of local staff left in afghanistan in the country fell to the taliban. she says she wants to reduce red tape and reopen evacuation routes to help about 15,000 people leave the country. vladimir putin is trying to make sure that nato does not require ukraine to join the alliance. he accused nato of encroaching on what moscow sees as its sphere of influence. >> tensions between the kremlin and the u.s. are stretched almost to a breaking point but there was no strain on vladimir putin's face when he opened his annual press conference. he blamed the situation on what he sees as ukrainian hostilities and reiterated his support for pro-russian separatists. >> we are told the ukrainian government is preparing an operation and warned us not to get involved and defend those people. >> he also blasted nato sayi

law earned him many enemies in 2012, while julianna's son's room ins under house arrest. judge bust assad got on sits in the dock before the spanish supreme court deal with gun was investigating the country's largest political corruption network at the time, which also involved the ruling spanish, conservative party peace accused of misconduct. and the supreme court delivers its verdict in an unanimous ruling has been bought from practicing for 11 years. the court said he could not appeal against the decision. ah, shortly after gotham opens a law firm and the judge becomes a lawyer. and the lawyer takes on a son just case is carmela. let me see it on the info. could you? yeah. j into our video latino. what do you think? well, and my high one or no i yeah, you can buy them by, you know a grandmother, they advise you, they must come out of that home life alone. this being locked up is not yet the main problem. a son has to defend himself on many levels. cyber attacks against wiki leaks, website, and it service attempts to cut off their financial flows. he needs an army of lawyers. we're sor

law and him, many enemies in 2012, while julianna's son's room ins under house arrest, judge bust assad got on sits in the dock before the spanish supreme court deal with gun was investigating the country's largest political corruption network at the time which also involved the ruling spanish, conservative party peace accused of misconduct. and the supreme court delivers its verdict. in an unanimous ruling he's been bought from practicing for 11 years. the court said he could not appeal against the decision. ah, shortly after gotham opens a law firm, the judge becomes a lawyer and the lawyer takes on a son just case is a camera that let me see it on with the union. in through ivy, the latino. what do you think? well and my hi hello. hi, yeah, you got my diana grandmother. i did advise you must have my little life alone. this being locked up is not yet the main problem. a son has to defend himself on many levels. cyber attacks against wiki leaks website, and it service attempts to cut off their financial flows. he needs an army of lawyers. were sort of built up instructional terms, the

the law and him many enemies in 2012, while julianna's son's room ins under house arrest, judge bust assad. gotham sits in the dock before the spanish supreme court. with gotham was investigating the country's largest political corruption network at the time, which also involved the ruling spanish, conservative party peace accused of misconduct. and the supreme court delivers its verdict. in an unanimous ruling has been bought from practicing for 11 years. the court said he could not appeal against the decision. ah, shortly after gotham opens law fund, the judge becomes a lawyer. and the lawyer takes on a sunday. his case is carmela. let me see it on the phone with you because you yeah. hey, into our video. let's see the what do you think? well, and my hi, hello. hi. are you with the yellow? a grandmother. it did advise you to mask my little life. little on those are being locked up is not yet the main problem. a son has to defend himself on many levels. cyber attacks against wiki leaks, website, and it service attempts to cut off their financial flows. he needs an army of lawyers. we're s

first the attacks on their village, then the escape from syria's assad regime, and now a drone attackrgeting a suspected al qaeda fighter. the family was in their car behind the suspect, on the way to vit grandparents. the children were in the backseat. this simple farming family is what the army calls collateral damage. >> my entire family was wounded. my son and i were hurt very badly. and we don't have a car anymore. we have nothing left. >> the mother, five team, needs to go back to the hospital, but is terrified of the journey. her infection cannot be treated at home. >> i don't know how to describe my feelings. i can see the pain suffered by my wife, my son, my daughter's. my -- makhmoud's legs and head, i haven't eaten in four days. >> the grandparents live here. it is also a hideout for al qaeda fighters. the motorcyclist in the blue jacket was the drone attacks target, a u.s. soldier on the others of the world pressed a button. at that moment, the father decided to overtake the motorbike. [explosion] [yelling] [speaking non-english language] >> somehow, the 10-year-old surviv

