the halls of power in western capitals drive foreign policy decisions particularly when it comes to iran israel and syria is public opinion constructed to fit the interests of special groups and lobbies and is american foreign policy in the country's own interest. to cross-talk american foreign policy i'm joined by my guests in washington judith kipper she is director of middle east programs at the institute of world affairs and we also have flynt leverett he's a professor at penn state and author of the new book going to to run why the u.s. must come to terms with the islamic republic of iran there's just the two of us and myself could cross talk rules in effect that means you can jump in anytime you want and i really encourage it flipped if i can go to you first what drives american foreign policy towards iran very simple question maybe a complicated answer i think that what really drives american foreign policy toward iran is a post cold war determination on the part of the united states to dominate the middle east to to play hegemonic role in the middle east to micromanage political

and israel and iran. the only exacerbate the tensions and play into the hands of those that have repeatedly demonstrated the ability to turn threats or an actual attack should it come to that in the increased support for iran. let's take a look at some of the numbers. i want to show you the slides your house we go forward. we polled annually from 2006 to 2011 you can see the steady job everywhere. in lebanon the numbers are higher because the sectarian divide and because of other factors that i will talk them out in just a net. in 2012 the numbers climbed up a bit for iran and one of the reasons why, and i will show you this on this slide and also turkey one of the reasons why is because the sectarian issue. in saudi arabia the numbers went up because the population of saudi arabia got stronger support while the sunni population remained -. positive for , the role in iraq remained only in lebanon and iraq is it viewed positively almost everywhere else negatively. a note about lebanon, it is a fascinating

weapons or iran. decided to develop nuclear weapons but we have pieces of information that indicate that iran was involved in these relevant to the development of nuclear explosive devices we do not draw a conclusion this is a very important part we do not know and draw a conclusion but we put the questions we tell them friends and they have to clarify the issues why do you think the iran would want international monitors on the ground essentially they have the right to refuse access to their nuclear facilities but why do you think iran doesn't want to give full access to the international monitors i cannot. provide there and so on behalf of iran but my view is that corporation with. a year fully should be the interest of iran. they say that all the activities are peaceful purposes and we would like to help we want to clarify the issue we just had a meeting with iran on the fifteenth of may. it was a very intensive meeting but still we have differences we cannot reach agreement all these talks are hap

three we are not saying that iran has nuclear weapons or iran. decided to develop nuclear weapons but we have pieces of information that indicate that iran was involved in. the development of nuclear explosive devices was it absolutely certain that iran had a nuclear weapons program or a nuclear explosive devices program back in the days and is there any indication that things happening right now basically it's a yes or no question do you believe that iran is still involved in nuclear weapons program. that iran has a case too. we don't have yet the answer mr i have one quote from you here we have credible information that iran continued its activities beyond two thousand and three where is this information coming from various sources of this information from open source. information. of information coming from some ten countries so we have various information and we do not depend on one piece of information i had this question asked several times on twitter when i said that i will be in syria new today. do you think that such a passage in the lan

iran and u.n. officials are to kick off another round of nuclear talks in vienna on tuesday the tenth meeting since early last year. he wants to resume inspections of tehran's facilities should thinks are carrying out atomic bombs search he spoke to the organizations director general to get his take on this latest meeting is a preview. on may twenty first in vienna six party talks on iran's nuclear issue will be held these talks were inspired by the international atomic energy agency and to discuss the upcoming negotiations in vienna and many other issues were joined by the director general of the organization mr yukiya amano many thanks for finding time for this interview with us thank you for inviting me now let's jump straight into the fray on iran about the talks in vienna. i've heard many opinions that these talks would hardly bring any resolution to the matter of the ongoing stalemate which has been going on for many years now what is your opinion do you think that the west is actually intere

