right now a war of maneuver what do you mean yeah it was important for everyone to understand about east syria right now is that isis is no offensive threat to everyone there folding their crumbling they've been doing this for a long time actually al qaeda is the biggest threat in syria but they're contained in it live for the moment isis is crumbling and it's a race between the syrian government's allies and the u.s. and its proxies to take territory from isis because then this is the new game that everyone the rules of the game as they are right now are is that if you take territory you get to hold it at least for the time being right so they're racing along the roads and the oil fields the these important know it's a very spiritually populated desert these roads from baghdad to damascus is very important this once provincial capital darrow's or which has been held by the syrian government defending one hundred thousand citizens for four years against airlift keeps them away airlift keeps them alive this is where the u.s. and its allies have repeatedly served as the air force defacto air for

have all material showing they are supporting the terrorists and extremist groups in the middle east, syriay is doing anything because they are the richest country in the world and because of their oil discussion and the oil and gas. that's what happened last week is a wake-up call for qatar and it leaders. saudi arabia, egypt, bahrain. yemen. the em -- the emirates. if you play with fire it will eat you up. so as a businessman i want to do my contribution. we can day like that and watch them continue doing that lives going down in manchester and london and paris and nobody is doing a damm thing to -- damn thing to stop this. maria: this is the richest country in the world exporting liquefied natural gas. and the u.s. has its main base in qatar. >> so does the muslim brotherhood. they went to qatar. they reside there. all the sheikhs that entice and sanction terrorism, and convince young people that they go and blow up some people that they go to heaven reside there. they are opening support who mass and openly side with iran. all the intelligence services have enough material that show mon

right now a war of maneuver what do you mean yeah it was important for everyone to understand about east syria right now is that isis is no offensive threat to everyone there folding their crumbling they've been doing this for a long time actually al qaeda is the biggest threat in syria but they're contained in it live for the moment isis is crumbling and it's a race between the syrian government in sao lies and the u.s. and its proxies to take territory from isis because then this is the new game that everyone the rules of the game as they are right now or is that if you take territory you get to hold it at least for the time being right so their race.

. >> let's go back to the middle east. syriaties in deeper conflict between powers that are not part of the civil war. >> i think we are entering a new giving enough focus to what is a growing risk. all of our focus is on the defeat of isis, the last fight in central basel and the fight to come in rock. that is where everybody's focus is. the growing risk of conflict between the major powers who are involved in this war, mainly between the united states and iran and the united states and russia. what is happening, what is the dynamic here? for the longest time there were two separate wars. there was a civil war between a sod and the syrian opposition, and there was a second floor, which was a war between the u.s. and its allies and isis. >> bashar al-assad said he was part of that war. guest: but he really wasn't. what is happening is as a sod is in civil wardancy and as he is winning territory back that the syrian opposition he andrly on in the war, his iranian and hezbollah allies are getting closer and closer to the syrian op

caller: the middle east, syria, yemen. i think we have soldiers in yemen. it is our bombs that are killing people over there. afghanistan, you have had dozens of people killed just as previously over there. those are innocent people. we are no better than they are. we are no better. their families and everything. -- they have families and everything. in order to get one probable terrorist, we kill whole family. come on. i'm glad some people are starting to wake up. like a said, i called in a little late. -- tuned little late in a little late, but some of your previous callers were right on. host: we will go next to hugh in washington. good morning. caller: good morning. this is entirely about religion. qumran,ead the if you are not a muslim, you are in th and infidel. they will rape, murder, and steal from you unless you are muslim. the people there killing in the middle east are christians. don't tell me it's not about religion. host: john, you are next from massachusetts. to take on all this -- your take on all this. caller: good morning. listen, this cou