first, the attacks on their village, then the escape from serious assad regime. and now a drone attack targeting a suspected al qaeda find her. the family was in their car right behind the suspect on their way to visit grandparents. the children were in the back seat. this simple farming family is what the army caused collateral damage. has been different. mccarthy can learn. salvi, my entire family was wounded. my son and i were hurt very badly. we'll fight on fulfillment and we don't have a car anymore. now that we have nothing left thea, what all that and the she the mother fancy mom needs to go back to the hospital, but she is terrified of the journey. her infection can not be treated at home was ah, so it is, i don't know how to describe my feelings and she will alone. i can see the pain suffered by my wife and my son, my daughters. let martin with the legs and head. i haven't eaten for 4 days. hope this is the village of al rami, the grandparents live here. the area is also a hide out for al kind of fighters. on december 3rd, the family was heading home. th

in the middle east, serious president bashar al assad obtain 95 percent of the vote in the reelection. that was widely described as fraudulent, while in iran, ultra hard liner, abraham racy was declared the winner in an election that saw the lowest turn out in iranian history. 7 in latin america, 2021 was a turbulent year with nicaragua, leader, daniel ortega assuring his reelection last month after disqualifying and arresting the vast majority of his would be competitors ah, but a neighboring laundress, seal matter. castro, the wife of a former president who was ousted in 2009, was elected as the country's 1st woman president. a year ended with a 35 year old former left wing student leader. gabrielle bought each elected in chile with the largest number of votes in history. there's no indication that the regions more authoritarian governments will be less so in the new year. but after a decade long swing to the right, the election of gabriel burridge in chile could signal the beginning of a new shift back to the left in the continent, starting with latin, america's largest country, br

benefits us in terms of getting back to the normal, increasingly wonderful to get your insights. profess assad, oma from the al institute for global health in new haven. connecticut, thanks so much. my pleasure was staying in the us and fast moving. wildfires have torn through mainly rural areas near denver, colorado destroying at least 500 homes. tens of thousands have been forced to flee, they properties authority site. these are the worst far as the state has ever seen . that there are no known debts which local officials have described as miraculous . i say the white house has now declared defies a major disaster. spring in great hansen and made religious with the national weather service. in boulder, colorado. greg, welcome. tell us more about the situation if you will, in colorado right now. thanks for having me on. the fire is actually settled down overnight and this morning. the strong winds that drove the fire yesterday so rapidly have subsided yesterday evening. and we are getting snow on the fire to day so that it is really helping the, the fire fighting efforts. brig, highly unusua

a magic now i with julian assad beyond a are in this call i just as i did was being announced, i protest even through eggs at this side directly behind me, which just goes to show the sentiment and feeling here on the streets of london. yeah, huge bag story here, of course, put the most recent twist and turns in 20. 19 during assange was forcefully removed by british police from ecuador embassy, london. after the country terminated his 7 year asylum there, he'd sought refuge after sexual assaults, allegations and sweden, which related dropped. the british authorities arrested him on a separate charge of jumping bale. america wants to wick helix found her extradited on claims of conspiring to hat government computers and publishing classified material. meantime, as sanchez fiance claims, he suffered a stroke during a hearing in october. wikileaks, editor in chief, kristen have friends and talk to his following fridays ruling. was actually in believable and so i run a good decision should be 100 on the united nations human rights. the united states had all opportunity in the madison court

i with julian assad, beyond a are in this call. i just as i did was being announced, i protest even through eggs at this side, directly behind me, which just goes to show the sentiment and feeling here on the streets of london. is a huge bug story, but the most latest part in 2019, during this sargje was forcefully removed by british police from ecuador embassy in london after the country terminated his 7 year asylum as he was hold up there. he'd sought refuge after sexual assaults, allegations in sweden that were later dropped, the british authorities arrested and then on a separate charge of jumping bail. all these days, america still wants the wiki leagues, found a extradited on claims of conspiring to hat government computers and publishing classified material. meantime, as sanchez fiance claims, he suffered a stroke during a hearing in october. we can next editor in chief, kristen ha, for instance, spoke to us following fridays ruling was actually unbelievable. and so i run a good this decision should be handed on the united n

