of harking back to the cold war as brussels moves to boycott the euro two thousand and twelve championship in ukraine it's the latest developments in the handling of the former prime minister yulia tymoshenko who's serving time for abusing power. and the founder of wiki leaks prepares to take center stage once again very interview show right here on t.v. on tuesday interviews the new president. of the arab spring revolts. but that's it for me the news team for the moment i'll be back with more on those stories and. that's next which today focuses on the potential changes that the upcoming presidential elections in egypt will bring to the region stay with us for that. if you. want. a lonely and welcome to cross talk i'm peter all about countering revolution a little over a year ago the arab awakening started in quickly inspired millions in north africa and the middle east what is the current state of this awakening is democracy in civil society truly on the margins or are the powers of reaction again controlling the narrative and political outcomes. to cross-talk the counter revolution in t

the cold war as brussels moves to a boy called. the latest development in the. former prime minister. and the founder of wiki leaks prepares to take center stage once again the host of his very own interview show right here on. the new president of course where the arab spring. and you can. still. be. a lonely and welcome to cross talk i'm teetotal about countering revolution a little over a year ago the arab awakening started in quickly inspired millions in north africa and the middle east what is the current state of this awakening is democracy in civil society truly on the margins or are the powers of reaction again controlling the narrative and political outcomes. can. start. to cross-talk the counter revolution in the middle east i'm joined by v.j. prashad he's in chicopee he's a professor of international studies at trinity college in hartford and author of arab spring libyan winter in los angeles we have a rough day he is an ambassador for the national american rainy and council human rights activists and columnist for harvard international review and in

shipments who have come from lebanon into syria so who's got time answer now is washington and certainly brussels with nato of the what they know about about that ship if we follow where the facts lead in the coming days i think there's going to be a remarkable. result in investigation of exactly what's going on. and watching r.t. now the world's most famous secret spiller is here again to unleash further controversy with his shows next episode airing on r.t. this change of course julian assange she's already spoken to the hezbollah leader in his first international interview and over six years and brought together two political extremes from both sides of the atlantic laura smith now joins us live from london with the details of the next upcoming storm laura good to see you so what can we expect this time around who is the guest for songs on cheese today. well this is the third episode of the program and the guest this week is the first president of the new tune is the president. of course is where the arab spring first really kicked off and the jasmine revolution as it's come to be known was on

or have a have come from lebanon into syria so who's got time answer now is washington and certainly brussels with nato of the way what they know about about that ship if we follow where the facts lead in the coming days i think there's going to be a remarkable. result in investigation of exactly what's going on. chris hedges author and u.s. war correspondent says under the guise of democracy washington is pushing its own interest in the region. i don't think anyone in the muslim world thinks that we care much about human rights or democracy we have since the first gulf war planted military bases some the size of small cities i think there is at this point absolutely no credibility i'm talking about within the middle east when the united states claims that it would like to bring liberty or democracy to syria my feeling is that everything should be pushed through to create some kind of a ceasefire rather than pass a resolution that calls for assad's removal or resolution. that calls for intervention or anything else there's no real formal opposition you know it's a sort of a mess and they just

brussels the eastern ukrainian city of knepper patro slowly getting back to normal after its residents were left in a state of shock by a series of bombings friday thirty people were hurt ten of them children and doctors continuing to treat the injured police meanwhile sifting through c.c.t.v. footage of the blast sites parties like sarah reports. for some residents of new but a bit off skin ukraine their regular tri majority through the city was cut short because the ultimate just. from my chair when i heard splosion that those were smashed the windows shattered remember when i got up there was smoke and dust everywhere and women were crying. i was selling tickets when it came out of nowhere i grabbed my knees trying to hold on there was blood all over i got out sat down on a bench and blacked out it was a powerful blast the trousers i was wearing were all covered in holes i couldn't see if my legs were injured but it's not like it's a horror of previously unseen in ukraine's third largest city for homemade explosive devices hidden in trash cans detonated one after another a tram stop

