i'm fareed zakaria. we have an important show for you this week starting in syria.dent bashir al assad's brutality continues unabated, so gin the failure of the u.n. security council to act, what can be done, what should be done to stop the violence, will it end? we'll talk to scholars, experts, policymakers. later in the show an exclusive interview with the great financier george soros on why he foresees european problems and about what he thinks of the united states economy. also, what in the world? mitt romney got me thinking about america's very poor. i'll show you the results. finally, what the dickens was going on in the british government this week? i'll explain. first, here's my take. if you are trying to understand the recent protests against the putin regime in russia, one of the best guides is an outspoken columnist that's been writing essays in the nation's leading newspapers over the past month. political competition is the heart beat of democracy. this author writes "noting the absence of such competition in contemporary russia." he describes the frust

i'm fareed zakaria. a true all-star panel on american politics and the world. joining me at the roundtable today david brooks, peggy noonan, david recommendnick, christa freeland, and then would you like to meet a man that runs a nation with a 2 3erz unemployment rate. it is singapore and its prime minister, you'll want to hear what he has to say. also, i'll explain why we should stop worrying so much about the stumbling revolutions in tunisia, and around the arab world. here's my take, first. now that mitt romney is once again the frontrunner, his campaign focus is returning to president obama. he will probably repeat a line that he has used often in the past. >> this is a president who fundamentally believes that this next century is a post-american century. >> now, i leave it to the president to describe what he believes, but as the author of the book "the post american world, i would like to clarify the phrase. at the very beginning of the book, i note, this is a book not about the decline of america, but rather about the rise of everyone else. throughout t

. >>> but up next as the bloodshed in syria continues, fareed zakaria on how russia is now the brutal regime's chief protector. >> it's going to be tough. because the instruments that the international community has are basically the u.n. security council, and that is blocked. . right. but... home security systems can be really expensive. so to save money, we actually just adopted a rescue panther. i think i'm goin-... shhh! we find that we don't need to sleep that much. there's an easier way to save. geico. fifteen minutes could save you fifteen percent or more. like in a special ops mission? you'd spot movement, gather intelligence with minimal collateral damage. but rather than neutralizing enemies in their sleep, you'd be targeting stocks to trade. well, that's what trade architect's heat maps do. they make you a trading assassin. trade architect. td ameritrade's empowering, web-based trading platform. trade commission-free for 60 days, and we'll throw in up to $600 when you open an account. up. >>> it is another day of mindless killing in syria. activists report close though 50 m

fareed zakaria joins me next. we're back in 70 seconds with mr. panetta says the u.s. wants to end its combat mission in afghanistan a year earlier than expected. panetta says the plan is to transition the mission from a combat role to more training, and advisory starting next year. a new cnn/orc poll shows americans want out. 63% oppose the war in afghanistan. 63% even those it's the nation many consider the birthplace of the 9/11 attacks. many analysts say the power vacuum, many of them say the power vacuum in afghanistan in the late '70s led to the rise of osama bin laden. i want to turn to fareed zakaria. have americans forgotten that? why do you think the majority of people want us out of afghanistan knowing the history? >> reporter: because the majority of people are right and the experts are wrong. this is now the longest war america has fought. this has been going on for ten years. we have killed osama bin laden. we have decimated al qaeda, most of its senior leadership is destroyed. there will be a power vacuum in afghanistan. some bad guy

security council can vote to intervene in some way or the other. >> fareed zakaria, thank you very much for your time. make sure you tune into fareed zakhar yar gps every sunday. now this. >> i thought you would be interested in knowing that running for president of the united states is really one series of humiliations after another. . >> you know what? she has a sense of humor. michele bachmann opens up about her gaffes on the campaign trail. just as conservatives gather in d.c. to choose one of these four guys to challenge the president come november. up next, the congresswoman joins me live. i'm going to ask her about the news breaking a short time ago, the first catholic lawsuit filed in the fight against president obama over birth control. don't miss it a few minutes away. [ jody ] four course feast. man it's great. the guests love it. [ male announcer ] red lobster's four course seafood feast is back. get soup, salad, cheddar bay biscuits, dessert and choose one of 7 entrees. four courses for only $15. offer ends soon. i'm jody gonzalez, red lobster manager and i sea food differe

