then our own producer here, dana growing up in beirut lebanon this is normal. even when things are normal, you are anxious about the next bomb. iraq is a reminder why we, the u.s., should be careful to condemn other countries who invade. >> your normal life is probably like the normal iraqi's. the only difference is you're not wondering if there will be an explosion in the store or the car next to you on the commute is going to blow up. every day folks, trying to maintain a sense of normalcy. last year was the bloodiest since 2008. more than a decade since the war began, a distant and almost forgotten memory. >> and iraqi people can be certain of this: united states is committed to helping them belt a better future. -- build a better future. if conflict occurs, we'll bring iraq food, and medicine. and supplies. and most importantly: freedom. [applause] >> for many a better future remains elusive and the legacy of the u.s. invasion complicated and still unclear. the first national election since u.s. withdrawal just around the corner, what hopes and dreams to ir

and relative to a hijacking, hostage situation such as twa 47 in beirut, lebanon, the passengers were held in exchange for prisoners held by israel. it was the lebanese hezbollah who perpetrated that act. and as a result of the exchange, the israelis, although they won't admit to it, let 700 fighters go. and so we don't know this yet, wolf. basically, all theories are still on the table. but in the focus of human factor, one must look at if the plane is intact, most probably will be eventually for prisoner exchange. if it's not intact, then there is a lot of forensic work to do. >> stand with us, james. richard, martin. everyone stay put. we're going to talk more about the focus on these two pilots and anyone else on that plane who may have had experience in the cockpit. our panel standing by. much more coming up. >>> and later this hour, the crisis in ukraine. president obama picks specific targets, individuals for sanctions. we're going to talk about that strategy with the former u.s. ambassador to the u.n., bill richardson. peace of mind is important when you're running a successfu

lebanon - the ski industry hit badly. a big ski industry. there's virtually no snow. for syria, there are concerns about how the wheat harvest has been impacted. for beirut in lebanon, the average rain fall is 324mm, we had 96. the situation for a map in jordan is not better. 125, 3mm over the space of january and february. having said all this, if we look at the forecast we are likely to see unsettled weather pushing across the region. we'll need more than that to make up the deficit. >> thank you. still to come on the newshour at al jazeera. 78 million are living without shelter. more are being forced to leave their homes, plus... >> i'm david mercer in el salvador, in the eve of run-off elections we show the impact on social programs. >> roger federer doubles up for sweet success. details coming up in >> welcome back. you're watching the newshour on al jazeera. i'm steven cole. a reminder of the top stories. relatives of passengers on board malaysia airlines are waiting for news of the missing plane. it was meant to land in beijing 12 hours ago. >> washington's prime minister says ukraine's government is taking orders from supremist. sergei lavrov den

i'm based in beirut, lebanon.had a warming of relations with the u.s., that has made the saudis angrier. they don't want the iranians to be able to develop a nuclear program. they see this warming of relationship between the u.s. and iran as a real threat to not just saudi arabia but the sunni islamic con ten getingent in the east. >> most americans would say, why is america trusting iran? that's a real concern as well. >> absolutely. the saudis have said they do not want to see iran get a nuclear program. they made no bones about that. they have said that for over a decade. they do not want iran to have nuclear capability. the fact that there has been this reproach, that john kerry has spoken with the iranian foreign minister, the fact that the iranian nuclear program is being considered, steps are being taken, that really irritates the saudis. because of that, president obama wants to go to saudi arabia. he wants them to remain a key ally. they are angry and have been expressing that anger in many ways. a lot is

singh was the founder director of the carnegie middle east center in beirut, lebanon, between 2006-2013when he build a regional think tank is to which by the quality of policy research and high regional profile. from 1999-2006, dr. salem was the director of th of the fairs foundation to making a dent founded and and directed the lebanese center for policies centers. dr. salem writes rightly the arab and western press and has been published in numerous journals and newspapers. dr. salem, we are glad to have you today. in addition we have with those mr. aram nerguizian, a senior fellow at csis where he conducts research in the middle east and north africa. during his time at csis, mr. nerguizian has worked on hezbollah and the lebanese armed forces extensively, history was consulted by governments and the private sector, appears regularly on television and has authored a number of books and reports on the middle east and regional security issues. i would like to ask dr. tim to begin with this opening comments followed by mr. nerguizian. again, your written comment except for the record if