evidence in support of that regime change so who's gotten an answer now is washington and certainly brussels with nato of the world what they know about about that ship if we follow where the facts lead in the coming days i think there's going to be a remarkable. result in investigation of exactly what's going on. the syrian conflict balancing on the brink of civil war is also costing the country's economy daily alleged terrorists are destroying industrial sites under the pretext of fighting against president assad but he's accent of arka has more now from the syrian city of aleppo. lifetime of work burned overnight. this is one of a growing number of businesses in syria destroyed by those claiming to advance the cause of that revolution this factory was a classic example of syrian interpreter ship one hundred and fifty employees producing textiles for furniture it was never churning out a lot of profit but provided a distant living for its people all of which is now gone north routes no warnings one evening in fabry a group of young man threw molotov cocktails into the building the owner sa

evidence in support of that regime change so who's gotten an answer now is washington and certainly brussels with nato of the world what they know about about that ship if we follow where the facts lead in the coming days i think there's going to be a remarkable. result in investigation of exactly what's going on. the political leaders of the syrian opposition been calling for foreign military intervention but that's something many people on the ground there refuse to accept as artie's acceptable reports from damascus. almost everyone in syria these days is in opposition to something ready to lash out at opponents at any moment and seventy six year old my feet mohammad is in opposition to that he says syrians are so worked up about politics that it's become difficult to make people smile but he found a way. i like dancing in the street and i like the reaction it produces in people i feel free this way. even he can't stay away from politics when i ask him about his biggest concern his sass syria should not dance to somebody else's tune. we don't need any countries meddling in our food. while

this vision and version of the obstacles are getting bigger from voters rallying behind their anti brussels candidates proposal supporting bad border controls some e.u. leaders have dismissed them as populist threats but the question is are they merely still threats or is this growing resistance already the tip of an iceberg tell us are still here r t brussels. it's an hour quarter past the hour here in the russian capital the eastern ukrainian city of the net profit off slowly getting back to normal after its residents were left in a state of shock by a series of bomb explosions on friday thirty people injured ten of them children and while doctors are continuing to treat the injured police are now sifting through c.c.t.v. footage of the blast sites with this report. for some residents of new bit of skin ukraine their regular tri majority through the city was cut short because of the earth and i just got up from my chair when i heard splosion but those were smashed the windows shattered remember when i got up there was smoke and dust everywhere and women were crying. i was selling tickets

brussels well with skepticism and major issue in the french presidential election member states on nervously awaiting the outcome of the but not web site r.t. dot com we're asking you what the main challenge for next french let me say for your sake main task will be very big but. i think the point of quarter think the most difficult task starting the economy rest of it's almost equally spread so far you see the biggest. challenges and using tension with immigration bill clinton on conflicts. caro's tahrir square world food anger again on friday as the gyptian vent their frustrations towards the country's current military rulers whatever the same people who are condemning the current leaders for failing the demands of the revolution themselves stand accused of trying to monopolize power and the surf reports for many egyptians the ongoing political wrangling is pushing democracy to the sidelines. protests nation after the revolution toppled president mubarak egyptians have continued to use people power as a way to force change the sights the sounds of protesters on cairo's tahrir square have b

brussels. skepticism a major issue in the french presidential election member states and the awaiting the outcome of the vote on our website at www dot com we're asking what the main challenge for next french leader would be so let's say the main task will be bearing the eurozone debt burden both of you think the most difficult task of kickstarting the economy and the rest of it's almost equally spread amongst the biggest challenges in defusing tension of integration and involvement in foreign conflicts. cairo's tahrir square will fill with anger again on friday as addiction islamists vent their frustrations towards the country's current military rulers are the same people who are condemning the current leaders for failing the demands of the revolution themselves stand accused of trying to monopolize power etc first now reports from any objections the ongoing political wrangling is pushing democracy to the sidelines. that protests nation after the revolution toppled president mubarak gyptian si

