we are talking about syria. i think we will do wealth respect to syria. i think things are happening that are really, really positive. we will stop the killing and the death. we had a very good meeting with mr. lavrov. i thought it was very, very good. killing, thee the horrible killing in syria stop as soon as possible. everybody is working towards that end. it's an honor to have henry kissinger with us. he has been a friend of mine for a long time. thank you very much are being here. appreciate it. >> why did you fire director comey? president trump: he was not doing a good job. excuse me? not at all. questions]asking president trump: thank you, everybody. thank you. >> that video from the white house late this morning. we're live on c-span at the korean economic institute in washington for a look at the south korean presidential election. the new south korean president sworn in today, taking his formal oath of office and saying he would be willing to visit rival north korea under the right conditions. they will be talking about the future of u.s.-korea

it is the single biggest cause of terrorism in syria. it is the cause of i isis in syria.f you talk to syrians, bashar al-assssad and thehe regime is e biggesteterrorist inin the country. the force is fighting isis, which are reform -- assume he is talking about, is ypg. nermeen: and you explalain what you say, it gave birth to isis in syria, the assad regime? that is not what is commonly understood. >> i've spent a good portion of the last few months interviewing a number of isis fighters. one thing i made a point to do is ask him, whwhy did you join this group? to a person, that all say they witnessed some horrific massacre conducted by the regime. i've never heard anyone give another reason other than that. what has happen is the sheer brutality of the regime has led people to join isis, especially in the context where they see there's not a lot of support for other groups. isis is one of the few groups in syria that does not get foreign support. it is a must entirely self-funded, which gives it a sort of staying power that other groups don't have. nermeen: is it your s

complete but, the killing and devastation has gone on for far too long in syria. minister was clear as well that he shares the same goals as the united states does in syria, a unified and stable nation. those men agreed that the way to bring stability to syria must come through diplomatic and political means. we call upon russia to use its implants with the assad racine to adhere to a lasting negotiating cease-fire. that cease-fire we believe will reduce violence and also insure unhindered humanitarian access and stop the indiscriminate killings of civilians. these actions will help create the conditions on the ground for political resolution of that conflict. with that, i'll turn it over to acting assistant, stuart jones. the questions at the end. thank you. >> good morning. thank you for being here this morning. since the seriousness of a comic began in 2011 the assad regime has treated opposition forces and unarmed civilians as one in the same. they've committed widespread violations of international law and human rights law. today we are releasing newly declas

syria, the parties must -- for there to be peace in syria, the parties must come together. so long as assad and his backers can slaughter the people of syria with no consequences, there's no hope for peace. as we speak, russia and iran have proclaimed themselves the guarantee ors of peace and have - guarantors of peace and have de-escalation zones where civilians can seek safety. but these zones would be policed by the syrian army. supported by russian military police, by hezbollah fighters, and i.r. -- irgc, iranian revolutionary guard corps commanders, backed by those shi'a militias. the very same people who have murdered thousands of syrian civilians throughout this conflict. and who are actively engaged in fomenting sectarian-based violence throughout the region. with this scenario, peace does not have a chance. mr. speaker, this bill is long overdue. last year, eliot engel and i brought this up, we passed it unanimously. yet the other body did not take it up before we adjourned. i urge all members to support this legislation, as we seek to ease the suffering of the syr

it is one of syria's largest and most secure prison complexes. saydnaya is but one of many detention facilities where prisoners are being held and abused. others include the airport detention facility and military security branches, 215, 227, 235, 248 and 291. the regime holds as many as 70 prisoners in saydnaya in cells that have a five-person capacity. according to multiple sources, the regime is responsible for killing as many as 50 detainees per day at saydnaya. credible sources have believed many of the bodies have been disposed in mass graves. we now believe the syrian regime has installed a crematorium in the saydnaya prison complex which could dispose of detainees' remains with little evidence. beginning in 2013, the syrian regime modified a building within the saydnaya complex to support what we believe is a crematorium, as shown in the photos we have distributed. although the regime's many atrocities are well-documented, we believe the building of the crematorium is an effort to cover up the extent of mass murders taking place in saydna