so, for the first time in over a few decades, we have russian war jets flying over the middle east in syriae had to quickly build a mechanism. we call it a de-conflicting mechanism, or the escalation mechanism with the russians, meaning open channels of communication, fast, urgent communication possible. so we won't have a situation in which there is a clash in the air between israeli and russian fighter pilots or fighter jets, and i think we were successful in doing that. we look at what's happening in syria. we're not happy with what's happening there. it's a tragedy. we're trying to do our part. we've opened a field hospital in the north part of israel, where syrian sick, injured, can come and get treated. thousands were treated there. just recently, our government announced that they will accept orphans from syria. >> i saw a posting on your facebook page about it, something like at least 100 orphans. >> yes. exactly. so we're trying to our modest part in that, but i think there is more hope today in the region for a better future between us and our arab neighbors than there used to be

so, for the first time in over a few decades, we have russian war jets flying over the middle east in syriae had to quickly build a mechanism. we call it a de-conflicting mechanism, or the escalation mechanism with the russians, meaning open channels of communication, fast, urgent communication possible. so we won't have a situation in which there is a clash in the air between israeli and russian fighter pilots or fighter jets, and i think we were successful in doing that. we look at what's happening in syria. we're not happy with what's happening there. it's a tragedy. we're trying to do our part. we've opened a field hospital in the north part of israel, where syrian sick, injured, can come and get treated. thousands were treated there. just recently, our government announced that they will accept orphans from syria. >> i saw a posting on your facebook page about it, something like at least 100 orphans. >> yes. exactly. so we're trying to our modest part in that, but i think there is more hope today in the region for a better future between us and our arab neighbors than there used to be

syria however regarding yesterday's events this is proving to be somewhat difficult. thanks kind of in new york we also got reaction to the latest developments from middle east expert . americans react to the syrian threat as a sort or were they trying to assert sovereignty over syria if you think about it really ever since the early one thousand nine hundred ninety s. have been used to it being able to patrol what they regard as enemy skies with impunity and they feel threatened but also the allies on the ground are threatened so there is a risk that in fact they may try to assert themselves against any syrian or russian limitations on their activities over syria and that of course then could spiral out of control who are very dangerous situation although some people in washington are saying are the russians will never stand up to us well maybe not but what if regarding are we going towards you know more suspension of cooperation i think that's what some people in the u.s. administration actually want so they don't meaning they don't want to have the cooperation between the u.s. and russia maybe not necessarily trump himself but i think you do have figures who are ve

approach against syria because of iran that target is iran rather than the syrian military and there are those in the military who don't want further escalation especially in the east of syria which is extremely key to the future of the war again we hear america or the u.s. led coalition saying we took this action because it was in self-defense is that justification do you think. again we find this in the weird position where the syrian government is in its sovereign territory and has a right to whatever action they may take the rebels or the so-called position of fighting against them and to go into a new u.n. charter. group shouldn't be there so self-defense in whose cause in the cause of non-state actors think the u.s. has to be very careful and as i said there or there is enough opposition now in some quarters or in washington that the u.s. should not. conflagrate this further against the russians or syria is there a danger that the u.s. might lose support of other members of the coalition to do you think at least to some degree. yes i think the australian move is a clear indication of that the germans and italians of all to voice their concern about this so th

syria i'm joined by my guest christopher davidson in derm he is a lecturer in middle east politics at durham university as well as author of shadow wars the secret struggle for the middle east in london we have alexander mecurio he is a writer on legal affairs as well as the editor in chief of the duran dot com and in new york we have richard murphy he is a former u.s. career in boston or to syria and currently an adjunct scholar at the middle east institute all right gentlemen crosstalk rules in effect that means you can jump in anytime you want and i always encourage it alexander let me go to you first in london how are russia and the united states going to avoid going to war in syria. well i think that's a good question because at the moment we have a we have a situation where the russians are saying they will track us airplanes if they fly west of the euphrates river and of course there are russian and american forces in syria and they are backing different signs in the war nonetheless in spite of everything i think the local military commanders are sensible enough to try and work

