morocco the other two monarchies in the arab world a signal there in times of joy in the gulf cooperation council which would lead to as you will a whole year on the holy alliance of royal families throughout the arab world which a plate of a major role of demonstrably role in the overthrow of the moron mark about the government. in libya for example and have suggested be part of a. to supervise the term for some program in yemen and are increasingly. putting pressure on syria for transformation governmental transformation in that country so there's a lot more going on than strictly of the internal affairs inside syria for example at a meeting of the collective security treaty organization of russia up all over so i mean i am kazakhstan here just on thursday because the strike has. recently to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the organization a warning was issued about military intervention in countries that are suffering domestic down the rest of the reference would appear to have been. you know these are the syria more than any other country so we have to recall that nothing happens in a vacu

and the emirates and we all the arab league which is now called troll bait did she see the gulf cooperation council easiest to get themselves in this case we still don't know i didn't go into investigating the need to call truly to call and senator set up in the near the border between syria keep and syria a disk in their room which is very across the border basically for almost two hours hardly going to investigate that you are really going to furthest against shipment smuggling weapons via the jordanian syrian border we still don't look good it's a tall order for the arab league call caesar in that these are not exactly democracies they are investigating one of their all but they're also implicated in the whole big picture. you are still coming to your head in the program. you know the president of iran if. you don't name matter jetted you are for. us presidential election looming ahead we find out how much americans know about the building blocks of the country's policies at home and abroad. to reports eventually to take us to a sort of a became baseball time and sort of mid-sentence just thinki

qatar and the emirates will the arab league which is now called true why did she see the gulf cooperation council exists to get themselves in this case we still don't know are they going to investigate the need to call truly call and senator said out in the near the border between turkey and syria in the skin there room which is very across the border basically from aleppo let's say two hours are you going to investigate that you are really going to hurt us to get into shipment smuggling weapons via the jordanian syrian border we still don't know but it's a tall order for the arab league season that these are not exactly democracies they're investigating one of their all but they're also implicated in the whole big picture. well you know with r.t. still coming ahead in the program. you know the president of iran is now the president. you know a name not a jet a gaffe i thought. u.s. presidential election looming we find out how much americans now about the building blocks of that country's policies at home and abroad also. who is trying to report and eventually to take aspects of a became base be

and the emirates and we all the arab league which is now called troll why did she see the gulf cooperation council interesting themselves in this case we still don't know are they going to investigate you need to call truly to call and center. in the near the border between turkey and syria a disk in their room which is generally across the border basically from aleppo let's see two hours are you going to investigate that you are really going to hurt us to gain shipment smuggling weapons by the jordanian syrian border we still don't look good it's a tall order for the eco caesar and these are not exactly democracies they are investigating one of their all but they're also implicated in the picture. here with r.t. or so coming to a head in the program. who is trying to report and eventually to take aspects of a became base better and sort of mid-sentence just thinking oh my god i just can't breathe anymore. bring you our correspondents person reflections from greece looks back at twenty seven's main headlines also. well the president of iran is now. you know it may be matter jetted yeah for. us pre

qatar and the emirates will the arab league which is now called troll why did she see the gulf cooperation council interested gate themselves in this case we still don't know. are they going to investigate the need to call truly call and senator set up in the near the border between turkey and syria in the skin the room which is very across the border basically from a little let's see in two hours are you going to investigate that you are really going to hurt the stinging shipment of smuggling of weapons via the jordanian syrian border we still don't look good it's a tall order for the arab league go caesar and these are not exactly democracies they're investigating one of their own but they're also implicated in the whole big picture. power a phony from a brussels based think tank specializing in political analysis told r.t. he doubt safety observers will be too damning in their conclusions usually these kind of missions are necessary in order to appease a little bit the spirits on either side and try to negotiate behind the scenes so i do not think and i do not expect that the final report would

and the emirates and we all the arab league which is now called troll bait did she see the gulf cooperation council interesting . themselves in this case we still don't know i think going to investigate need to call truly to call and senator said out in the near the border between turkey and syria he skinned the room which is very across the border basically from a little let's see two hours are you going to investigate there are they going to go first against shipment smuggling weapons by the jordanian syrian border we still don't know but it's a tall order for the area each call caesar in their ease or not is directly democracy is they're investigating one of their all but they're also implicated in the whole big picture pepe escobar they talked a bit earlier with the claim that the syrian opposition is being backed by extremist fighters and shared by foreign journalists working on the ground and later this hour we hear from a french reporter who exposed the rest through eye witnesses. i think that all be the action to destabilize the country. we see a lot of people killed but this is not the civ