a diplomatic, now i don't, julian assad be on a just as i did was being announced. i protest even through eggs at this side, directly behind me, which just goes to show the sentiment and feeling here on the streets of london. is a huge box story here, but to bring to the salient part said most recently in 2019 julia songs was forcibly removed by british police make quitters embassy, london, after the country terminated is 7 years solemn. there, he'd gone there seeking refuge after sexual assaults, allegations, and sweden, which relate to drop the british authorities and arrested them on a separate charge of jumping bail america all this time. once the wiki league found a extradited on claims of conspiring to hat, government computers and publishing classified material. meantime, as sanchez fiance claims, he suffered a stroke during a hearing in october. wikileaks, editor in chief, kristen ham fransen talked to was following fridays, ruling was actually unbelievable. and so i run a decision should be handed on the united nations human rights. the united states had of

now i with julian assad, beyond a water. there are in this call. i just, as i said it was being announced, i protest even through eggs at this side, directly behind me, which just goes to show are the sentiment and feeling here on the streets of london . well, here's how it reached this point in 2019 june. sandra's forcefully removed by british police from micro doors embassy in london after the country terminated his 7 year silent. there he sought refuge after section assault allegations and sweden, which were later dropped. the british authorities arrested him on a separate charge, though with jumping bail america. once the wick leaks found, extradited on claims conspiring to hat government computers and publishing classified material. meanwhile, the sanchez fiance does claim he suffered a stroke during a hearing back in october. we can lease editor in chief christian had atkinson talk to us following friday truly. was actually unbelievable. and so i run a good this decision should be 100 on the united nations human rights. the united states had

now i spoke with julian assad beyond a just as i said, it was being announced, i protest even through eggs at this side, directly behind me, which just goes to show the sentiment and feeling here on the streets of london. the so much back story here, but let me briefly bring up to speed was ham, lately in 2019 jill in the sands was forcefully removed by british police from ecuador embassy in london. after the country terminated his 7 year asylum, he saw refuge after sexual assault. delegations and sweden, which were later dropped. then the british authorities arrested him on a separate charge of jumping bale. america wants to work, he lives, found a extradited on claims of conspiring to her government computers and publishing classified material. meantime, a sanchez fiance claims this was new entity suffered a stroke during a hearing in october. we can leaks editor in chief, kristen have france and talked to us following fridays ruling was actually on believable. and so i run a good disposition should be handed on the united nations human rights. the united states had all opportunity

now, i with julian assad, beyond a, just as i said, it was being announced, i protest even through eggs at this side, directly behind me, which just goes to show, are the sentiment and feeling here on the streets of london at which dash reporting there from the court this week. now here's how it reached this point in 2019 jiggling. the sounds was forcefully removed by british police from ecuador embassy in london. after the country terminated his 7 year asylum there, and saw refuge after sexual assault allegations in sweden, which were later dropped british authorities and arrested him on a separate charge of jumping bail. america. once the wicked leagues found extradited, his own claims of conspiring to hat, government computers and publishing classified material. meanwhile, assigned his fiance claims he suffered a stroke during a hearing in october. we can, excited from chief kristin had often seen talk to us following fridays really was actually unbelievable. and so i run a good disposition should be handed on the united nations human rights. the united states had all opportunity in

but who, you know, the julian assad is appealing against a london court decision to extradite him to the united states. washington's pursuing the whistleblower of the disclosure classified dates about american military operations and l u. s. expedition requests that have been denied because of mental health concerns. it sent state side sounds good face thing. sentence to up to a 175 years in prison. on tv is on contact host chris had just spoke to us on his father, who said that his son is being tortured. toys been sort of the united kingdom is proxy for these intentions of the united states. that's in fact is wrong. they actual torture is committed. why the institutions had come prosecuting service, the farm and colonial office, and the judiciary hideous mirror is a truth. the treatment of julian assange over these 30 years. that's your exact mirror. no. qualitative difference. only quantitative difference to the exposures, which is lakes and julian. chelsea, mannings. it. were you surprised that these press organizations that did publish this material then very swiftly turned on ju