>> their efforts inside syria, they are going to fight as long as it takes in syria and i think this is one of the things i point out in the monograph at least try to drive home the point that it's one of our early failures in us policies in my opinion and many western capitals as well that we underestimated the degree to which iran is committed to assad and that they will do whatever it takes to support assad and i think that the lack of understanding that among those in the previous administration and frankly many other western capitals and that may include perhaps even israel as well that's that's what undergirds the belief that assad would essentially fall especially in 2011 and 2012 during that timeframe, which i think helps fuel some bad policy for many states during that period and i think it surprised me frankly during that time because if you understood iran's calculus and iran's strategic thinking you would know that there is frankly almost nothing they could do-- not due to support assad and we have seen that play out. at the same time iran takes approach toward syria that

after the airstrike in syria? minister lavrov: [speaking in russian] translator: your first question had to do with it collusion areas. it's a fundamental truth and we are guided by this. as of now there is an agreement, a conceptual agreement for those areas. it has become more practical. the memorandum signed outlined further steps in that direction , according to which, they begin to agree how and who is going to control security areas, security zones around the de-escalation areas. it is our interest for the u.s. to make an active contribution particularly with affect in the , southern area. we believe regarding the south, they are interested in that,, and regarding the south, they are going to initiate this. we hope of the other areas i am talking about, the u.s. will be able to make a contribution into ensuring security, monitoring the compliance with the cessation of hostilities, and also contributes into addressing humanitarian issues, because that is one of the goals behind which represents behind the est

they talked about a way forward on syria. the secretary acknowledged the state of the relationship between russia and the united states is at a low point. that syria is one of the factors where we would like to see the relations improve. i would not say they have mapped out a specific way forward on how to address the issue of syrian atrocities. or even how to move forward on the geneva process. we support the geneva process. we believe in addition to achieving of cease-fire in syria, that the clinical processes that follow. reporter: what made it productive then? reporter 2: have you presented russia with this visual evidence? have you asked them to take any actions and have you gotten any response from them? mr. jones: we have not presented this -- i have not presented this particular evidence to the russians, but we have an ongoing conversation with the russians, talking about the problem that their failure to condemn syrian atrocities and their apparent tolerance of syrian atrocities has created. we have urged the russian

syria relate to? can you say that again?racter, can syrian child refugees relate to? relate to. yeah. did you say that? yeah. umm, i don't know... what would children like about captain tsubasa? umm, like, for boys, the most popular sports in syria is football. all of the children in syria is to play football in the schools and on the streets. that may relate to them. and also, like, it isafun relate to them. and also, like, it is a fun story. i don't know, maybe the idea ofjust having a dream and working hard to do it. that is what might make it relatable to syrian children. briefly, before we let you 90, children. briefly, before we let you go, willie wood eventually want to go home to syria? -- will you eventually. i don't know. maybe when the war is over. i can tell right now because i am actually not able to go back. so... umm... i have no idea when i will go back home. maybe when the war is over i will be able to go back home. all the best to you. living in japan. to go back home. all the best to you. living injapan. l

they are not winning in syria, frankly. after almost six years now, past six years, you look at they've had to depend on russian air support in addition to other russian capacity in syria and it still not doing it for them. any rock, there depending on american ears were. this is humility, frankly, to the iranians. for something that is so vital from their perceived geopolitical and ideological anti- rack is they haven't syria is a combination of the geopolitical and ideological interests there. for something that's so vital to depend on superpowers to save them, i can be crude in describing that but it's a humiliating thing for them. i think this is something that changing threat perception and a degree of embarrassment is pushing these changes that ir gc may have to change. it may have to become something different or the our cash might become something different with the ir gc. this is the big question. i think they're struggling with it. i don't think they figured out the answer. that's why were seen -- 2015 is an impor