airstrikes targeted a building in the east of syria.hey say the building was being used as a prison by the islamic state group. you rocky special forces launched an operation to retake mosul. they are now reportedly days away from retaking the entire city. mosul, itself, was seized by the islamic state three years ago. >> street by street, house by house, these iraqi soldiers are searching the heart of mosul's old city. one week after the launch of an assault on the last area held by the islamic state group the army has already taken two thirds of the historic center. monday morning, they announced the recapture of the al farook neighborhood in the corner of the north city. progress is slow. the jihadis have set traps everywhere. >> they do not surrender. their last resort is to blow themselves up. when they have used all their ammunition, they become suicide bombers. >> in these tight quarters, danger is everywhere. rubble prevent the use of armored vehicles. snipers are dug in. >> the operation is in progress but it requires precautio

so, for the first time in over a few decades, we have russian war jets flying over the middle east in syriae had to quickly build a mechanism. we call it a de-conflicting mechanism, or the escalation mechanism with the russians, meaning open channels of communication, fast, urgent communication possible. so we won't have a situation in which there is a clash in the air between israeli and russian fighter pilots or fighter jets, and i think we were successful in doing that. we look at what's happening in syria. we're not happy with what's happening there. it's a tragedy. we're trying to do our part. we've opened a field hospital in the north part of israel, where syrian sick, injured, can come and get treated. thousands were treated there. just recently, our government announced that they will accept orphans from syria. >> i saw a posting on your facebook page about it, something like at least 100 orphans. >> yes. exactly. so we're trying to our modest part in that, but i think there is more hope today in the region for a better future between us and our arab neighbors than there used to be

military engagements all the way from syria east to afghanistan. for is a critical hub military and security persons in the region. host: one more tweet before a phone call. "does the gentleman have an opinion on the temporary travel region or cited countries?" guest: the travel ban that the trump administration has drafted and is now before the courts -- my own view is that we have a very tight travel and visa restrictions. even when i was in yemen some we looked at very carefully at anyone who is looking to travel from yemen to and mostd states people in our evaluation did not meet the requirements and didn't get visas. whether the travel ban takes you farther and provides greater security i think is debatable, and in my own view, it is a mistake to go down that way. laws we have in place are sufficient to provide for u.s. security. host: we know from looking at dwarfs that qatar itself compared with saudi arabia. how big would it be compared with the state? guest: good question. relatively small. my guess is something like montana. but a relativ

from 320,227,005 it failed states in the middle east, iraq, syria, yemen, and afghanistan and the violenceas concentrated but it was starting to spread into africa and asia and europe. clearly, it was identified as a fertile ground in europe. radical jihadist out of libya and syria were in the soft underbelly into europe. it was a prime target. bill: it was a physical movement then? it wasn't just internet talk that you get in much of the time? >> our apologies there. hang with us. pete hoekstra the republican from michigan, if you get the line reestablished, let me know. it's a very important stuff when we think about the study and what he went to find. this is one of his conclusions. put it on the screen. in europe he talks about the increase of tax over the next 18-24 months, he also talks about in africa the terror expanding geographically all according to the study they were doing a year ago. in the middle east they will target jordan, saudi arabia and they may have caught them after a moment ago. can you put that mac back up your if we bring the former congressman into the conversati

well, organisations like my own, the international rescue corps mitzi, we have teams inside north—east syriaion so long—term, any of the children that have escaped isis areas in syria and iraq, that has to be part of the solution. thank you very much, both of you. charlie went from the international centre for the study of radicalisation and paul donohoe from the international rescue corps mitty, thank you very much. thank you for your messages today, whether you for your messages today, whether you are undecided or whether you have made a decision about who you will vote for tomorrow. robert says, it is my decision to vote conservative because i cannot trust jeremy corbyn with the safety of the country. john says it is now time to support our national health service. becky bumic favelas. —— thank you much for those. bbc newsroom live is coming up next. have a good day. after the heavy rain and strong winds yesterday, today is looking quite for much of a country with that area of low pressure responsible for the wet and windy conditions lingering across eastern parts of scotland. some rain f

