yes of dealing with the new middle east. but first let's see what russians think north african countries may achieve after their revolutions the social firmament in the middle east is changing the region many argue it will also change the world order however the transformation period is not yet over the public opinion agency lovato's and also question what can be the ultimate outcome of the public outrage in egypt thirty two percent said no progress forces will take power in the country thus improving people's living standards seventeen percent believe radical elements might take over thirteen percent see care and destruction of the government as a prospect and another seventeen percent think nothing will significantly change still the us has to liberate its new approach in dealing with this new arab world. ok you know and if i go back to you i mean we've heard a lot of rhetoric coming out of western capitals during these revolutions these uprisings of what the west wants to do. with a kind of a big red face because it reall

to discuss new directions for the middle east i'm joined by harold wrote in washington he's an expert on islam and the middle east also in washington we have here one delta and he is rector of the international transcend peace university and author of fall of the us empire and then what and another member of our crosstalk team eleanor hunger all right gentlemen you have differences of opinion this is crosstalk so you can jump in anytime you want harold if i go to you first we've all been watching the events going on in north africa first that we have it in tunisia egypt and now a very bloody ended appears are going on in libya here let's look forward what kind of middle east is coming into being in north africa how do you see it in reflecting upon the events of the revolutions as it were. well it is absolutely wonderful but people should have the opportunity to be themselves but to be free of autocratic and dictatorial rule which is bend the case that most of the middle east with the exception of iraq for some time now. there's only one problem democracy is not the natural state of ma

for hopefully no use in the greater middle east how do they feel about it. well we wouldn't have any problem because we are transparent i mean i have used recently both sipri data and the un registry and of course the u.s. is. reports to both and provides all the information you want in the state department publishes data defense department publishes data customs department publish data you just commented about the package to saudi i mean. notified of every major purchase that's put in the federal register congress reviews it so i mean that there is no secret about what we provide anybody. with a couple of exceptions probably actually dealing with the u.k. in a nuclear stuff but in terms of the countries here and arrested in what we do is is highly public and of course no company does anything without as i just pointed out a license from the state department or a sail through the defense department who in turn makes this what i want then when i guess i don't have any problem at all joe i guess i kind of missed something in this conversation and we go back to

to this test democracy in the middle east i'm joined by ramsey by root in seattle he's the editor in chief of the palestine chronicle in jerusalem we go to israel made out he is the director of information resources at the manakin bagan heritage center and in london we go to come out and he is the chairman of the center for the study of terrorism and another member of our cross talk team yelena hunger all right gentlemen crosstalk rules in effect you have differences of opinion and i do encourage you to jump in here ok if i could go to ramsey first in seattle i think you know looking over the events that have happened in egypt in tunisia and as we're sitting down doing this program there are hundreds of thousands of people in the center of cairo protesting and demanding the end of the mubarak regime but over the last two weeks or so has the discourse of these dictators supported by the west they're the only things they did they're the only people that are a barrier to extremism in the arab world isn't that that that dichotomy that that discourse in tatters right now is we look at the

the middle east could shatter into pieces the situation is extremely tense with president medvedev warns of extreme volatility in the arab world as the government pulls hundreds of russian workers out of libya. and a moscow a mock moscow version of the red planet has seen its lots of visitors for an hour after researchers take their final space walk as part of a simulated mission to mars. two am in moscow good to have you with us here on r t our top story thousands of refugees are fleeing their homelands in search of a safe haven in europe as political unrest escalates across the arab world faced with a deluge of immigrants italy is raising concerns about security on its borders or he visits an island struggling to cope with the influx. no home no job and no guarantees the life of a refugee. i had to leave i can do my should i have no money. a familiar story here. a tiny italian island in the mediterranean around eighteen miles away from the coast of north africa it's always been the main route for refugees but since the recent revolution in tunisia it's become swamped by thousands despe