regarding syria, we are focused on the ideas we discussed rex tillerson's visit to moscow. tillerson gave ideas about this in moscow and now the ideas are put in place with four de-escalation areas including in the south, which is a particular interest for stabilizing the border between syria and northern israel. today we have the pacific ways to jointly implement these agreements. we believe it should not take long and that is why the decision to renew the geneva talks in a few days and we hope that the fair works within this process we hope the political talk is going to involve details with the issues of governance, election and fight against terrorism, of course. >> question today. these areas in syria, however, recent pentagon state grounds on the fact the devil is in the detail sounds -- who is going to ensure the security of these areas? how is it going to work? is america doing enough in that direction? and one more question, since trump's inauguration a lot has taken place in international affairs. have you felt any changes in the metric? >> the first question had

you see it in syria. a great human cost. you see it in yemen. you see it in a certain extent in iraq. security, cooperation. counterterrorism. counterextremism is a big part -- >> as you know, the saudis -- >> the second part -- >> go ahead. >> the second part is economic cooperation. being able to get better access to markets. develop trade relationships. create american jobs. a lot of important signings happened in that connection. and the third is to foster, this is just for this leg of the trip, better defense cooperation in the region and to encourage additional burden-sharing. responsibility-sharing. with allies and partners. so americans don't foot the full bill for security in this region and globally, as well. >> the saudis have been, in the past, consistent backers of extremists around the region and around the world. are you convinced they're ready to change? >> we're going to ask them to convince us. there are very good first steps being taken. with the establishment of the center for combatting global extremism, or terrorist extremi

and not only is syria destroyed, the rest of syria, but the rest of the world, too.o there is a little difficulty in that scenario, whatever one thinks about the justification for it. so what can be done? well, one thing that can be done, which is really easy, very easy, is to take care of the people fleeing from this disaster. i mean, there are huge numbers of people fleeing from the disaster. what do we do about them? make sure they don't come here, you know, kind of like people fleeing from -- you know, my relatives, in fact, fleeing, eastern to flee from europe under the -- before when the nazis were coming along. "we don't want 'em. not here." you know. so the syrians don't come -- maybe a tiny trickle, but very few come here. europe's not that much better -- in fact, pretty horrible, too. so one thing you could do is just take care of the people who are fleeing the disaster. another thing you can do is provide humanitarian aid for those in the region. now, there are countries who are absorbing refugees, remember, like take lebanon. it is not a rich country like

the sort of approach to syria yria, would have a friendly approach to russia when it comes to syria and generally coming what we've seen in syria is that has not played we had ar, at least president trump launch air against syriaonth and military targets and that was over a chemical weapon there was a lot of recrimination between hos cow and washington over that incident. we haven't seen reproach that some people expected between the russia and s and syria. host: any coordination or involvement in russia in efforts afghanistan? guest: no. there is not. i mean, there are diplomatic relations, but in fact, the top commander in afghanistan russia suggested that was arming or supporting in some and that would that was cant, significant accusation from a and, you ary official know, there is no sign they will have a united front there either. united states has to contend with the fact russia is a major countries for different reasons, but i think it is a bridge too far to talk very substantial cooperation. host: few minutes left with "washington the post." line for afghanistan veterans 20

they want to take that back to syria. none of them said we want to come to the united states. >> on the development front, are you comfortable with the first drafts of the budget in terms of these priorities you're talking about, foreign aid and the refugee programs? >> i think that -- i was a governor, so i know what an executive budget is. it's the start of a conversation. and so when you start that conversation, what he did was he put an emphasis on the military. he put an emphasis on making sure that we're building up our economy. and so -- but he also had foreign aid in there and we've always been number one in humanitarian around the world. we won't stop doing that. >> do you need to go to him though -- i worked for president bush are and cnd condi rice wou to make the case for the power of these soft power tools. do you have to go to the president and tell him what you saw and help advocate for more funds for these programs? >> i would go to the president and the team, tell them what i saw and tell them what i thin

from a military standpoint, we have ways to communicate with russia about syria. these sources are not people who are willing to give their names, so it is hard to respond to things like this. again, there are no names, no dates attached. let's just let this unfold. >> we are chasing our tales when it comes to the russians as a nation. think about it this way, you have the ambassador of russia pointing back to moscow on an open channel that jared kushner is going to move into the and this he, i do not trust that -- i -- into the embassy do not trust that story as far as i can throw it. i do not think it makes sense that he would report back on an open channel note they know we -- channel that they know we are monetary. there is something suspicious about that. >> historically there has been back channels? >> i was saddened by the general saying that. i think this is an administration that takes people in with good credibility and then spit them out with bad take with -- with bad credibility. i think anyone in the trump able to be used. i think if you are trying to