so, for the first time in over a few decades, we have russian war jets flying over the middle east in syriahad to quickly build a mechanism. we call it a de-conflicting mechanism, or the escalation mechanism with the russians, meaning open channels of communication, fast, urgent communication possible. so we won't have a situation in which there is a clash in the air between israeli and russian fighter pilots or fighter jets, and i think we were successful in doing that. we look at what's happening in syria. we're not happy with what's happening there. it's a tragedy. we're trying to do our part. we've opened a field hospital in the north part of israel, where syrian sick, injured, can come and get treated. thousands were treated there. just recently, our government announced that they will accept orphans from syria. >> i saw a posting on your facebook page about it, something like at least 100 orphans. >> yes. exactly. so we're trying to our modest part in that, but i think there is more hope today in the region for a better future between us and our arab neighbors than there used to be 5

these grounds are ground missile strikes that we saw yesterday launched from western iran and into syria's east and. targeting the militants which iran said were responsible for those twin attacks that we saw into iran earlier this month and his number precedented move because it marks the first time that iran has launched strikes on syrian soil since the country descended into chaos in two thousand and eleven and it's also perhaps that iran when it means business it means business in an online statement to the revolutionary guard to launch the strikes a lot of the success of them as well they said that schools of militants were killed in these strikes and also some key infrastructure was also destroyed and so was extraordinary about this latest move is perhaps the perception shift it has for us when it comes to iran while the west has warned that iran is a country that's dangerous and that it shouldn't have weapons on the other hand iran is now using these weapons to launch strikes on islamic states the common enemy and it's also making a lot of progress in destroying this common enemy two or

ideas that president trump has is finding an accommodation with putin particularly in the middle east, in syriad tot one that i have agree with, but it is one that's very common among our policy elite, the democratic and republican side. differs considerably and significantly in terms of his strategy from the obama administration is that he believes he needs to push back against the iranians across the board that was the meaning of the trip to saudi arabia. because the russians and ,ranians are in an alliance pushing back against the iranians is back against the russians. it is to did that create tensions and to the russians off -- from the iranian -- iranians and syrians. it also involves reinvigorating our terry deterrence, completely neglected by president obama. president obama had the pathological allergy to military detergents, -- determines, and never engaged in it. ready with the streak against syria rep and, that's the reinvigoration. there's an outreach to russia and coming up or sure, but it's happening in -- happening in a completely different context. >> thank you. ambassador three

east. iran, syria, jordan, to the tune of $800 million in the years preceding the war. the soviet union, not only selling weapons to syria and egypt, but also promising more if those countries would give the soviet fleet permanent access to civil tees in alexandria, and egypt and syria. the superpowers exacerbated the crisis by not getting foreign aid exactly when developing countries, specifically middle eastern countries needed it the most, and by pursuing policies that basically strengthen the hand of general that were pursuing hawkish foreign policy. so, when we get to the summer of 1967 we have a situation where a war doesn't have to happen but it's very, very likely. so, these two stories, the one i told you about how i came to write the book and the story about how war erupted, the answer was the perennial question in history: do great men in history or are they slaves of circumstances beyond their control? now we have the answer because you might plan to do a research project on something not related to the six-day war or you might plan not to have a war if you'

the president has injected uncertainty in our relationships in middle east, syria, north korea, chinawing from the paris climate change. whatever you think about climate change it certainly sounds like we're advocating this leadership role. there's no infrastructure bill. >> good point. >> he has signed a few executive orders. gorsuch nomination through. it would be different if he had something to brag about. >> he did brag about a body of work. there is no body of work to speak for. >> i'm in agreement. >> no legislation, and yet that -- whatever show you want to call it, was started out by the president. >> right. >> talking about himself and making up untruths about, or misunderstandings about his own accomplishments. >> he did make an allowance. he said maybe not fdr he has surpassed but everyone else. >> so modest of him. >> this is how -- no i'm going to show how the president start this had off. >> okay. >> because it's incredible. take a look. >> i will say that never has there been a president, with few exceptions. in the case of fdr. he had a major depression to handle. who