i am alert to that and i'm going to brussels next week to meet with nato and one of the agenda items is operation unified protection. we have got to be candid with each other. i assure you i will be about what we can reasonably provide and what they need to provide in terms of isr, the fusion of intelligence and operations, and investments and to make to close the gaps here to fore they have relied almost exclusively on us to provide. i actually see this as a positive thing. >> what do you think are the greatest risks if the united states intervenes? >> on occasion, i have been portrayed as saying this is too hard, but not do it. that is not the case. if asked to do something, we absolutely have the capability. but as far as my concerns and how they would translate, i have to be clear about the military objectives i was being asked to achieve an i would have to be clear about how those contributed to some outcome that we would all understand and probably agree upon. if the outcome is just stopping the violence, that's one the outcome. just stopping the regime is another. i can build

election and the voting still to begin is a canonic misfortune bruising is tyranny and in a little brussels leave voters radically split. the months three council unites in ordering the one of a mass observer mission to syria but russia and the u.s. are divided over the details of the move. plus bahrain is on high alert to safeguard a formula one grand prix which is going to have the spider wave of anti-government protests and a brutal crackdown that's left one death. and a big impact on the small screen the world watches as whistleblower julian assange makes his debut as a t.v. host here on our team stirring up a range of global reaction. to the russian capital you're watching r.t. on marina josh now's the day that france decides future with million set to vote on a new president but this year polls open to a very disenchanted public in a country suffering rampant unemployment a staring and economic despair our thesis are still you know reports on the runners and riders aiming to restore french fortunes and there are sometimes far reaching promises. it's election day in france round one of

but france's relationships with berlin and brussels have hit a rough patch the french election if you look at the campaign in france i think because on the right side there is mrs le pen this is a plan once to reintroduce her for the french franc the french currency christmas all along wants to renegotiate the for the of the treaty on the fiscal compact income of nicolas sarkozy is no exception pledging to freeze france's e.u. funding and bringing back border controls over in the left corner. roundly rejects europe's budget belt tightening pact people are uneasy with the fact that they or contributing to the failed policies in other parts of the u. then people don't really understand why is it there's more and more legislation coming from the european level in member states have to adjust it for the mostly pro europe french public it's about jobs and social security just as brussels and berlin want tough cutbacks. and that doesn't rest easy with voters who gave a resounding no to giving the e.u. machine even more power seven years ago even though it's been a perfect tool to offload a

i'm going to brussels next week. one of the agenda items is operation unified protection. what we have to do is be candid with each other. i can assure you i will be banned need to provide. in terms of isr, the infusion of intelligence operations and investments they need to make to close some caps we're here to fourthey relied exclusively on us to provide. i see this as a positive. >> what you think are the states? >> on vacation i've been -- on occasion i've been hard. that is not the case. it has to do something, and we absolutely have the capability. i have to be clear about the military objective is that i was being asked to achieve. i have to be clear about how these were contributing to some outcomes that we would all understand and agree upon. what is the outcome? but the dishes stopping the if it is just stopping the violence, that is one outcome. i can build from that outcome. i can build military options andthe other responsibility is to balance the rest to the mission. what would be the cost of doing this? the risk to the forest is a zero sum game. -- to the fo

what everything really changed between paris and brussels. the chorus early is no europe for what europe for. europe for the bank curves europe rock trade europe for. business oh he's it a europe of cities a europe of social rights and the rest of the continents watching too knowing that whoever its next partner is a honeymoon phase is out of the question just are still here r t brussels. plan to rector massive financial buffer around the euro zone has been a welcome by everybody with manny nations reluctant to commit their cash and commenting on the idea investment advisor patrick young doesn't have much faith the move will help save the euro zone. this is how absolutely accounted for the euro zone there is no way no matter how large the sea of guards are no matter how high big bazooka it is that the i.m.f. is currently assembling nobody can afford to pay for italian government debt it is simply impossible we are pushing nations on the mediterranean fringe of europe into if we expect that they're going to stay in the euro zone it's a tragic

