these are not good signs geoff walsh thanks me on the line janice for the christian science monitor as you appreciate it. america's to leave local forces in charge of combat operations in afghanistan and switch to a support role this spring instead now the announcement came from u.s. president barack obama after a round of talks with his afghan counterpart of what's being hailed as the last chapter in the u.s. mission that is going to can reports next american involvement in the country looks set to rumble on during his election campaign president obama may have sounded very resolute to leave afghanistan in two thousand and fourteen but the white house is now negotiating terms to stay there the president said if u.s. forces stayed their role will be different but critics argue it's an attempt to rebrand the military presence which both the majority of americans and afghans oppose michael listen to what president obama said about the mission after twenty fourteen i think. you know although obviously we're still. two years when. i can say with assurance that this is a very different miss

round let's get some more details on this now i'm joined live by our jason walsh from the christian science monitor thanks so much for taking the time to come on r.t. today there are protests now do you think that the belfast city council regrets touching upon such a sensitive matter well i'm sure that the consequence of it seems that there. really the decision actually simply reflects the changes in both first. you talk about reflecting democratic changes in belfast would you would you go into that a bit more for us what exactly are you alluding to that well demographic changes rather it's just that both of us traditionally throughout its history been a predominantly protestant and unionist city and the latest census results show that's not really the case any longer it's not slightly republican nationalist a majority or we can be fair the decision itself to fly the flag only on seventeen designated daisy or taken on december third. reflects this change and that seems to be what's troubling loyalists rather than the flag itself because in fact flying the flag they simply bring it into line with ot

john thorn writing in the christian science monitor noted that when he passed in the street, the young men would call out, hello, chris. they knew his face. would laugh and say hello always. this is the right way to deal with our people, he said. libyan friends said he was always ready to put his country first. he shone by being himself, interested in the lives of ordinary people. his death was met with shock and sadness in libya. feelings with regard to americans that are rare in that part of the world these days. for me that judgment captures key characteristics of chris and his approach to life and work. secretary of state hillary clinton noted chris's swearing in as ambassador to libya on an earlier tour, he was visiting roman ruins at one of the tourist sites in libya. he was trailed by gadhafi security men who were obviously intimidating to other tourists. as she recounted it, he reached over to one of the men, stole his camera out of his hands and started taking pictures of the men who had been following him. they were so dumbfounded that they had to laugh. after a quick convers

the current crisis that in belfast thanks very much indeed jason walsh journalist for the christian science monitor joining me live there in dublin thank you you thank. e.u. leaders seeking to concentrate more power in brussels may face a setback from the union's most reliable member germany there are thousands signed a petition against the european stability mechanism which would allow the block to use members' funds to help other states in trouble and the germans are exactly happy about letting someone else decide where their money goes as artie's peter all of us found out there's a rising feeling here in germany that it's not the germans who were really in charge of their country. the government is taking the sovereign rights of.

of the decision to fly the british flag only on designated days and jason walsh from the christian science monitor things the culprits driven by the function that british protestants are losing ground to the growing conflict majority home mostly free but leaving the u.k. to form a united ireland. but first this tradition throughout its history been a predominantly protestant and unionist city and the latest census results show that's not really the case any longer it's not slightly it's like a republican nationalist a majority or we could wish for the decision itself to fly the flag only on seventeen designated days a year taken on december third. reflects this change and that's usually what's troubling loyalists rather than the flag itself because in fact flying the flag they simply bring it into line with other government and civic buildings. and let's not check some other international news this hour and that's how vital a suicide bomber's has claimed at least five lies in southern afghanistan the taliban militants have breached the government compound shelled the guard dead and then detonated

british union flag only on designated occasions rather than year round jason walsh from the christian science monitor things there are deeper reasons for the unrest than a flag being taken down but first it's traditionally throughout its history been a predominantly protestant i'm going to city and their latest census results show that's not really the case any longer it's not slightly it's like a republican national have still majority work out we can look for the decision itself to fly the flag only on seventeen designated days a year to go on december third. reflects this change and that seems to work struggling loyalists' a role in the flag itself because in fact flying the flag there is simply brings into line with all the british government and civic buildings. the mere suspicion of ties to terrorism is now enough for the authorities to detain anyone in the us indefinitely without charge or trial so after president obama signed into law the new national defense authorization act this week the n b a a would also keep the infamous guantanamo bay prison open for at least another year veteran congr