beirut had a free area where we could publish in relative calm and in the syrian army invaded all of lebanon and the choice was simple. stay in beirut and have a shrug freedom or leave to the united states and i had other personal reasons to come here and pursue a ph.d.. i was offered a job in florida that is how i became american. let's go the syrian army had entered lebanon in 1975 so what happened in 1990 that made you feel you needed to leave? >> guest: in 75 or 76 the syrians controlled parts of lebanon, not all of lebanon. what was known of east beirut or the free areas of lebanon did not succumb so i stayed there as long as there was a piece of land that was free. many lebanese left from day one. i stayed throughout the 15 years of war. but definitely having been in public speech having opposed the syrian opposition and having published books on minorities and the freedom of democracy living under syria and occupation would not have been a choice if i wanted to continue to write. i had a dream to get an american ph.d. anyway and teach here so both facts came together. >> host: thanks.

lebanon area are report to be hurt. it comes after the fall of yabroud, it was the last rebel strong hold. >> stefanie dekker sent us this update from beirut a short time ago. >> around 300 fighters from syria crossed into lebanon. this follows a development on thursday. they were trying to retreat from their position, a medieval castle. and they came under syrian attack. these men are syrians, lebanese nationals, pakistanis and palestinians. and the source tells us that they were armed. there's an ongoing battle happening between the syrian army and the fighting groups on the lebanese side. we are hearing that two houses have been burnt in the area. this is a low valley, and the border between syria and lebanon is close. people are concerned. this shows what is happening, that the syrian government is making momentum in securing the border with lebanon. yabroud fell on sunday and a few more villages have been taken. they carry out air strikes in the no man's land. they are making headway in the north. a worrying development. they are seeing so many fighters crossing into lebanon. >> a suicide attack in a cafes in baghdad killed at least 1

. >> lebanon drawn into the syrian conflict. one person in beirut has been killed in what they call a siege of the border town. >> the united nations peacekeeping chief condemned violence against the u.n. mission in souted. they spoke of -- in south sudan. they spoke of intimidation and a government-backed media campaign against u.n. troops. >> at this point i need to raise a series question. there has been a campaign against the leadership in south sudan. it's been systematic and unorganised. there has been an unsuccessful vilification of the united nations by local and national officials, with public demonstrations, media articles, and harassment of u.s. pacial, including to the -- personnel, including to the point of putting their life in danger. under the conditions we need to consider the drawing down our staff and limiting activities to the minimum related to protection of human right monitoring and support, to oouman tarian assistance. >> 77,000 civilians are living in eight overcrowded u.n. bases across south sudan. the u.n. plans to move mo

beirut. what is happening on the border there? >> it's an ongoing tense situation. what we know is 300 fighters crossed into lebanon. this is the med evil castle. it's close. you can see these areas are a valley. it looks on to the syrian side. it's close. they have crossed. there was low moral. they tried to retreat. what we are hearing is there are syrian, lebanese, palestinians, and from our source, and a lot of areas are armed. there is fighting ongoing between lebanese supporters on this side and the syrian army, we are hearing two houses have been burnt down in the area because of the shelling. so people are saying it's incredibly tense, and there's a highway interest tripoli, which is a port city in lebanon, the second largest city where there has been a lot of violence. 15 people have been killed. it's now blocked. people are very concerned. the bigger picture is that the syrian government is making head way in securing the border with lebanon. we saw yabroud on sunday, and a few more villages. air strikes are going on. the repercussions seem that more and more fighters will cross into lebanon, which is conc