the dam is one of the most provides electricity in syria. it was seized and now controlled was controlled by isis prices for years but now controlled by syrian forces. we are working to the mine the dam. local forces and local workers that we trained to do this the mining. then the workers all back to the dam to work. there's no regime presence there whatsoever. in terms of these overall relationships within syria it is more complex than most people realize when you lift the hood and see what's going on. rbc, that will be worked out. this battle for rocca has something to go and in parallel were working on a civilian and diplomatic aspects. >> you mentioned annihilation with isis. what would that look like in isis iraq in syria there will always be a residual threat from this group in both countries and given the fact that these follow-on's, threats from isis in syria like other areas does that mean the american public should expect a long-term presence of american troops in syria? >> this threat is a long-term bet that's why so many nations

and not onlylys syria dedestroy, the rest of syria, but the rest of the world, too.o there is a little difficulty in that scenario, whatever one thinks about the justification for it. so what can be done? well, one ththing thatat can be done, which is really easy, very easy, is to take care of the people fleeing from ththis disaster. i mean, , there are huge numbers of people fleeing fromom the disaster. what do we do abouout them? make s sure they d don't t come, you know, kikind of like p peope fleeining from -- you know, my relatives, in fact, fleeing, easterned to flflee from europe under the -- before when the nazis were comining along. "we don't want 'em. not here." you know. so the syrians don't come -- maybe a a tiny trickckle, but vy few come here. europe's notot that muchch bett- inin fact, pretthohorrible, tot. so one thihing you couould do is just take care of f the people o are fleeing the disaster. another thing you can do is provide humaninitarian aidid for ththose in the region. now, there are c countries who e absorbining refugees, , remembe, like ta

but take syria. russia intervened in syria september 2015.fter the obama administration failed to act and failed to punish syria for crossing the red line, that was a mistake. when russia intervened in september, it said it was intervening to fight isis. when week after its military and air strikes, state department said more than 90% of those air strikes were against u.s. backed forces in syria, not against isis. that's how. >> tucker: because we backed a series of islamist rebel groups with ties to al qaeda and isis which we currently do which is insane and because russian bombing may have heard some of those islamist, that's a threat to our national security? we did have a ton of time left but connect the dots for me if you wed. >> limit connect the dots for you. we are trying to stabilize syria. we need to stabilize syria. more than 400,000 people have been killed in syria. russia is not trying to stabilize syria. russia is popping up this assad regime which is fueling isis. isis was born out of the crisis in syria, the fact that no one w

he could have gone to syria without somebody helping him. that he himself may not have the expertise and maybe the capacity to build something like this on his own, but travelling to syria probably provides a place for training, a place for knowledge building and how to build bombs and also to provide him with the network back here at home, the same network which facilitated his departure could also facilitate his attacks on sea is backin facilitate his attacks on sea is back in the uk. and if as we have heard he was a mule carrying a device built by someone else and exporting that device, and if it was an islamic state attack, then he is the sort of person that the terror group like that would want to use, a young man perhaps slightly lost in society and becoming radicalised. that is very true, we know from some information coming out out about this individual and sometimes occasionally he used canvas. i am not sure how accurate that information is. we know he has not managed to finish school, we know he is in trouble and lost in life. we k

at a meeting with angela merkel in sochi, ukraine, syria and the treatment of homosexuals were also on the agenda. i'll play you a report on sanctuary cities, areas in the us that refuse comply with some immigration authorities. we'll bring you a report from syria where islamic state militants launched an attack on refugees as they queued at a border crossing. more than 30 people were killed. and in os sport, the latest on the potential wipe—out of all athletics world records from before 2005. the leaders of russia and germany have been discussing their differences on issues such as the conflicts in ukraine and syria, with little sign of substantial progress. following the talks in the black sea resort of sochi, vladimir putin said both he and angela merkel were seriously concerned about ukraine.