from the christian science monitor says there are social reasons and the decision was. but justice traditionally throughout its history been a predominantly at protestant on unionist city and that latest census results show that's not really the case that any longer it's not it's likely it's like a republican nationalist a majority or we can through fair the decision itself to fly the flag only on seventeen designated daisy or taken on december third. reflects this change and that seems to be what's troubling loyalists rather than the flag itself because in fact flying the flag and designate it they simply brings it into line with other at british government and civic buildings. well let's get into it here on r.t. time now for the world update will start with bahrain where the highest appeals court there has held long jail sentences for thirteen activists they were put behind bars for taking part in massive demonstrations in favor of greater rights the ruling monarchy violently put down the protests with the help of troops from a burning arab states more than sixty peop

plot only to designated occasions rather than all year round and jason walsh from the christian science monitor things there are deeper reasons for the rest than a flag being taken down but that's just traditionally throughout its history in a predominantly protestant unionists city and their latest census results show that's not really the case any longer it's slightly less like a republican irish nationalists to a majority or we could look for the decision itself to fly the flag only on seventeen designated days a year taken on december third. reflects this change and that seems to be what's troubling loyalists rather than this luggage so because in fact flying the flag they simply didn't learn with all the british government and civic buildings. and now to some international news in brief this hour and the time by two suicide bombers have played at least five lives in southern afghanistan the taliban militants breached a government compound schaub the guard dead and then detonated their explosives they were reportedly targeting local officials it happened in kandahar province one of the most

the decision to fly the british flag only on designated days and that jason was from the christian science monitor things the conflicts driven by the funds that poor british protestants are losing ground to the growing catholic majority who mostly favor leaving the u.k. to form a united ireland. but hostess traditionally throughout its history been a predominantly at protestant unionists city and the latest census results show that's not really the case at any longer it's not slightly republican nationalist a majority or catholic were fair the decision itself to fly the flag only on seventeen designated daisy or taken on december third. reflects this change and that seems to be what's troubling loyalists rather than the flag itself because in fact flying the flag on designated day simply brings into line with other at british government and civic buildings. and there are some other international news this hour. and a stand by truth inside bombers has claimed at least five lives in southern afghanistan the taliban militants have breached the government compound should be god dead and then detonated

the cover story of "christian science monitor" - a look inside as some of the more famous second terms richard norton smith is talking about. a call from the bronx, new york. caller: if the losing presidential candidate is not an office holder, does he get to participate in the inauguration? host: we know that mitt romney will not be here tomorrow, neither president bush. guest: president bush 41 is just out of the hospital. i wonder if jimmy carter -- as well as bill clinton. -- host: he will be in attendance, as well as bill clinton. guest: that is a relatively new tradition. herbert hoover was invited to the kennedy inaugural in 1961. he was a very close friend to the president's father. the weather was so bad that he really could not get here. but he intended to be here. host: ronald reagan had the warmest and coldest inauguration days. guest: the great story about the weather -- william howard taft, who had this self deprecatory sense of humor -- there was a blizzard. he had too much sense of the ridiculous to be a politician. he said, i always thought it would be a cold day when

"the christian science monitor's" liz marlantes. kasie hunt from nbc and politico's john harris. first up, the scene is set. there's no mistaking that barack obama is resolved to make his mark in the second term. squaring off, already for the fights over debt, guns, and getting the team he wants in the cabinet. he might look to another second term democrat who had this declaration to congress. >> i know this is not going to be easy. but i really believe one of the reasons the american people gave me a second term was to take the tough decisions in the next four years that will carry our country through the next 50 years. we owe it to our country and to our people. chris: howard, everybody's talking about what kind of approach is obama going to take this second term. is he going to be conciliatory? or is he going to be mr. tough guy? >> he wants to get things done by being tough and even confrontation. in the first term he tried to change the tone of washington as the outcider, sort of by a combination of aloofness and steady thought. now it's in your face. and he's going to be th

and my colleague spoke to jason walsh a journalist for the christian science monitor he says the unrest is simply down to changing demographics. the protests. despite the appearance of some groups such as the ulster peoples form no one is entirely sure exactly what it is that the protesters want northern ireland in general and belfast in particular have traditionally been protestant unionist loyalist or if you like to put areas and the recent census results should northern ireland's no longer has a unionist one it's more a sort of fifty fifty situation i mean what can city whole do is got itself into a real rock and a hard place isn't it if they overturn the decision it's going to look like more brule taken of potentially cause a flare up on the other side this stuff going to get over this account of they certainly can't undo the decision. first or but it's deep highly unlikely that irish nationalists councillors would vote to raise the flag and second of all even if they could be convinced to do so in the name of public order i think it would look very bad for the council to. constitut