east except for really insightful people like robert fisk and other writers on the middle east if c.n.n. and fox and everybody all thought everything was hunky dory you know and all our great dictator friends are are are still in power for stability reasons but i mean i bring up the saudi card because the unexpected is happened and who knows what the future consequences of what we're seeing happening right now will be. well let's go back ten years to when condi rice and the bush administration introduce the greater middle east in the g. eight in two thousand and four well seven years and. this is part of a long planned scenario the pentagon is involved in at the state department is involved in it i think the reason that we've seen these these riots the i.m.f. cause the food crisis in tunisia just at the time that the hedge funds and wall street were pushing prices up using the bio diesel and the harvest failures in russia and such things but the there's a geo political trigger to this that is coming out of washington they're trying is there one person in washington turn to creative dest

democracy throughout the world i think the middle east needs our help it's going to. transition that's the moment. to despise our problems are told we can't just close up we have to look at the world we live in but it may not be as simple as that unlike europe after the second world war egypt and. they're developing economies going through revolution and it's very unclear at this point who is going to end up in charge and who would take receipt of any aid package the government's made extensive attempts to build relations build up regimes wish being destroyed by revolutions whether we're looking out over the years we're looking out for big deals tony blair was shaking hands on the few years ago in libya with gadhafi so we need to be really careful particularly when we don't know what the road for the final government will be but we don't wind up with resources when we have the right one so if the muslim brotherhood takes over in egypt do we want them to be taking over with institutions which we've built up with western taxpayers money westminster has been the scene of

and more now on the ongoing unrest across the middle east and north africa r.t. speaks with you have any primakov former russian foreign minister an expert on the arab world about the implications of the unfolding events. thank you very much for finding time to talk to us. speaking of the recent up presence in north africa and in the arab world how possible is it in your opinion that they might have been incited from outside. i think we can safely discard foreign involvement as a factor in these purely internal affairs after they began however other countries definitely became concerned about what was happening i was in washington d.c. when the rights in egypt began meeting with state department officials we had a bilateral meeting on the middle east settlement i saw that my american counterparts were really shocked by the scale to which the events in egypt had escalated and incidentally the cia and other intelligence agencies were quickly criticised for not predicting the possibility of such an rest almost immediately though they became very active president oba

middle east expert. says that global dominance are behind them while. they might be getting rid of of thirty forty or fifty euro rejean but many of these countries certainly in egypt certainly libya are certainly in tunisia and back during that might be getting themselves into just as bad or even worse trouble if they don't really understand the social proof that this is going on and we our full interests that may be driving them from outside of the middle east because i think this ties into a more global pattern where we have to understand the major geopolitical long term planning emanating from such organizations as the council of foreign relations the trilateral commission and the bluebird group who have for decades been fighting the arab world and have been fighting the sovereign nation state as an institution on a global basis so in a way if they can get rid of these strong mad men whether it be hosni mubarak in egypt or colonel gadhafi in libya and try to transition has always seen before to a more rural chaotic and more controllable western style

less in danger the world security obviously events in the middle east are top of mind. to discuss global military spending i'm joined by joel johnson in washington he's from the teal group corp an american aerospace and defense consulting company in stockholm we have paul holt i'm he is a senior researcher with the stockholm international peace research institutes arms transfer program and in oxford to go to d.p.i. in bass or a he is a policy advisor for oxfam and another member of our cross talk team yell on the hunger for a gentleman this is cross talk means you can jump in anytime you want i to go to very broadly and then go very specific to the middle east and i to go to joel first the united states accounts for two thirds of all. exported arms in the world are more arms creating a more stable world or a more destabilized world or you don't have it you don't see a direct correlation between the two well i don't see particularly a direct correlation i would that would note i know one of the common arguments is gee sometimes you supply both sides well where we have su

coming up now and the president of russia of the middle east helps to shed some light on the turmoil in the middle east and north africa and the effect it could have on the region and the rest of the world spotlight this next. hello again the welcome to spotlight the interview show on r.c. i'll be not one today we're talking about the iranian turmoil after a relatively peaceful change of power intonation popular unrest started spreading over the arab world the long standing the regime in egypt fell after weeks of bloodshed the regime of gadhafi is fighting violently to keep power in libya what's behind these riots and what may the changing regimes mean for the rest of the world let's ask him he needs that they're not the president of the institute that middle east. after forty years in power libyan dictator colonel gadhafi is very close to defeat the military machine if you launched against his own people has left hundreds dead yet the demonstrators are standing firm the libyan revolt is part of the unrest which rippled through north africa and the middle east in russia the leadershi