qatar and the emirates will the arab league which is now called trolled by dingies see the gulf cooperation council easiest to get themselves in this case we still don't know are they going to investigate the need to call troll and call and sen set up got in the or near the border between turkey and syria and a disk in their room which is very across the border basically from aleppo let's say in two hours and i'm going to investigate that they do are they going to convert us to gains shipment smuggling of weapons via the jordanian syrian border we still don't know all good it's a tall order for the arab nico caesar in that these are not exactly the marker says they are investigating one of their own but they're also implicated in the whole picture. well stay with us here on r.t. still ahead in the program. the president of iran is. with you to. remember the you know we named him at a jet engine africa. with the u.s. presidential elections looming we find out how much americans know about the building blocks of our country's politics at home and abroad. to try to influence and eventually to take us

the gulf cooperation council exists to get themselves in this case we still don't know are they going to investigators need to call truly to call and center set up in the uk near the border between syria keep them syria in the skin their room which is very across the border basically from a little less in two hours than are you going to investigate that you are really going to incur first against shipment smuggling weapons by the jordanian syrian border who still don't know the good it's a tall order for the arab league season that of these are not exactly democracies they're investigating one of the they're all but they're also implicated in the big picture russia's prime minister vladimir putin pledges to ensure a transparent and fair presidential race in march two thousand and twelve as announcement comes amid a reshuffle at the top with the leading kremlin straight he just taking up a new post in the government in the wake of all reports. russian prime minister said that the upcoming elections for the country's dubbed job should be transparent in order to achieve that i didn't wan

see the gulf cooperation council interest to get themselves in this case we still don't know are they going to investigate the need to call truly call in center set out in the book near the border between turkey and syria in the skin the room which is very across the border basically from aleppo. let's see two hours are we going to investigate that are they going to test against shipment smuggling of weapons via the jordanian syrian border we still don't know but it's a tall order for the arab league considering that these are not exactly democracies they are investigating one of their all but they're also implicated in the whole big picture you mention of the free syrian syrian army has been a big crux of argument on both sides of who these people are where they're from what they're doing how they do supporting them but a big issue isn't it. absolutely because. it's super wrong strategy from the part of the syrian opposition there's the syrian national council with diplomatic arm meeting in istanbul in paris the leader is a terrorist exile. and he's been talking basically to internat

last september, i met in new york with members of the gulf cooperation council to underscored the importance of those partnerships. iran must ultimately realize that its quest for nuclear weapons will make it less, not more secure. these efforts are increasing to iran's isolation and i continue to believe that pressure, economic pressure, diplomatic pressure and strengthen collective defenses are the right approach. still, it is my department's responsibility to plan for all contingencies and to provide and the president's with a wide range of military options, should they become necessary. that is a responsibility i take very seriously. when it comes to the threat posed by iran, but the president has made it very clear that we have not taken any options off the table. our delivered and focused approach to iran, our efforts to enhance regional security and stability and our unshakeable commitment to israel's security make clear that even at this time of great change, our determination to safeguard israel's security is steady and sure. indeed, this is stronger than ever. in every strong relat

if he is willing to preside over , and if he keeps with the golf cooperation council -- gulf cooperation council has labeled his killing machine in tact, he may last for some time. we will try to peel away his enablers and the international community, but the nightmare of the syrian people may be far from over. their nightmare will however and. our job is to try to make sure it ends sooner rather than later, and with as little damage to the institutions of the syrian state and the unity and well-being of the syrian people as possible. bashar al-assad and his inner circle can best contribute to the welfare of their countrymen by stepping aside now without delay. when the regime is gone, the syrian people can be assured that they will have plenty of help in rebuilding and reforming their state, and recovering the honor and dignity squandered by those who have served themselves at serious expense. thank you. i look forward to comments and questions. >> thank you very much. we appreciate your testimony here this morning. we will now each have five minutes to ask questions. i recognize myself

gcc gulf cooperation council relationship >> opening the floor to your questions. yes, please.you please wait for the mike and identify yourself? thank you. [inaudible] >> thank you off with a wonderful presentation. david correctly talked about is your problem policies of turkey, but i suggest that saudi arabia has basically had similar type of policy when abdullah was actually crowned prince. yet a rapprochement with iran after how many by select it in 1997 and try to let their 90 shoes at the other countries that a mom, yemen, uae. so, this is quite a different abdullah now and the policy -- the shift is unbelievable. it is very similar to obesity and turkey. it looks like there is a match there. that as far as turkey is concerned, yes we have seen some sharp moves by the prime minister they are. and i am not sure if it is going to be well taken in the arab world. it's a great it would probably see it as a very opportunistic moves by turkey that case. as far as the popularity, yes it is more popular, but so was ahmadinejad before the 2009 election. so the ability of that i t

last september, i met in new york with members of the gulf cooperation council to underscore the importance of those partnerships. iran must ultimately realize that its quest for nuclear weapons will make less, not more secure. these efforts are increasing the isolation of tehran. i continue to believe that pressure, economic pressure, diplomatic pressure, and strengthening collective defenses are the right approach. still, it is my department's responsibility to plan for all contingencies. and to provide the president with a wide range of military options should they become necessary. that is a responsibility i take very seriousl = because when it comes to the threats posed by iran, the president has made it very clear that we have not yet taken any options off the table. our delivered and focused approach to iran, our efforts to enhance regional security and stability and error and are unshakeable commitment to israel's security make clear that even at this time of great change, our determination to safeguard israel's security is safe and sure. indeed, it is stronger than ever. in every s