i'm fareed zakaria. today on the show we have first one-on-one with the president's top new military adviser, general martin dempsey. he's the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff. the highest ranking military officer in the united states. we'll hit all of the hotspots, syria, iran, china, egypt, and more. later in the show, the u.s. rolled out the red carpet for china's next president but what is going on behind the scenes between the two rival nations? we have a great panel of china watchers. also, believe it or not, the eurozone crisis is solved. how, what? stay tuned, we'll explain. first, here is my take. we're hearing a new concept these days in discussions about iran. the zone of immunity. the idea often explained by ehud barak, israel's defense minister, is soon iran will have enough nuclear capacity that israel would not be able to inflict a crippling blow to its program. israeli officials explained that we americans cannot understand their fears that iron is a exosential danger to them. but, i

i'm fareed zakaria. we have a really great show for you today. we'll start with one of the wise men of american foreign policy. i'll ask him about iran, about syria. but we will also look at the bigger picture. just what is america's foreign policy today, and how's president obama doing? >>> later in the show, the economy budget tax plans. we will talk with robert reich, david stockman and others. >>> also, who is behind the new anti-americanism in egypt. you'll be surprised. >>> finally, if you thought american debt was worthless, think again. i'll explain. >>> but first, here's my take. the american economy seems to have picked up. the dow jones industrial average is hovering around 13,000, the highest since the financial crisis began in may 2008. the nasdaq is actually at its highest level since the technology bubble burst more than a decade ago. now, stock prices around everything, but data from the economy on the ground is also slowly getting better. jobless claims are down. housing starts are up. things do seem to be getting better, slowly,

up next for our viewers here in the united states fareed zakaria "gps." >> this is "gps, the global public square." welcome to all of you around the world. i'm far evening zakaria. we have a great show for you today. we start with one of the wise men of american foreign policy. i'll ask him about iran, about syria, but we will also look at the bigger picture. just what is america's foreign policy today and how is president obama doing? later in the show the economy, budget, tax plans. we will talk with robert reich, david stockman, and others. also, we'll tell you who is behind the new anti-americanism in egypt. you'll be surprised. finally, if you thought american debt was worthless, think again. i'll explain. first, here is my take. the american economy seems to have picked up. the dow jones industrial average is hovering around 13,000. the highest since the financial crisis began in may 2008. things do seem to be getting better. this is good news for president obama because there's a strong co-correlation between economic growth and a president's prospects for re-election. the unemploym

. >> let's get some perspective from cnn's fareed zakaria. the secretary of state says the united states should lean toward this opposition, be prepared now to embrace this opposition. i want to listen here to what general martin dempsey the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff told you the other day. he seems quite worried about that. >> there's indications that al qaeda is involved and that they're interested in supporting the opposition. there's a number of players, all of whom are trying to reinforce their particular side of this issue. and until we're a lot clearer about who they are and what they are, i think it would be premature to talk about arming them. >> now general dempsey's talking about arming them. what about the idea of embracing them? is there a split and should there be caution on that front? >> i think that's a very smart question, john. everyone has assumed that the only way that we can support the syrian opposition is to arm them. and of course that is the most effective way we could do it and of course that's probably

he spoke to fareed zakaria. >> a strike at this time would be destabilizing and wouldn't achieve their long-term objectives. but i also understand that israel has national interests that are unique to them. of course they consider iran to be an exotential threat. we are of the opinion that the iranian regime is a rational actor and that's why the current path we're on is the most prudent path at this point. >> reporter: tonight president obama's national security adviser is in israel and met with israel's prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, only the latest in a series of u.s. envoys trying to persuade israel that iran does not yet have the technical capacity to build a bomb, hasn't decided to build a weapons program and that sanctions could still work. >>> there was more blood shed in syria today. activists say dozens of people were killed during the continued crackdown by government forces. meantime syrian state tv is reporting on the assassinations of a state prosecutor and a judge killed during an ambush near the border with turkey. >>> to presidential politics now and the continued

. >>> fareed zakaria will continue the conversation at the top of the hour. >>> starbucks' ceo is hereus a blunt assessment of the u.s. economy. >> we're facing, in my view, a collision course in time in terms of these problems. of blood flow.that con cialis for daily use helps you be ready anytime the moment's right. you can be more confident in your ability to be ready. and the same cialis is the only daily ed tablet approved to treat ed and symptoms of bph, like needing to go frequently or urgently. tell your doctor about all your medical conditions and medications, and ask if your heart is healthy enough for sexual activity. do not take cialis if you take nitrates for chest pain, as this may cause an unsafe drop in blood pressure. do not drink alcohol in excess with cialis. side effects may include headache, upset stomach, delayed backache or muscle ache. to avoid long term injury, seek immediate medical help for an erection lasting more than four hours. if you have any sudden decrease or loss in hearing or vision, or if you have any allergic reactions such as rash, hives, swelling