one person has tied in lebanon during classes in southern beirut. confrontations broker out between supporters and opponents of bashar al assad: 10 other people have been wounded in fighting. a new commission will advice pope francis on the issue of sexual abuse in the catholic church. he named four men and four women as the first members. one woman survived childhood abuse. the commission is seen by some church observers as a step forward he is determined to make the church a model in the handling of the abuse of minors. society needs the example of the church in this area. >> that's what they have a right to expect. the group will advise the vatican on how to protect children and keep abusers out of the clergy. it's not clear how thet they will discipline church sfinlz who have covered up abuse. the busiest airport in south america, brazilian police say in rebate years, drug traffickers have also increased their activity there gabriel isando has more. >> federal police at so you p sao paulo takes passengers away: searching luggage, police find wha

beirut. they were headed to the area that we could publish very relative. in the army invadethen the armyf lebanon and the choice was simple. stay in beirut and have a freedom or lead to the united states but had other reasons to come here and pursue a phd and i was offered a job in florida and that is how i became american. >> of the armthat the army had d lebanon in 1975. so what happened to that made you feel that you really needed to leave? .. >> saying the outcome of u.s. policy since the 11 has been the inverse of the policies of what they intended or proclaim to to do that al qaeda has grown immeasurably. and that we are witnessing of bias not only is on this but the most extreme form forces of the regime but that is a powerful statement. do want to elaborate or explain? >> guest: un -- one of the cornerstones of the book many rebels that the changes is happening but then the entire arab spring that nothing could be done already. i'd make the case it is one or the other. is both. you are right. from 9/11, at that decade had gigantic efforts in the region we removed saddam hussein. and for t

lebanon. we are following the developments in beirut. >> the syrian government intensified the military assaultthe abood, the last rebel-held town in the region outside damascus, close to the lebanese border. we understand of overnight the syrian troops shelled the area where thousands of rebels are based, and clashes broke out and are ongoing. they broke out by syrian troops. syrian rebels included the al qaeda-affiliated al nusra front. we understand that many troops were killed according to activist source, but they managed to gain control of two hill sites in abbued. bon friday syrian troops shelled the area, which is on the borter with syria. now, the reason syria troops shelled that area on friday and in the past is because it is a smuggling route for the rebels based in the area, who obtained webbons from lebanon. the syrian government is determined to destroy the route because it's strengthening the troops there. now, this battle is going to be a long one. we understand there are thousands of rebel troops in the area. the reason the syrian government wants to gain control of the abood a

on the lebanese side for the freeing of a beirut based danish johnston has led to his colleague abducted inside lebanon as they were preparing to this report and kidnapping story from under those still held the inside of syria are different ideas than those of room window comes to mind the spanish photojournalist calling in of course. amr of those four french journalist nick and i know i just knew their names the beacon in on design yes it is also good times. it's been nine months yesterday there was a ceremony next move thereto i'm going to get hostile this store is moving. of course there are hopes like the also to the tune is from anybody of going to stain the israelis speak. the good news was to open. i also always have to say and always remember and think of other people or are students or reporters who were just scissors and cortez and we unfortunately don't know their names as we know the names of our companies but they also kidnapped abducted by the regime or by iwi is. here are consuming our hispanic state so we have to think a little these people and pants to try to get a very concrete used a

lebanon. >> yes. because this is an unusual checkpoint, this military commandio checkpoint is something that is not usually here, there's an army checkpoint and the usual way in. because what happened last night in beirut, also in tripoli, these are sunni areas in solidarity, what they said was the town for three days. being the siege, no one could come in and out. there's an issue with bashar al-assad. they believe they are proresolution. and in the porest mountainous areas where they launch attacks. they are tense, there's a parliament session to scs the government memorandum. they have an emergency meeting, where they said that security of the utmost importance, to get the situation under control, but it was a huge challenge. >> stefanie dekker joining us from lebanon. >> now, the israeli military says it has targeted several syrian army positions a day after four troops were wounded in a roadside bombing in the occupied golan heights. israel blamed the asaad government for helping in the attack. kimberley halkett has the latest. >> the israeli military says the aircraft carried out a number of strikes earlier, on a number of targets including a military headquarters and a training base. >> it occur