what happens in syria is quite interesting.s the post story notes, they have established what are called zones, and that can apply to time and space so was not always hard terrain being protected. it could be that the u.s. wants to conduct some sort of operation in the airspace over a certain city or town. , andhappens if someone then the united states military will counter -- contact a counterpart in the russian military. where this is coming to head is a couple of areas in syria, , and muchof raqqa further south by the iraq and jordan border. there are regime forces there in both areas, pushing to lay claim or reassert government influence and at the same time, the u.s. has pretty significant interest in dealing with isis in those areas. and so what general dunford said yesterday is the plan is being developed, i think to enhance communication on both sides, so that the u.s. can proceed unimpeded as it looks to snuff out isis. host: frank is calling on the republican line from ohio. caller: thank you for my call. taking my ca

an agreement to set up safe zones in parts of syria has now come into force. was reached on thursday between russia and iran, which both back the syrian government. the main opposition in syria has expressed concern over the deal, saying it lacks proper safeguards. sarah corker reports. syria's six—year civil war has left more than 300,000 people dead and drawn in global powers. the safe zones aim to halt the conflict in specific areas between government forces and rebels and allow food and medicine to get in. in moscow, russia's defence ministry said the deal would come into the effect in the early hours of saturday. translation: within in the boundaries of the deescalation zones, the military activities between the government forces and the armed opposition, who have alreadyjoined or willjoin the ceasefire agreement, will be ceased. it covers the use of all types of weapons, including airstrikes. but he also stressed russia's air force would continue striking so—called islamic state elsewhere in syria. the four designated safe zones will cover rebel—held idl

foreign fighters unable to travel to syria and those in syria are more than likely to die there. the threat will not end with the battles in mosul and raqqa but the end of the caliphate is coming into sight. the pressure has only started and we will work together as a united team to do everything we can to defeat isis and make sure they can never return to areas we retake. >> is an international coalition. fighting been tough and they are still dangerous and it is not going to be over soon but we are going to continue to press. with that, can we take questions? described to changes the president made in the approach. one was a tactical shift having to do wh surrounding isis in their stronghold. i wonder if you could explain the significance of that and say how will that apply to the coming fight in the river valley? and in the same vein, same area, the government said they are going to reassert their authority out in that direction and if they are going to challenge opposition forces in the south, and i'm wondering the russian support for them, how will you navigate that sort of

i can't go back to syria. i can't go to the border. if i do i will probably be detained and no one will see me again and those that work with me though i'm not a politically outspoken person, i'm not a political activist. i work in humanitarian aid. this is all i have done. this is the biggest mistake i have done in the last six years and yet i have to pay the price. this is my land like it is their land. it is my right to live in my land and go back to my city. i cannot go back. my house was not destroyed but i cannot go back to my house. taking away this basic write for me is the greatest atrocity. >> charlie: how do you feel about the west reaction to what's happening in syria? do you feel like you've been ignored? do you fee do you feel -- >> we've been doing this work the past six years so far. i toured in the u.s. in 2015 and i spoke to all these entities involved in somewhat supporting inside syria and a found myself saying the exact same things i said a couple years ago during this time of travel. i don't want to say the west h

there are 4 million refugees outside of syria, living primarily in jordan and lebanon and turkey.and so there's an enormous need for international organizations like care and the larger global community to help supply support for shelter, for food, for education, the most basic necessities, to allow people to continue and to start to rebuild their lives. >> one of the things i remember when i was in kosovo with care in 1999 and 2001 were huge refugee camps with thousands of people in them. and they were clean, and they were well-organized, and it was a great structure for people who had no place to go. but that is completely different now with this group of refugees. the model is changing. >> the model is changing. there still are camps, and care is active in supporting those camps, but 80% of the refugees are actually living outside of the camps. they're living in local communities. and you can imagine the responsibility that this brings to a country like jordan, where 1 out of every 10 people living in jordan now is a refugee. in lebanon, it's one out of every four. so it would

foreign fighters unable to travel to syria and those in syria are more than likely to die that. the threat will not end with the battles in mosul and raqqa but the end of the caliphate is coming into sight. the pressure has only started and we will work together as a united team to do everything we can to defeat isis and make sure they can never return to areas we retake. reporter: explain the significance of that and say how will that apply to the coming fight in the river valley? and in the same vein, same area, the government said they are going to reassert their authority out in that direction and if they are going to challenge opposition forces in the south, and i'm wondering the russian support for them, how will you navigate that sort of battleground without getting further embroiled in a civil war? ms. matsui: navigating this battleground is challenging. we deconflict with russia and have an open line with them that is used constantly. if i were to talk to the tactic, because they actually impact your second question, by taking the time upfront to surround these location