must come to terms with the islamic republic of iran there's just the two of us and myself could cross talk rules in effect that means you can jump in anytime you want and i really encourage it flynt if i can go to you first what drives american foreign policy towards iran very simple question maybe a complicated answer i think that what really drives american foreign policy toward iran is a post cold war determination on the part of the united states to dominate the middle east to to play hegemonic role in the middle east to micromanage political outcomes in key middle eastern states so that those states strategic orientation is subordinated to u.s. foreign policy preferences and the middle east has a regional order which is essentially run by the united states from that perspective the problem with the islamic republic of iran is. that it won't play along with this with this kind of hedge of monic ambition it said it's very open to improved relations with the united states but that has to take place on the basis of equality and american acceptance of the islamic republic that's not t

weapons or iran. decided to develop nuclear weapons but we have pieces of information that indicate that iran was involved in the peace relevant to the development of nuclear explosive devices mr mann i have one quote from you here we have credible information that iran continued its activities beyond two thousand and three where is this information coming from from various. sources we have this information from open source we have. information and we have some of information coming in from some ten countries so we have various information and we do not depend on one piece of information i had this question asked several times on twitter when i said that i will be in syria new today. do you think that such a passage in the language between the west and iran happening at the moment can create an opportunity for something like in iraq a scenario in iran i think it is except in the opposite in november two thousand and eleven i shared the information that indicate possible military activities. through ne

would set the nuclear armed iran unacceptable. we say iran supports the terrorism is unacceptable that we have the option, military option on the table. the president said he will prevent a nuclear undermanned the vice president most recently said the president isn't laughing. a lot of words to express, do with the latter ran to kill about a thousand american soldiers in the last 30 years it may have not pushed back adequately. really timely pushback was in 1987 in the cold february day pushback you think about sugar rain in speed boats in one area and ship, the arraign and scott thomas savage. they stop putting mines in the polls and stopped firing missiles at u.s. flag kuwaiti vessels. so we made our point in iran if anything is more a day to negotiate as a result of that strength than before that exercise. other than i would've done nothing. a year and half, two years ago, if all we did was the day the officials we knew were responsible if we indicted osama bin laden twice. didn't do any good. that said she have to do with radi

the other option is to let iran get a bomb and try to contain a nuclear armed iran. that is equally, perhaps even worse than the option of attacking the nuclear program because it is going to lead to the proliferation of nuclear weapons and is going to destabilize that part of the world. tehran is a threat to israel and has threatened in fact that israel should be wiped off the face of the earth. so you could have a major war between two nuclear powers. so both options are very undesirable and yet as we celtic center a third red mass submit the does. >> host: what is the third way? >> guest: to change our policy relating to the irgc and one of intelligence capacity. we've allowed the irgc twos on through the killing of american soldiers, marines of lebanon, airmen in saudi arabia, soldiers in iraq and soldiers now at the nato soldiers in afghanistan. we've allowed the irgc to work with hezbollah and work with other anorak to iron them to kill americans for that purpose and that is truly illegal in cavity. we should have set up a long time ago with the reagan administ

its ideology on iran and iran is resisting that. and another example for the iranians is the assassination of nuclear scientists which is blamed on israel and the united states and although the united states claims that it's not involved in the assassination of iran nuclear scientists, that's not very much -- that's not very well believed in iran by even ordinary iranians who dislike the regime. then you have the virus that was introduced to the iranian system that was running the nuclear program which caused a lot of damage. that's another example of covert activity to undermine iranian interest. the iranian people have two major concerns in life. they have one concern which is economic, which we all have. everybody wants to have a good economic life, have a stable life, a stable country and a stable economy and to do well financially. their second concern, a secondary concern is a social political concern, so they want a government that represents them. those two are their own primary concerns for the iranian people and the irania

and iran on both sides. the iranians think the american side isn't genuine, the american side isn't really after engagement but be is actually trying to undermine them all time. the american side doesn't understand the iranian side, doesn't understand the importance of responding to a congratulatory letter, and the u.s. side thinks that iran is impossible because every time we try to do anything, we don't get a response that we want. anytime we try to reach out, or as president obama says m reaching out a hand and it's met with a fist, from the american perspective we can see that. we can see that the iranians aren't reacting well to our outreach. but from the iranian side, again, whether it's the people of iran or whether it's the government, the outreach is actually very weakment it's like, yes, we would like to talk to you guys about your nuclear program be and a few other things, afghanistan, syria, rack. but mainly the nuclear program right now. and right now we would like you to do this. we're telling