. >>> fareed zakaria will continue this discussion at the top of the hour when he talks to general martin ceo is here to give us a blunt assessment of the u.s. economy. >> we're facing, in my view, a collision course in time in terms of these fiscal problems. well somewhere along the way, emily went right on living. but you see, with the help of her raymond james financial advisor, she had planned for every eventuality. ...which meant she continued to have the means to live on... ...even at the ripe old age of 187. life well planned. see what a raymond james advisor can do for you. can you enjoy vegetables with sauce and still reach your weight loss goals? you can with green giant frozen vegetables. over twenty delicious varieties have sixty calories or less per serving and are now weight watchers-endorsed. try green giant frozen vegetables with sauce. >>> starbucks ceo is a rock star in the business world. his roots may be showing in the latest project to create jobs stepping in where he thinks washington has failed. it's a program to help entrepreneurs in poor areas of the country. take

fareed zakaria "gps" but we will leave you with whitney houston and a haunting rendition of her hit "f he really loves me ♪ ♪ i say a prayer with every heart beat ♪ ♪ i fall in love whenever we meet ♪ ♪ i'm asking you because you know about these things ♪ ♪ how will i know if he's thinking of me ♪ ♪ i try to phone, but i'm too shy, can't speak ♪ ♪ falling in love is all bittersweet ♪ ♪ this love is strong, why do i

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here's what he told fareed zakaria over the weekend. >> we think that it's not prudent at this point to decide to attack iran. i mean, that's been our counsel to our allies, the israelis, well-known, well documented. >> barbara, is that a message to israel, stand down? >> oh, very much so, john. good evening. martinen dempsey is basically saying what the pentagon thinks, what the obama administration thinks, which is it would like israel to take a deep breath. here's where the debate stands tonight. israel fundamentally believes that iran has made a decision to go for a nuclear weapons program. the u.s. isn't so sure. they don't think that iran has crossed that line just yet. but the question for israel is now, do they strike. that's what martin dempsey is trying to say, that's what the administration is trying to say so drai to israel. let sanctions work. they're beginning to have some bite on iran's financial and economic sanctions. let the inspectors do their jobs. let some of these things work, that military action would be an action of last resort, but israel may not be willing

. >>> up next for our viewers here in the united states, fareed zakaria gps.will i know?" ♪ there's a boy i know ♪ he's the one i dream of ♪ looks into my eyes ♪ takes me to the clouds above ♪ mm-hmm ♪ ooh i lose control ♪ can't seem to get enough ♪ uh-huh ♪ when i wake from dreaming ♪ tell me is it really love ♪ ooh how will i know ♪ don't trust your feelings ♪ how will i know

he discussed the challenges with our own fareed zakaria. >> do you believe if you needed to you couldhallenge, as you described it, geographically. it's a different challenge in terms of the capability of the syrian military. they are very capable. they have a very sophisticated integrated air defense system, for example. they have chemical and biological weapons. now, they haven't demonstrated any interest or intent to use those but it was s is a very different military problem. >> gut-wrenching arwa damon is taking us inside an underground bunker where families are now taking refuge. these images are pretty graphic stuff. >> reporter: this small hall was once filled with laughter and celebrations of marriages. now it echos with tragedy. these are some of the families who have nowhere else to go. finding relatives safety in this makeshift bunker but little comfort. we're not sleeping at night or during the day. the children are always crying. the bombs are coming down like this. they huddle in near darkness. some cover their faces afraid they will lose more than they already have. sh

. >>> coming up in the next hour, fareed zakaria joins me to talk about the bigger picture in that regionunderwater. huge news for people struggling to keep their homes. today federal and state officials announced a mortgage deal. up next, find out exactly how you can get help and who is paying for the big bailout. first, $179 million worth of counterfeit goods made their their way into the country last year. u.s. customs and border patrol is out with their list of the top counterfeit items. number five on the list, clothing, particularly jeans and sports jerseys. number four, cds and dvds. number three, prescription drugs. viagra is one of the most popular. the top two counterfeit goods seized coming into the united states coming up after this break. [ male announcer ] this is lois. the day starts with arthritis pain... a load of new listings... and two pills. after a morning of walk-ups, it's back to more pain, back to more pills. the evening showings bring more pain and more pills. sealing the deal... when, hang on... her doctor recommended aleve. it can relieve pain all day with fewer