i'm going to brussels next week. one of the agenda items is operation unified protection. what we have to do is be candid with each other. it they need to do what they need to provide. they relied exclusively on us to provide. i see this as a positive. >> what you think are the greatest risks of the united states? >> on vacation i've been portrayed as saying this is too hard. that is not the case. it has to do something, and we absolutely have the capability. i have to be clear about the military objective is that i was being asked to achieve. i have to be clear about how these were contributing to some outcomes that we would all understand and agree upon. but the dishes stopping the violence, that is one outcome. the other responsibility is to balance the rest to the mission. what would be the cost of doing this? the risk to the forest is a zero sum game. we are deployed all over the world. if i am asked to do something in syria and the secretary says i need this option, my response ability is to make sure i understand this and that by articulate the risks not to the miss

as more from brussels how the museum director has started burning artwork he's calling this the art of war basically it's a symbolic protest against the way that the economic crisis the european debt crisis is being handled up at that until this point and he also says that over a thousand artworks are already doomed to be destroyed anyway because of the government's indifference to their situation subsidies have been cut to the cultural institutions and again this just brings about the message that and no one and nothing is spared from these harsh cuts being imposed by governments in europe because of the debt crisis and it's the same story you have here. and cultural heritage of italy being prized assets and it's going down the drain the same goes with its workforce its assets their human assets bearing the brunt of all these cuts and this is a symbolic protest follows what we've seen recently already suicides a suicide attempts in greece and italy as well over pension cuts or loss of benefits or loss of jobs and this is the type of this is all the protests may be changing but it goes

nato is getting more help from russia in the afghan war at a ministerial meeting in brussels the sides discussed expanding the vital transit of military cargo to afghanistan through russia's territory and moscow has provided the alliance with corridors and railway routes and the link is vital as pakistan blocks the nato supplies from crossing its territory after the airstrike that killed twenty four pakistani soldiers six months ago and as the alliance prefers to withdraw troops from afghanistan. and it finds itself in the midst of a string of scandals involving extreme breaches of discipline by u.s. troops often says recently published photographs of soldiers posing with the remains of afghan bombers show an isolated incident of young people caught up in the moment before my army sergeant mathis show ru says this is actually part of a trend this congress see needs to change and it needs to start revolving around a few bad apples or whatever it needs to start being really getting real about the fact that these aren't isolated incidents and furthermore it's only a matter of time until t

live in brussels thank you. patrick young the executive director of investment for advisers although we. could be treated as a drug for the problems that highlights the very serious indeed. the truth of the matter is that i think it's difficult to keep seriously the idea of simply seeking attention through destroying our works when actually wouldn't be a great deal of a better idea to have these artists and indeed these artworks being sold so they could actually go somewhere to try to help some of the pensioners i mean it strikes me that it is a rather ludicrous protest rather say to do all draw attention to. the fundamental underpinnings of many europeans see it and that means that the us to much of the money that he would spend on the social status whether it be in art whether it be in pensions whatever it is is coming to an end europe and the euro zone cannot of ford it's socialism. this is artsy a twenty two million dollar fine the punishment for perhaps america's most controversial financial giant penalty c

troops but the problem was addressed in brussels today what exactly has been said. is indeed a lot of condemnation with regard to scandals related to soldiers or forces u.s. forces cities committed against afghan people u.s. secretary of defense leon panetta had condemned those actions but then he said that this is a young soldiers committing this acting in the heat of the moment however this is not the first start or is it an isolated case now the l a times pictures. of the soldiers posing by the side corpses we've had in the past a koran burning incident as well as absolutely zero in aiding on afghan corpses this does not go down well with the countries involved the afghan people or the american people as well and again afghanistan is in the spotlight right now but this is not the first time the u.s. has been involved in such stories iraq for example a recent video has emerged of soldiers also committing atrocities this is just the tip of the iceberg though what it comes to obstacles they have to deal with it in a can is done this is a p.r. image disaster for this