, and we will rebuild cirio together. —— syria.ugees in turkey and in syria, and also in germany. so it is like, yes, i don't think kids in syria can access it right now, but syrian kids outside the country might be able to access to that book, yes. what particular traits and characteristics of captain tsubasa cant these children relate to? football is the was popular sport in syria. that could be related to children. all the kids used to play football in the streets oi’ used to play football in the streets or at school. that might make it related to them. also, it is a fun story and i don't know, maybejust the idea of having a dream and working hard to do it, like, that is what might make it related to them, syrian kids, maybe. before we let you go, will you eventually want to go home to syria? i don't know. maybe when the war is over. like, i cannot tell right now. i am not actually able to go back. so... i have no idea what name go back home will stop maybe when the war is over, i will be up to go back on. and that was 0bada kas

missile strike in syria. the administration describes it as very constructive saying the two leaders agree the suffering in syria has gone on far too long. they also discussed north korea. president trump says he thinks it's time now for a vote on the latest obamacare repromenade des anglaisment bill but so far republicans don't have the votes to get it past and it's not certain the votes will ever be there. the erosion for coverage for pre-existing conditions could leave them vulnerable in the mid-term elections. >>> and blunt talk from hillary clinton. she says she was winning the election until voters were scared off by russian interference and the letter from the fbi director james comey about her e-mails. clinton says she's now part of the, quote, resistance and says president trump should stop fretting about her 3 million-vote win in the popular vote. i'll talk to senator ben cardin, the ranking democrat on the senate foreign relations committee and our correspondents, analysts and guests are also stand

tim: in syria, u.s.ked forces made significant gains as they prepare an assault on islamic state in their last qqa.r stronghold of ra as the extremists lose ground, some fighters are trying to get back to europe. dozens are currently being held in northern syria. our middle east correspondent and our cameramen sent this report. reporter: the free syrian army are driving out i.s.. here in northern syria, so-called islamic state is collapsing. to itst happens believers and converts, those who abandoned europe to live under the caliphate? civilians, are for the most desperate. but lurking here is a threat, i.s. fighters living among them. the camps here in northern syria are doing overwhelmed. people are fleeing the fighting and this is before the biggest attack on the capital. fighters and their families are trying to get out. some are trying to defect. many are being captured here before they make it to the border with turkey. we were given exclusive access to one jail holding european i.s. fighters. they

breaking news out of syria.rd smith is on it from the fox news test. >> breaking news now on fox news channel, senior united states official has just told fox news that a united states air strike has just hit in syria. we have struck, i am told, pro-syrian government forces in the south of syria. our jennifer griffin confirmed the reporting of the reuters news agency just seconds ago. according to a senior defense official, coalition air strikes targeted probe regime units operating in the vicinity of an airbase in the south of syria after a show of force to try to stop that probe regina forces was ignored, a coalition commander took the decision to hit regina -- probe regina sources and a "well-established conviction zone" peered the coalition commander assessed the threat then afterward shows of force did not stop the regime forces and those forces refused to move out of this "deconfliction zone." the commander on the ground called for an air strike as a matter of force protection. the senior u.s. official has

i'm in syria.harsh environment, i don't know how long i will last here, but it doesn't matter. it's all a little too late. she goes on i will probably go to prison for a long time if i come back, but that is life. on august 6th, it 2014, daniela greene left syria, left isis and did return to the united states where she was immediately arrested. unlike other terrorism-related cases, daniela greene's arrest and plea deal would receive no publicity at all from the department of justice. the case quietly hidden. court roorecords sealed for mon. even after her case became a matter of public record, still, silence. a look on the fbi and the department of justice website show page after page of press releases about similar terrorism arrest over the years, but this one stayed buried until now. >> this is a very wild tale involving terrorism, the fbi, matters of national security, and it's hard to imagine that there would not be public interest in it. >> reporter: cnn investigative reporter scott glover dis