british union flag only on designated occasions rather than the around jason walsh from the christian science monitor thinks there are deeper reasons for the unrest than a flag being taken down but first it's traditionally throughout its history in a predominantly protestant i don't you know city and the latest census results show that's not really the case any longer it's not slightly slight to a republican. majority or for the decision itself to fly the flag only on seventeen designated days a year taken on december third. reflects this change and that seems to be what's troubling loyalists like it so because in fact flying the flag they simply bring it into line with other british government and civic buildings the origins of the brotherhood's billions egypt's ruling islam it stand accused of taking vast sums from the u.s. government and using the money to provoke violence of protests and that's coming up this hour. in the church of england may be the official religion of the u.k. but it's under attack from all sides but the tendency is hitting rock bottom and people being tempted away by other be

british union flag only on designated occasions rather than year round jason walsh from the christian science monitor thinks there are deeper reasons for the unrest than a flag being taken down. this traditionally throughout its history in a predominantly protestant i don't you know city and the latest census results show that's not really the case set any longer it's not likely it's like a republican irish nationalists a majority or the fair the decision itself to fly the flag only on seventeen designated daisy or taken on december third. reflects this change and that seems to be what's troubling loyalists rather than the flag itself because in fact flying the flag day simply brings it into line with other british government and civic buildings. a natural catalyst for this code it's no easy thing getting immigration rights but russia is among the four nations that have that's according to the un and later we report on what it is that makes a country. you hopefuls. so the origins of the brotherhood's billions egypt's ruling islam is stand accused of taking some news from the u.s. government and using

been witnessing more or less violence for more than two months now jason walsh from the christian science monitor says there are deeper social reasons and the flag decision was merely a catalyst but first it's traditionally throughout its history been a predominantly protestant and unionist city and their latest census results show that's not really the case any longer it's not slightly it's like a republican. majority or we can refer the decision itself to fly the flag only concept do you disagree that this is your ticket on december third. reflects this change and that seems to be what's troubling loyalists it so because in fact. they simply bring it into line with other british government on civic duty. well folks christians have been celebrating christmas the world over and you can catch more than lips of all the colors of those millions gathered to celebrate go to our web site right now for a closer look at that. that is the most expensive in the world sold for recalled one point eight million dollars discover who netted the precious catch at all to dot com. from one scandal to another egypt

and walsh from the christian science monitor says the protests in northern ireland have deeper worries and just discontent about displaying the union. at this point it's we've got six weeks so it's difficult to believe that the flag alone is the cause. there are laws a lot of talk about economic issues and recreational rioting but it's really difficult to say because the protests know what the ship despite the appearance of some groups such as the ulster people's form no one is entirely sure exactly what it is that the protesters want northern ireland in general and belfast in particular have traditionally being protestant going to just loyalist are going to going to areas around their recent census results should go with golf. but that's not a slight nationalist majority northern ireland is one of those internationalist majority that no longer has a unionist one is more sort of fifty fifty situation it's deep highly unlikely that irish nationalists connoisseurs would vote to raise the flag and second of all even if they could be convinced to do so in the name of public order i think i

been witnessing a loyalist of violence for more than two months now i just watch from the christian science monitor says there are deep social reasons on the flag decision well that was just merely a catalyst but most of us traditionally throughout its history been a predominantly protestant on unionist city and their latest census results show that's not really the case any longer and it's not likely it's like a republican. majority or we look for the decision itself to fly the flag only once or do you disagree that this is your ticket on december third. reflects this change and that seems to be what's troubling loyalists like itself because in fact flying the flag they simply brings it into line with all the british government and civic buildings. all right as promised it's. time we'll start with the highest appeals court they upheld long jail sentences for thirteen activists and they were put behind bars for protesting in favor of greater rights. brutally cracked down on them with the help of troops from neighboring arab states more than sixty people have been killed and thousands jailed in the