missile defense shield is not a russia or live in brussels thank you. activists a gathering near a moscow court today in support of a feminist punk band whose members were arrested on hooliganism charges back in february or the court will consider whether to extend custody which expires and now in less than one week the group rushed to the altar of russia's christ the savior cathedral in moscow and performed what prosecutors claim was a blasphemous song of the five women who took part three were arrested and charged in our face up to seven years in prison performances drawing huge public response and a wave of criticism from russia's orthodox church. a twenty two million dollar fine that's the latest punishment dished out to america's perhaps most controversial financial giant goldman sachs and the penalty came after revelations the bank gave inside information to us preferred clients allowing them an unfair advantage over other investors and as always our very own kaiser report coming up next hour here on r.t. has the lowdown on that. it makes sense th

united states and afghanistan and all of this news is coming as nato ministers are meeting right now in brussels to decide discuss the future of afghanistan after the international coalition pulls out so clearly a very delicate and sensitive situation being even more compromised with these new grim photos being published for. infants that besides posing a threat to relations between his country and the u.s. . will contribute to nato leaving behind a grim legacy. problem that will be left behind would be that we will think of the west the europeans and the americans as the softer generation who are looking for instant gratification even in wars like this. they expect instant coffee in hamburg or results of fast food restaurants and this kind of a war and their lack of stamina and lack of perseverance will create more room in poverty stricken and corruption stricken countries there will be more room for a stream is a fundamentalist and there is all to. chaos and. problems that would stem from. you with r.t. we're coming from moscow twenty four hours a day still ahead in the program this hour press

and all of this is happening all of this news is coming as nato ministers are meeting right now in brussels to discuss discuss the future. afghanistan after the international coalition pulls out so clearly a very delicate and sensitive situation being even more compromised with these new grim photos being published of the u.s. paratroopers in two thousand and ten posing with the corpses of afghans and even as you say america meeting with its allies in brussels today trying to ask for a billion dollars in funds per year to finance the afghan security operation once they leave that country he's going to put in a new york thank you. well meantime a former afghan m.p. sultanzoy thinks that the size posing a threat to relations between his country and the u.s. or the scandal will contribute to nato leaving behind one grim legacy. biggest legacy that it would leave if it doesn't address the problems that will be left behind would be that we will think of the west the europeans and the americans. for a generation who are looking for instant gratification even in wars like this. instant coffee and

to keep an eye on when it comes to the future of afghanistan you know washington is is right now in brussels trying to talk to its allies about raising one billion dollars a year to a. security forces in the country just how willing to things will european nations be who are already suffering major economic problems do you think they can scrounge together a billion dollars to take over a war that appears to be going on in the so-called graveyard of empires. there are two sides to this story on one hand one billion dollars much less than what they're spending on their own troops in afghanistan it would be a cheap investment on the other hand even one dollar coming from taxpayers from there is the world falling into the pockets of. officials off corrupt government is too much so we have to deal with two things one we have to explain to the europeans and the american constituency that their investment that they're going to make in the afghan military and security forces is much cheaper than what they're spending on their own security forces on the other hand we should hold our government and ot

security forces in afghanistan it's all going down at a crunch nato ministers summit kicked off today in brussels the alliance is officials are meeting to finalize troop withdrawal plans from the violence ravaged country it comes at a crucial time for nato sun members having recently announced an earlier pullout of forces for the selfish interests of american parties are still determining washington's policy in afghanistan that according to media benjamin a co-founder of the antiwar activist group code pink. unfortunately we've seen during the primary campaign of the republicans are aligned with saying that we should be staying we are i was twenty four a team and that is to bring the obama administration. into our concession as well we don't have any challenger is not coming from the war progressive mission saying out now and the race the american conflict seems to be muffled i think severe is always the theory that should things fall apart in afghanistan and even more a very are a delicate that would be blamed on the administration many republicans would use that as a hammer to hear the obama ad