arms deal with countries in the middle east at this very sensitive time. could possibly comes to move leases are playing a part in some of the accusations now. well it is i mean we've seen just just very recently embarrassment for the u.k. after it was forced to revoke arms licenses to both bahrain and libya amidst fears that british arms had been used against protesters during the trouble but of course you can't sell arms to countries like this and to to police and military like this without being and still remain in control of what they're used for so although david cameron is now trying to ascertain that they weren't that british arms weren't used in the suppression of protesters one just can't have that kind of control if one is an arms selling country we've also seen in the past accusation of the u.k. selling arms in exchange for oil particularly in relation to saudi arabia and we've also seen over a number of years a very in a marriage to relationship between thora tarion gulf governments and the military and police forces of this country and in fact

there were never any countries in the middle east. they were all created by british petroleum and anglo persian and other imperialists states in the west for the sole purpose of getting the oil. they were just drives. as a result of this this bringing in of the west with the mesopotamia's as a result of this, made the people of mesopotamia feel that they were being invaded and they were being invaded. they were invaded by british petroleum. they were invaded by anglo person oil companies. i have written a second book about this which is coming out next month. the 0 original way i got into the farhud was document in the oil in the middle east. the question is where did we fit into this? in 1933 -- in 1919 the jews were given a homeland under the balfour declaration to the league of nations. i don't want you to think this was a strictly british enterprise. the same type of about 4 declaration was repeated by the germans in the war, the same type of balfour declaration was repeated by the ottomans who owned have -- palestine. the same ty

hello and welcome to cross talk i'm peter lavelle days of rage in revolution in the arab middle east is the era of dictators coming to an end in this vital region and as the west learned it is far better to put its space into the people on the ground instead of tyrants intense. and. discuss the middle east revolutions i'm joined by david morse are in washington he's a former senior adviser to vice president dick cheney in irvine we go to mark le vine he is a professor of modern middle eastern history culture and islamic studies at the university of california irvine and in brussels we have read brody he is counsel in spokes person for human rights watch and another member of our cross-talk team on the hunger all right if i can go to mark first in irvine i'd like to look at a trend the last ten years and then since the time of the statehood of arab countries after the second world war primarily what has gone terribly wrong and i want to look expensive equally first at the last ten years ago so called war on terror has that just been a total utter failure because you didn't need to fig

at ways current on the middle east is a constant on us. we believe that for the international community for external plays the most important thing is not to get engaged into the city issue with the advice that our radical wants and we are convinced that counterproductive coal's full revolutions we have had more than one hundred dilution of our share and we believe that although we don't need to impose resolutions on there is no we don't think that we need to tighten the screw or to take sides they key to the solution in this area and others is gestures now should compete as seen on the gaza going to be calls for all the parties for dialogue and search for mutually acceptable agreements only in this way we can ensure that stable evolution into this direction that will be in the interests of the people of each country. on the list of all but also a cup or you know used it on your storms. or discord wasn't there so when i was applauding your thought that was the day to develop us mr grech you who. thought that was the most of the ticket in i

this violence spreads all rich middle east the world faces a surge in fuel prices threatening to drag economies into a new meltdown. that we can expand our slams british justice for handing him over to sweden sparking accusations of hypocrisy over how the u.k. has those facing far more serious challenges. plus not one but three candidates they win the race for the hearts and minds as a limpid fans as an all russian vote concludes for the mascot for the twenty fourteen winter games in sochi. brings up to date for them now the president of russia's institute of the middle east help shed some light on the turmoil in the middle east and north africa in our interview program spotlight and that is coming up next here on alt. hello again well welcome to spotlight the interview show on our state i'll bring up and today we're talking about the iranian turmoil after a relatively peaceful change of power into nation popular spreading over the arab world the long standing regime in egypt after weeks of bloodshed the regime of gadhafi is fighting violently to keep power in libya what's behind thes