beirut bureau chief for associated press was abducted. anderson 37 is a former marine from ohio and worked in lebanon for two and a half years. >> it would terry anderson would be seen again after being freed in 1991 just weeks before william buckley's remains were found. anniversa anderson spoke about what kept him going after his capture. >> you do what you have to do. you wake up every day. and you summon up the energy from somewhere, even when you think you haven't got it and you get through the day. ...and a choice. take 4 advil in a day which is 2 aleve... ...for all day relief. "start your engines" [ chainsaw whirring ] humans -- sometimes life trips us up. sometimes we trip ourselves up. and although the mistakes may seem to just keep coming at you, so do the solutions. like multi-policy discounts from liberty mutual insurance. save up to 10% just for combining your auto and home insurance. call liberty mutual insurance at... [ thump ] to speak with an insurance expert and ask about all the personalized savings available for when you get married, move into a new house, or add a car to your policy. personalized coverage and saving

lebanon, 20 air strikes are hitting the out skirts. we are going straight to who is on the line from the lebanese capital for us, beirut, and set to tells more about the air strikes. >> there are operations going on. we heard another air strike. we know at least 7 are dead. some of the air strikes are syrian nationals and hundreds are coming into the makeshift hospitals and some are fighters and some civilians and some deemed just in the area on the outskirts in the region that it is mountainous. they are saying that hundreds of armored are moving to lebanon. the lebanese army is beefing up the securities and allowed the wounded to come through and stopped the armed rebels. this is a difficult task. thech put out a statement and saying that carrying weapons and ammunition will be retained. the residents are describes a very tense situation. the municipality deputy is saying no armed rebels. there are 45,000 refugees here and double the population of the residents. we speak to the people and it is very, very tense and unknown. >> thank you so much. >> three al jazeera journalists now held in a prison for 78 days. the three are accused o

is why the world bank estimated that lebanon would need up to $2.6 million to deal with the crisis over the next two or three years. >> thank you for that, from beirut. >>> china announced it's boosting its defense budget, increasing it by 12.2%. its military funding second only to the united states. the u.s. announced it would shrink its military, reducing troop numbers, $496 billion. at 114 billion. the budget pales in comparison. it will increase that to $132 billion, on top of a 10% increase in military spending. that budget announcement. protesters outside the conference were quickly driven away. rob mcdried is in tena man square. >> this meeting is important nonetheless as a sounding board for the current administration. the delegates are listening to this, the work reports delivered by the premier, outlaying what the chinese leader has been up to, what it will do, and the deepening, economic and social reforms which are important to china's protests, as it continues forward with liberalizing the economy, reducing power of the state mon ol lis and putting -- mon op lis and putting into power those sources of social discontent. and tackling chi

lebanon this weekend to mark the third anniversary of the syrian conflict. again, over 145,000 people have been killed, millions forced to leave their homes since 2011. speaking of beirutthe un's high commissioner for refugees called for border restrictions to be relaxed to allow those most at risk to flee to safety. >> for all orders to be open to syrians and the children. to see syrian children drowning today after fleeing the conflict of syria is something totally unacceptable. borders need to be open everywhere. >> the un's high commissioner for refugees also urged the international community to respond to the crisis. >> knowing that 9 million people refugeesaced between and the displaced, the largest population displaced in the world today is something that really should deserve a much stronger commitment of international community to stop this war, first of all, and to mobilize resources for effective assistance to the syrian victims and solidarity with countries like lebanon. , can youk cockburn talk about that in the report, for example, from the u.n. penalty assad is waging campaign of siege warfare and starvation against hundreds of thousands of civilians? si

beirut. what can you tell us this morning? >> reporter: christine, this was a very dramatic and tense negotiation process, months in the making, and last night here in lebanonere going to be released imminently. then there was a last-minute hiccup. there were what were called logistical difficulties. other officials were saying, though, if there were problems with the negotiation. finally, hours after that, the nuns were released. there is very dramatic video showing the nuns as they arrived on the syrian/lebanese border, taken into the custody of lebanese government officials. what happened after that is that they were then transferred back into the custody of syrian officials. so, in essence, they went through lebanon and then went back into syria. in exchange for their release, 150 women that were being held by the syrian government were released. that was the exchange, or the terms of the exchange. now, lebanese government officials are telling us today that these nuns are all back in syria, that they are safe, that they told them that, in fact, they were well taken care of in the custody of islamist fighters. there is, however, some discrepancy about w