if he is willing to preside over pyongyang, and if he keeps with the gulf cooperation council has labeled his killing machine intact, he may hang on for a period of time. it will certainly keep up the pressure and tried to peel away his apologists and enablers and the international community. but the nightmare of the syrian people may be far from over. the nightmare will, however, ind. our job is to try to ensure that it ends sooner rather than later and with as little damage to the institutions of the syrian state and the unity and the well-being of the syrian people as possible. the inner circle can best contribute to the welfare of their countrymen by stepping aside now without delay. when the regime is gone, the syrian people can be assured that they will have plenty of help in rebuilding and reforming their state and recovering the honor and dignity squandered by those who have served themselves at syria's expense. thank you, mr. chairman. i look forward to comments and questions. >> thank you very much. we appreciate your testimony this morning and we will know each have five minute

if he is willing to preside over p'yongyang, and if he keeps with the gulf cooperation council has labored the killing machine intact, he may hang on for a period of time. we will keep up the pressure to peel away the unable lawyers but the nightmare of the syrian people maybe far from over. they're nightmare will end. our job is to try to ensure intense sooner rather than later and the at both damages the institution of the state and the well-being of the people. assad and his inner circle contributes to the welfare of their countrymen by stepping aside now without delay when the regime is gone the syrian people will be assured they have plenty of help to rebuild and reform their state and two recover the honor and dignity squandered by those who have serve themselves at syria's expense. thank you, mr. chairman. i look forward to comments and questions. >> thank you mr. hof we appreciate your testimony i recognize myself for five minutes for the purpose of asking questions. raise concern about the administration continued calls for all opposition to remain peaceful. there is a logic to th

we have won it for 20 years to see the gulf cooperation council have a better security arrangement andapability in the same it be true of the arab league and certainly we were closely cooperative. so i don't see this as a zero-sum game at all. i don't think people in the u.s. government do, but see it as a way of being, frankly, the american partnership in the region and i'll stop there. >> thank you for the regional perspective as well as the u.s. to on the issue. let me ask marina to get her comments. >> thank you very much. i started with something i didn't mean to talk about, but i want to add something to your last comment about the perception of losing power. i just came back a short time ago from a trip to the gulf and i heard a lot of people are talking a lot about this. my impression is that it is not that they want the u.s. not to have the presidency, but they are afraid the united states is no longer capable of keeping things under control. that seems to mean a discussion of not so much you guys go away as you cannot keep order in this part of the world. it seems to me that'

have absolutely no doubt about it just look at the components of the persian gulf cooperation countries either within the council or economic agreements within the customs union or advisory council the directions are many i have mentioned those that have just occurred to me all these issues have been on the agendas of the e.u. and other unions on is another example in southeast asia all these components will certainly lead to integral unification the cooperation council is exactly that kind of union in terms of integral unification it's a union addressing the problems of its brothers in yemen after other important affairs the cooperation council acts as an integral union you could say that these moves by the council testify it was created and developing in the right direction to consolidate all the positive forces in the region have to. do think the yemen crisis is closer and then delta president ali abdullah saleh signed the gulf initiative on agreeing to resign. and yemen. yemen is not a simple country i have always stressed that when addressing conferences on security in yemen and meetings of the council i sa

we have wanted to see the gulf cooperation council have a better security arrangement, and the capability -- and the same would be true of the arab league, and i don't see this as a zero-sum game at all. i see this as a way out -- of frankly, enhancing the american partnership in the region. >> this is a great regional perspective as well as the united states perspective on this issue. let her give her comments before we open this up to the floor. >> i will start with something i did not mean to talk about, but this was part of your last comment about the united states, and the perception that the united states is losing power. i came back from a trip to the gulf, and people are talking about this. my impression is not that they want the united states not to have a presence, but they are afraid that the united states is capable of keeping things under control. the discussion is not so much that they should go away, but that they will keep order in this part of the world. i want to make a few comments about what i found most interesting and most surprising, in light of what has been happen

last september, i met in new york with members of the gulf cooperation council. to underscore the importance of those partnerships. iran must ultimately realize that its quest for nuclear weapons will make less, not more secure. these efforts are increasing the isolation of tehran. i continue to believe that pressure, economic pressure, diplomatic pressure, and strengthening collective defenses are the right approach. still, it is my department's responsibility to plan for all contingencies. and to provide the president with a wide range of military options should they become necessary. that is a responsibility i take very seriously. = because when it comes to the threats posed by iran, the president has made it very clear that we have not yet taken any options off the table. our delivered and focused approach to iran, our efforts to enhance regional security and stability and error and are unshakeable commitment to israel's security make clear that even at this time of great change, our determination to safeguard israel's security is safe and sure. indeed, it is