thousands flee from political unrest in north africa or the middle east but i was there arrive in european countries looking for safety there accused of bringing violence of instability with them. to. the middle east could shatter into pieces the situation is extremely tense moment there is going to be to revet of wars of decades of turmoil if the protests continue in the outer world as the government sends planes to pick up hundreds of russians working in libya. the red planet see this last guess for now where the six man crew making their final walk on a mock martian surface as part of a simulated mission to la. moscow time live from the russian capital watching the t.v. news channel with me kevin owen and the main news this hour thousands of refugees are fleeing their homelands in search of a safe haven in europe as political unrest escalates across the arab world faced with a delicate of immigrants italy is now raising concerns about security on its borders can off southern island struggling to cope with the influx. no home no job and no guarantees the life of a refugee. i had to leave

now more on the fallout from the uprisings in north africa and the middle east shortly but first let's look ahead as we deal with the martian masters later this hour all stepping onto the red planet in the moscow region from our spire hundred crew are set to walk on their bomb mars for the last time before heading home. we. the official. called talk. radio. dot com. well more now on the unrest in the middle east and north africa where it's leading to a surge of illegal immigrants fleeing the trouble italy is boosting security on its borders to cope with thousands of refugees whose numbers grow as the violence spreads well our reports from the italian island of lampedusa. no real job and no guarantees the life of a refugee. i had to leave i can do them i should. see a familiar story here. a tiny italian island in the mediterranean around eighteen miles away from the coast of north africa it's always been the main route for refugees but since the recent revolution in tunisia it's become swamped by thousands desperate for a better life in europe who are willing to risk all. then a thermal

east again supply is the president of the institute for middle east based here in los spotlight will be back after we take a short break we'll continue this interview in the studio in less than a minute so stay with their. place. well into the. period in a blizzard of winter blues get to slow sin try out some ten snowshoes got a little caliber excitement in its southern melting. trainers to keep you in top form and watch you walk on the goal line carving the trail to sochi twenty four to one technology update here on our we've got the future covered. close up to us dangerfield protean republish. center of russian defense production . now was he heads to central russia. country crops of become an industry. the harsh winter makes pollution even more enjoyable. and west everyone can train to be a stomach. if the other small fish. russia close up on the hot seat. would be soon which rises if you knew about sums from funniest impressionists. least from the stunts on t.v. don't come. visit. welcome back to spotlight our hour of in just a reminder that my guest in the studio today is eve gu

and indeed north africa do you think the rest will go even beyond north africa and the middle east to other countries well it seems that there are certain parties and people like that. almost daily basis and they're talking about all this occur in china russia dress rehearsal we see the united states is very eager for this to occur. in persian the official language if you are at it without revolt you don't hear anything about countries like bahrain so yes i would say that there is. there is the possibility that this escalating go beyond the term we can use for this is called. destruction manufactured destruction you want to use this. well very interesting to hear what you have to say. a research associate from the center research on globalization joining us there in ottawa up thanks very much indeed for your analysis and your time thank you. well the first stage of the evacuation of russians from turbulent libya successfully ended with over three hundred people brought safely to moscow will describe the situation in the country as a nightmare they say that on their way to board aircra

as bond and spreads across the oil rich middle east the world faces a surge in fuel prices threatening to try to economies into a new meltdown. not one but three mascots have been chosen as the symbols of a soldier twenty going to the winter olympics a stroke that put one of the most but followed by a code of back and a nationwide public followed but across russia. the wiki leaks founder sounds british justice by handing him over to sweden stocking up musicians of the book you say over how do you take shelter facing the most serious charges julian assange plans to appeal a court ruling to extradite him fairly he will not get a fair trial and start. as the headlines up next and following to be transported with al gore no and today in this shooter's you get me such a no escape president of the institute of the middle east in moscow is discussing the current turmoil in the region. hello again and welcome to spotlight the internship an r.c. i'll bring up on today we're talking about the iranian turmoil after a relatively peaceful change of power in tunisia popular unrest started spreading