ideas that president trump has is finding an accommodation with putin particularly in the middle east, in syriad tot one that i have agree with, but it is one that's very common among our policy elite, the democratic and republican side. differs considerably and significantly in terms of his strategy from the obama administration is that he believes he needs to push back against the iranians across the board that was the meaning of the trip to saudi arabia. because the russians and ,ranians are in an alliance pushing back against the iranians is back against the russians. it is to did that create tensions and to the russians off -- from the iranian -- iranians and syrians. it also involves reinvigorating our terry deterrence, completely neglected by president obama. president obama had the pathological allergy to military detergents, -- determines, and never engaged in it. ready with the streak against syria rep and, that's the reinvigoration. there's an outreach to russia and coming up or sure, but it's happening in -- happening in a completely different context. >> thank you. ambassador three

this -- the middle east is such a mess, especially with syria.r al-assad does this again for the 100th time, kills more of his own people. now we are supposed to bomb syria again, maybe implicating russia because they are already there? north korea, that crazy dictator is doing the same thing to his own people. so we are going to get involved there? i believe north korea is our issue. i don't think syria is our issue. humanitarian reasons, there are so many humanitarian atrocities around the world. we are going to get in everyone, will be spread -- finite resources. we will have none left. >> eboni: a lot of people feel the same way. what we can't save the world, we cannot be the worlds police that they see the pictures and they get emotional and they conclude there is a compelling reason to intervene. does the intervention potentially undermine our ability to defeat and destroy isis with a russian component and cooperation? >> stephen: i am confused by what i just heard. we're going to take action period we sent 59 cruise missiles. what's the en

western academic institutions in the u.s., and an islamic theological centers that the middle east in syriaand egypt as well as in timbuktu i can speak first and we must be precise when we describe the threat that we're talking about in the first place. for definitional purposes and for optics and islam is a worldview. it's a value system. it's a belief system practice by 1.1.5 billion muslims that were predictably practiced by inside african muslims were the first ones who can deal us who practice the muslim faith and right in georgia washington, d.c., we have 1752, who arrived in georgetown and this picture is that in the american portrait gallery. so there is a legacy and experience of american muslims being here from the beginning. islamists or islamism is an ideology that supports a kryptonian interpretation of islam that is narrow, that is rigid competitor, but it's mostly legalistic. this has modern meditations throughout the world. our manifestations and groups vary. some of these groups are gateway types groups to larger more brutal terrorist organizations like gateway drug. and if

is it increasing, in particular the hezbollah >> iran is playing unhelpful role in syria and middle east. some of you may have heard me describe it this way. again, iran, unlike the united states and coalition, is not focused on isised isised in of syria. iran is focused on propping up the regime committed atrocities in the civil war. addressing the grievances of the save war and syria will be necessary for us to have peace and stability and have a sanctuary for violent extremism. >> staying in the region, are you concerned about any long term implications of the current gulf crisis on regional security and has the crisis affected u.s. military operations in the region? you said something last week on capitol hill that your operations relatively unaffected. with turkey sending troops in and u.s. army bringing troops around qatar, what's happening in terms of operations sent there in the middle of the country? >> i think country? >> i think most people know. the reason why we watch qatar, that's where urbaned operation center is located. that's where aircraft support our current campaign

engagement, and a national engagement and that can upset their strategy in syria and the middle east. that assad doesn't feel particularly aligned, supported, yes by russia, but concerned about the way russia may handle him in the future, will they ultimately push him out of power so his real ally is perhaps iran. so is there an opportunity to listen to what the white house has said and convey that warning to assad? that seems to have happened yesterday. assad met with russia's top military official. he's the chief of general staff. he went to an air base -- the russian air base in syria, met with assad and what the clkreml said they discussed was the cooperation between russian and syrian forces. there's been a lot of bluster coming from the kremlin, the white house has said is against the leadership, is wrong, you know, the united states is essentially out of order on this demanding this of assad. but the bottom line is they've also said that chemical weapons should not be used so they do appear sensitive on this, so that message does seem to have had at least a good chance of getti