>> well, we're going to be discussing that in brussels and chicago. and obviously, we'll want to work closely with our isaf partners to determine what that enduring presence will look like. but clearly, it's -- it -- you know, any future presence will focus on areas like counterterrorism and focus also on training assistance and advice, as we've provided and probably will continue to provide in the future. do you assume there'll be hundreds if not thousands of u.s. soldiers still on the ground in 2014? >> i don't -- i don't think we ought to comment on what we're assuming at this point, mainly because we really want to engage in serious consultation with our partners as to what that presence ought to look like. >> but there will be some u.s. presence, correct? >> that's -- i think that'll be the case. >> secretary panetta and chairman dempsey, i wanted to follow up with -- on the attacks over the weekend. these kind of attacks are -- amount to something like guerrilla warfare. couldn't that in itself be effective enough to undermine the confidence of

on nato, i am leaving tomorrow for a joint ministerial in brussels, the last high-level meeting that will take place before the chicago summit in may. we are at a pivotal point for the alliance, as we build on the gains that have been made in afghanistan, and try to chart the course for the future in that area. we will also be working to ensure our nato has the right military capabilities that will be needed for the future in order for nato to assume the responsibilities that it must as we proceed. even as we deal with these global security challenges, we have a great challenge here at home, which is working with congress to implement our new defense strategy. let me give you a quick update on where i think things stand at this point. since the president's budget request was released on february 13, the budget and strategy that we have developed have been subject to intense scrutiny on capitol hill. german dempsey and i went to the hill to testify five times before the key committees. there had been more than 50 additional congressional hearings the service secretaries, the service c

who said that releasing these two prisoners is definitely a right move to improve relations between brussels and mean scandal she demanded that the old other political prisoners must be set free as well definitely the ties between brussels and minsk have been very much strains after the events and in december twenty ten the presidential election and a crackdown on the opposition in fact has a whole diplomatic missions to do the european union left immediately old twenty seven passengers then the european union imposed sanctions umbrella was namely more than two hundred state officials and businessmen are still brought here with it from traveling to the european union countries as well as several companies are blacklisted from trade with the european union to have been talks of more tougher sanctions to come within the next several weeks so the possibility that the to the site of the possible sanctions and the release of the prisoners are connected cannot be ruled out by many experts. but go deeper into our stories that are t. dot com here is with online for you at the moment flagging up the

who said that releasing these two prisoners is definitely a right move to improve relations between brussels and minsk and she demanded that the old political prisoners must be set free as well definitely the ties between brussels and. i have been very much strange after the events in december and the presidential election and the crackdown on the opposition in fact all heads of all diplomatic missions to. the european union left immediately all twenty seven passengers then the european union imposed sanctions umbrella was namely more than two hundred state officials and businessmen are still brought here from traveling to the european union countries as well as several companies are blacklisted from trade with the european union several companies certainly now there have been talks of more tougher sanctions to come within the next several weeks and political analysts are trying to determine whether this unprecedented move by a look at trying to releasing the two high profile prisoners is somehow connected to the possible for the prospect of tougher sanctions but while they are speculating d

to ease the tension between brussels and the means but no direct connection has been made so far only the party of the. released prisoners is connecting the fact of the release of the sanctions directly but certainly this is a very interesting move and we have to wait and see where there. could be. easing of this tension and lowering his crackdown on the opposition to continue a crackdown which has been taking place for the past two years ever since the presidential vote in three to ten. counties. there thank you. count down to one of the most anticipated shows a year has begun chief. program. where he comes face to face in the headlines and makes it stayed. inside. and phone interviews coming up later this hour. what were your criteria. so the single biggest criterion something i would come up with. that's quite that's quite interesting because there are a number of guests that we couldn't get so let's talk about that sort of thing ship so we're trying to we he's currently in prison on behalf of some sort of even music and political situation makes it extremely difficult for him to s