sir, what is russia's exit strategy from syria. what about charges that russia supporting the taliban. >> we have mentioned that on many occasions. just one fact. they are working in afghanistan. they are fully aware of what is out there. they haven't found a series of expert. it is their quest for the government. the taliban should become the party to the political process if they recognize the current resolution. that is beyond what we are pursuing. the government is ready to negotiate. the taliban is an important part of the african society. they haven't settled any issue. there are lots of problems and are willing to bring together all of them. what was your second question? >> what is the strategy in syria? we don't have much of a notion of an exit strategy. we need to implement your security council resolution. we need to prevented from turning into the hot battle of extremism and stability. i was asked about -- it was both they respect to iraq and let it. they are obsessed with the idea. that is why they are talking about th

efforts in syria with regard to these de-escalation zones? >> well, the american position on these de-escalation zones i think still a little bit unclear. the de-escalation zones were following the phone call between donald trump and president putin of russia. but the u.s. has expressed concerns about the iranian involvement. they're saying the iranians contributed violence to the situation in syria and not been a positive force in any way. so, the u.s. is holding back. and the security zones or the de-escalation zones are said to be no-fly zones, as well. what the russians have said is that u.s. led coalition aircraft will not be permitted to carry out air strikes inside those de-escalation zones and nor will the syrian air force, as well. that will be a limitation. and i think it also shows that the russians and the iranians and the turks are prepared to move forward with a peace plan in syria with or without the agreement of the united states. >> 11:43 in moscow. matthew chance reporting live. thank you for the report. >>> still ahead here

century -- syria's civil war. are journalists collecting ? e news and video feeds how can people in the west support their work? how do women's voices play into this tragic narrative? joining me or three syrian women who have been directly involved in the effort to distribute news about the war -- joining me are three syrian women. i am pleased to have them all here. tell me exactly about aleppo, being on the front lines. >> i was in aleppo before the siege, so i have not seen the worst. charlie: where were you during the siege? >> i was in turkey then. i was one of the u ones who happened to be outside of the city when it was under the siege. even before the siege, daily life was suffering. basic issues that are not newsworthy for any journalist -- it would occupy your whole life, like someone who was killed by shrapnel in the street is not newsworthy, but for you, it might be the friend you have spent the last 2, 3 months with, the source you have been dealing with the past year. this issue of sources and keepin

and that we can cooperate have the same goals in syria. by the way, this is the policy that the obama ministration had. john terry i lost track about the times he went to minute to meet with the vain hope that the united states and russia to work together in syria. we have fundamentally different names. they want to maintain assad in power. they are not interested, primarily, inviting ices. most of the russian military maneuvers in syria have not been targeting isis. they been targeting the moderate population that's fighting assad. i hope that during this trip in the region, particularly, in saudi arabia, it made clear to donald trump that russia is not on the same page as the united states in syria. julie: i'm glad we got that out there. that's a lesson that we will be spoken about on this trip. also, i mentioned to president trump first president obama and one of president trump key goals has been to systematically reverse the policies of his predecessor. how other ways can he do that while he's on this overseas trip back i mentioned th

he'd like more of them in syria.o be truly safe, a zone like this needs to be protected not just by troops on the ground but by planes in the air. and neither jordan nor the u.s. is willing to commit to that. president trump did fire cruise missiles at syria after a calling a suspected chemical attack on civilians by the regime an affront to humanity. but enforcing safe zones may be a step too far. what the united states needs to work out are what are its priorities here, is it fighting isis or is it potentially losing lives and fighting a war to protect refugees like we see here? safe zones may not turn out to be very safe for anyone. bill neely, nbc news on the syrian/jordan border. >>> since he left office former president barack obama has kept a fairly low public profile, but tonight he is back in the spotlight accepting this year's profile in courage award at the john f. kennedy presidential library and museum. the award is named after kennedy's pulitzer prize winning book celebrating public service. nbc's rahem