so, he introduces the modern middle east and then with the modern middle east we have syria today, we have yemen today. you see how syria and the war in syria gave a new blood line for al-qaeda and isis because when al-qaeda went to iraq, sorry went to syria, the affiliates in iraq went to syria. what is now isis, the islamic state in iraq at the time, sent commanders to setup an affiliate in syria and then they decided those guys in syria that the syria jihad is different than iran jihad. two different things. we need our own affiliates. al-qaeda and iraq said you are under our own control. they said well, let's go to the leader and ask him. they went to the leaders and said, yeah, syria and iraq are different. oh, you trader. you believe in divisions between iraq and syria? no, no, no. by the way, we established a state and we are going to raise you a caliphate and you have to give us we will not give you. we are the two followers of bin laden. you are a trader. the reason i am telling you this story is because now we see that it is a message. it is more and more message. if you hea

and islamic theological centers throughout the middle east and syria and i can speak firsthand, we must be precise in when we describe the threat that we are talking about in the first place. for definitional purposes, and from our optic islam is a world view. it's a value system, it's a belief system practiced by 1.5 billion muslims, it is a believed practice by muslims who were the first one who practiced the muslim faith and right in georgetown, washington, d.c., we have 1752 who arrived in georgetown and his picture is now in the american portrait gallery. so there is a legacy and experience from being here in the beginning. islamists or islamism is a supporting a interpretation of islam that is narrow, rigid, that is strict, that is mostly legalistic. this has modern manifestations throughout the world. there are outward manifestations and groups vary. some of these groups are gateway types, groups to larger and more brutal do groups like aq, al qaeda, and isis. lastly the ideology is again this is sort of the optic point and everyone may have different viewpoints on it. islamists

that is how syria's leader wants it. here on the eastare at a football field that has been hit in the past by mortar fire. very few of the national team play in syria, but 5—star players i hear training with their local club. for a variety of reasons they have stayed in syria, their career choices complicated by the war. every so often you can hear the sound of an aerial artillery shell going off somewhere in the distance. we are very close here to one of the front lines, even as we are in the centre of damascus. the players are not fast. they haven't even raise an eyebrow. it is the sound of war, something they have grown up with. omar midani is one of the younger members of the team. does this team really believe it can go on and qualify for russia? the training looks familiar. that is where similarities between the game here and in other countries ends. the difference is not just the conditions, but the hopes and expectations that are placed upon this team. there is no part of life in assad controlled syria untouched by the regime. ev

career in boston or to syria and currently an adjunct scholar at the middle east institute all right gentlemen crosstalk rules in effect that means you can jump in anytime you want and i always encourage it alexander let me go to you first in london how are russia and the united states going to avoid going to war in syria. well i think that's a good question because at the moment we have a.

syria. if this crumbles, the middle east crumbles. and the world order which is very important to mr.a sense of law, a sense of fundamental principles has gone out the window. >> tucker: that's the opposite of the way he's presented here, he's presented as an autocrat who doesn't care about law and who hacked our democracy and undermined our election. >> we don't know that were told that. >> tucker: do believe that courts mark >> you're jumping around but we have to have evidence. there's a thin amount of evidence. it's been told to us by three agencies, the cia, the nsa and the fbi. it was told to us in january a few days before mr. trump came into office. it was called an assessment, the report itself if you read it i think steven cohen has pointed out to you, it's not an intelligence estimates. it doesn't have dissent it doesn't have the kind of information that is required. as sy hirsch said it was a joke. he calls john brennan the head of the cia as creating a fear and a paranoia without evidence at a time when a transition but it's very imported american democracy that we trust

senior lecturer in the international relations of the middle east and paid a mere university in london. he lived for several years in syria and often returns to the middle east for research. he is an associate fellow at chatham house middle east and north africa program. his friend for many publications and has appeared on the bbc, and cnn. he's just published a second book, the battle for syria, international rivalry in the new middle east which will be today. >> alla malek is a civil right lawyer born in baltimore. she's her child's attorney in the department of justice. in the works in the west bank and lebanon. if you a masters in journalism from columbia university. her books include, a country called america, a us history retold. arab life and her new memoir, the home that was our country, about syria. we will be discussing it today. elliott ackerman is the author of green on blue and dark at the crossing. he lives and incidental and covered the syrian wars since 2013. his writings have appeared in the new yorker, east east atlantic and the stories have been included in the best american short stories. he's a former