british union flag only on designated occasions rather than year round jason walsh from the christian science monitor thinks there are deeper reasons for the unrest than a flag being taken down. this traditionally throughout its history been a predominantly protestant and unionist city and the latest census results show that's not really the case any longer it's not slightly republican. majority or we can look for the decision itself to fly the flag only on seventeen designated days we are taken on december third. reflects this change and it seems to be what's troubling loyalists so because in fact. they simply bring it into line with all the british government and civic buildings. and natural catalysts for discord it's no easy thing getting immigration right but russia was among the four nations that according to the un a little later we report what it is that makes a country alluring to new hopefuls. the first this week president obama signed a law allowing the indefinite detention of u.s. terror suspects without charge will trial a national defense authorization act also delays the closure of the

was from the christian science monitor the conflicts driven by the fact that british. ultimately losing ground to the majority mostly favor leaving the u.k. to form a united. this traditionally throughout its history been a predominantly at protestant unionists city and the latest census results show that's not really the case any longer it's not likely it's like a republican nationalist a majority or catholic if it were fair and the decision itself to fly the flag only on seventeen designated daisy or taken on december third. reflects this change and that seems to be what's troubling loyalists rather than the flag itself because in fact flying the flag on designated day simply brings it into line with other at british government and civic buildings. all right as promised that we go to some other global headlines for you in brief will start with an attack by two suicide bombers claiming five lives in southern afghanistan taliban militants breached a government compound shot the guard dead and then detonated their explosives and they were reportedly targeting local offi

british union flag only on designated occasions rather than year round jason walsh from the christian science monitor thinks there are deeper reasons for the unrest than simply a flag being taken down but first it's traditionally throughout its history of being a predominantly protestant and unionist city and the latest census results show that's not really the case any longer it's not slightly it's like a republican. majority or for the decision itself to fly the flag only on seventeen designated days a year taken on december third. reflects this change and that seems to be what's troubling with loyalists like it so because in fact flying the flag is simply bring it into line with other british government and civic building. were highlighting the top stories of the week here on r.t. and it was this week that president obama signed a law or allowing the indefinite detention of u.s. terror suspects without charge or trial the national defense authorization act also delays the closure of the guantanamo bay prison for another year a veteran congressman dennis kucinich thinks the move is part of a patter

for the christian science monitor told me the rest is being flared up by the changing demographics. the prototype of the ship despite the appearance of some groups such as the ulster people form new ones entirely sure exactly what it is that the protesters want northern ireland in general and belfast in particular have traditionally been protestant unionists loyalists to areas and the recent census results should northern ireland no longer has a unionist one it's more a sort of fifty fifty situation i mean what can city hall do is got itself into a real rock and a hard place isn't it if they overturn the decision it's going to look like more brawls take it over potentially cause a flare up on the other side this stuff. if nationalists do get drawn into it and you do want to get much much worse. obviously also a suspect device so most viable small explosives. today no it's not yet clear. but these are not good signs french pilots been killed in fighting in mali as the european nation continues to launch air strikes against islam is militants comes after mali's government troops chase

witnessing the loyalist violence for more than two months now i guess and walsh from the christian science monitor says there are deeper social reasons and the flag decision was merely a catalyst but most of us traditionally throughout its history been a predominantly protestant and unionist city and the latest census results show that's not really the case any longer it's not slightly republican nationalist a majority or we were fair and the decision itself to fly the flag only on seventeen designated daisy or taken on december third. reflects this change and that seems to be what's troubling loyalists rather than the flag itself because in fact flying the flag on designated day simply brings it into line with other british government and civic buildings. ok. here in moscow christians have been celebrating christmas the world over you can catch a glimpse of all the color and sparklers millions gathered to celebrate or you can get a much closer look at the right there on our website r t v dot com. there's something a bit fishy about this auction lot in japan is the most expensive in the world sold

british union flag only on designated occasions rather than year round jason walsh from the christian science monitor thinks there are deeper reasons for the unrest than the flag being taken down but first it's traditionally throughout its history in a predominantly protestant i don't you know city and the latest census results show that's not really the case any longer it's not likely to a republican. majority or for the decision itself to fly the flag only on seventeen designated days a year taken on december third. reflects this change and that seems to be what's troubling loyalists it so because in fact. they simply brings it into line with other british government and civic buildings. the origins of the brotherhood's billions egypt's ruling is going to stand accused of taking some things from the u.s. government and using the money to provoke violence or protests more on that coming up very shortly this hour an r.v. and. a better stay with us to find out where mixed israeli palestinian couples go to live in the face of discrimination that story of a still to come. this week president obama signe