they have been playing a very important role in the middle east peace process. president mubarak himself has been praying a cure-all in this process, and, therefore, i would urge that the egyptian government leaders and people discuss their reform measures and transitions according to their own rules and regulations and political suggestions. at the same time all very strategic role, which egypt has been praying and overall middle east peace process should also be preserved. that is why i'm asking that all of this transition should be orderly and peaceful so that this should not be any sudden impact. >> so rather carefully calibrated response there of ban ki-moon. we heard an awful lot about the demands washington is making on egypt but what about egypt, what is it saying about all of this? >> well, you're right. the americans, the vice president joe biden have called his counterpart in egypt and asked for very specific steps. for example, he's asked for more opposition people to be involved in negotiations and he's also asked for an end to the emergency laws wh

protests continuing both in northern africa and in the middle east italy has already warned a new bigger wave of refugees can flood not only this tiny island but the entire continent is going off r t one to italy but eight years discussing imposing sanctions against libya for a violent suppression of opposition protests some experts believe the measure could also help stop the flow of illegal immigration even before all these. things the prospect of massive immigration has always been europe's wars tonight. in real terms it has never been substantial and we have always been below thirty thousand. possible entries every year. clearly the overthrow of the governments poses a whole different set of issues and what europe will be able to do it depends on the ability of actually cordy meeting among some of the governments that are most affected the instruments. of eligible to the international community in the short term are very limited i mean imagine if in two months time coral gadhafi is not overthrown i mean business cannot proceed as usual after this so something will have to be done and

but first let's see who russians blame for middle east instability one of the arab world's longest and most entrenched leaders and a stock choice over the past week the world has seen a popular movement phase in egypt what will come after president mubarak is open to question the public opinion agency the baathists and i asked russians who is responsible for middle east instability twenty percent cited the united states fourteen percent blame islamic fundamentalists eight percent believe in. israel and six percent see western countries at fault with the rest all around the region what does the future hold. in the bill i think it's really quite interesting is that we've all kind of hinted it's either been direct or indirect in this program everybody's surprised about a democratizing arab world wow you know it's as if you know you know we've been told repeatedly that it's not possible they have to be help to they have to go through these stages a straw man you know all of this we've been fed in dictatorships in pursuit of american foreign policy and for american foreign policy interests

with a wave of violence political unrest sweeping north africa and the middle east italy is warning of an exodus of biblical proportions it's calling for e.u. cash to help handle the influx of refugees but for now rome is planning to deploy its army to the island to help the gateway to europe was going off r.t. . italy. where the saving the libyan leader vowed to fight. so the end of die a martyr calling on his supporters to take back the streets from the opposition colonel gadhafi appeared on state t.v. in his latest attempt to cling to his forty one year rule amid the nationwide revolt of scented second week gadhafi said protesters have been bribed drugged and quote serving the devil is address comes after a day of reported army airstrikes against demonstrators in the capital tripoli more than two hundred have been killed and over four thousand injured in the first week of riots making this the bloodiest of all the arab revolts some libyan ambassadors have quit over the alleged use of force and want the u.n. to intervene world leaders repaving to the country's authorities to put a me

could be contributing to the middle east uprisings. well obviously it would have been great if we hadn't sold those arms to libya or to bahrain because then we could talk with a little bit more credibility about the importance of freedom and democracy and unfortunately the way the british government works and it's not just mr cameron's government of the former labor government as well is what the british state is set up to support in several avenues on the part of u.k. trade and investment their defense and security organization specifically there to promote arms sales and they have sold a lot of arms in the middle east including to saudi arabia which is one of the u.k.'s best customers so unfortunately it seems that you know no government has been willing to take the crunch and say we're going to be ethical we're not going to sow arms to dictators and should human rights abuses which is what these governments are why would britain try to make arms deals are more arms deals really at such a sensitive time like this when these uprisings