the tragedy in lebanon in 1983 that killed 241 marines realizing the cost of american lives were too great for the mission. reagan said his greatest regret was sending those marines to beirutt place. now, when is the last time a republican reminded you of the misguided reagan strategy that left 241 marines dead and then reagan ordering the survivors of that attack to retreat? rand paul couldn't bring himself to go as far to use the word retreat, so he said reagan strategically pulled back our forces. imagine what republicans would call that if a democrat strategically pulled back our forces in lebanon after 241 marines were killed. rand paul doesn't like ted cruz's phony tough talk about ukraine, and he made it clear in his article that no republican has a better idea than president obama about how to handle the crisis in ukraine. regarding russia's invasion of ukraine, for example, there is little difference amongst most republicans on what to do. all of us believe we should stand up to putin's aggression. virtually no one believes we should intervene militarily. so we are then faced with a finite menu of diplomatic measures to isolate russia on most of which we all agree

beirut. suicide bombers exploded themselves outside and iranian cultural center. the topic is the spillover effect. the effect in lebanon is absolutely massive. it strikes me as we are grappling with what the u.s. can do, there are four areas we can be engaged. humanitarian aid to syrian refugees. we are the top provider of aid in the world. not that we can't do more and be calling on other nations to do more. in terms of who is providing that aid, we are number one. there is not a close second. second is eight inside of syria. -- aid inside of syria. there are millions of refugees inside of syria that have been displaced. russia has been the stone wall against a delivery. -- aid delivery. during the winter olympics when the light of the world was on them, russia finally agreed after vetoing security council resolutions to a resolution about the delivery of aid. the first question i want to ask you, that was done in mid-february. many weeks ago. there was a 30 day reporting requirement. what have you seen in terms of humanitarian aid delivery inside syria since the resolution? >> it remains a huge problem. we have not s

lebanon. it was a challenging trip. one morning we were leaving the american embassy to go have a eeting with president suleiman and a bomb went off in downtown beirut where we were. ou could hear it and see the smoke. this was an everyday event to sadly. we assumed our meeting with the canceled.with be if it were hear a bomb going exploding aorcycles bomb that killed many in part of a meeting ar where the president with say i have my hands full i don't want to have president suleiman wanted us to see the challenge that he was dealing with. so, the meeting continued. in the midst of the meeting he interrupted with phone calls it try to talk to the iranian ambassador, this was near an mbing iranian cultural center. ing to see thereak normality and. visitors the challenge that much pose for the everyday life those caught in the crossfire random nce occurring in which is. on the question of syria i think that u.s. e diplomatic energy notwithstanding we are not happy path that the situation taking.a is the united states is the largest rovider to refuse japanese and it is through the u.n. and distributed through worthy n.g.o.'s. the largest provider the

beirut and two suicide bombers exploded themselves outside of the cultural center. the topic of this hearing is the spillover effect and the spillover effect in lebanon is just absolutely massive. it strikes me that we are grappling with what the u.s. can do there are four areas where we can be engaged. humanitarian aid to syrian refugees outside of syria. we are the top provider of the humanitarian aid in the world. not that we can't call in other nations to do more but in terms of who is providing humanitarian aid we are number one and there is not a close second. second inside syria where they are three to 4 million syrian refugees have died of syria, there are 7 million refugees inside syria who have been displaced in russia has been that stonewall against humanitarian aid delivery and assertion of humanitarian aid inside serious. during the olympic -- winter olympics when the light was on them russia agreed after vetoing three security council resolutions on humanitarian aid to a security council resolution about delivery of humanitarian aid inside of syria and the first question i want to ask you is that was done in mid-february and i think there is a 30-day repo