business with iran. think about that. if iran can't sell its oil, it has no revenue. if it has no revenue, it is forced to stop its efforts to build a nuclear weapon. so the point is this: we can't have sanctions, and what we're trying to do in this legislation is not only express support for israel -- again, as the senator from south carolina pointed out -- but encourage and support the administration in completely enforcing the strongest possible sanctions against iran so that we don't have to go to the option of a military strike to take out their nuclear weapon capability. and that's what this is all about. so this is on a bipartisan -- as you said, 91 cosponsors. this is about saying, hey, we can get this done, but we've got to impose these sanctions i sans strongly as we can, and we've got to do it now. mr. graham: i thank the senator from north dakota. and now i would like to recognize senator ayotte, if she would allow, for four minutes. we've go to a lot of speakers here. ms. ayotte: yes. mr. gr

>>host: how close do you think iran is to getting nuclear weapons? >> i think they already have the ability to build a nuclear weapon. no doubt about that with the national security community but we have many solid reports that have been written where each of the capacities that you need for a nuclear weapon have been found to exist by the inspections we have the ability to conduct the things to iran who has allowed them. how long would it take if they made up their minds to do it? they have to enrich over 90 percent they only have some at 20% and the rest is under 5% so there is quite a bit of work to do but they are building a better enrichment machinery. a they want to break out and do with fast they could certainly do it within one year. >>host: abraham sofaer from the hoover institution "taking on iran" this is booktv on c-span2. >> it was one of the most famous women of the 19th century. she was an author, the wife of a u.s. senator who resigned his senate seat was -- seat and abraham lincoln was elected and came home to became and a bit to can

through nuclear we did not draw a conclusion but we have asked iran to clarify the issue if iran clarifies of the issue. international community can have confidence in runyon activities and we are ready to help them to clear. these these concerns so what i'm doing is to resolve the issue through diplomatic means. this is exactly what happened in the second gulf war i would like that people understand the the. difference. is a technical organization i mean we do not involved in the politics we are fully aware that. in a very political environment anything related to nuclear is political that is why we should be neutral and technical. and you can catch that full interview with i.e. by attending end at six forty five pm g m t and coming right up a look at human guinea pigs and pharmaceutical drug trails trials rather in the u.s. . although i was born after the vietnam era i remember t.v. discussions about the buddhist monk who burned himself to death as a form of protest the commentators on the news said that people there just have a different mindset that westerners could never understand yo

has already called on the whole region to stand against israel iran labeled the airstrike as an act of aggression accusing israel of advancing its own interests by creating instability in the region with an unprovoked attack and the commander of the country's ground forces warn that iran is ready to provide logistic support and military training to help syria defend itself against israel so townshend's ass collate and the motives are for onlookers to guess at is launching missiles into syria actually part of israel's plan to contain iran. and let's not talk more to alistair krueger a former e.u. mediator in the middle east mr krueger welcome to the program unprovoked to. syria twice in forty eight hours as we know what does international law will stand on this particular issue. well that's a very simple question clearly an act of war i mean there's no doubt about that it was an unprovoked attack on the on a sovereign state and it is of course counter to the un charter is well. there's no doubt about that it's also an extremely dangerous exercise in doing this . however i think what

i mean, what was the iran-cont iran-contra-- ( laughter ) ( applause ) what was the iran-contra scand scandal-- what was the iran-contra scandal it not a scandal. >> heck, ronald reagan wanted to help those hostages, but it spun out of control and reagan by the end was surprised at some of the things that had happened. he had bad luck in iran-contra. the rawa iran-contra was unluck. >> jon: reagan was just in the wrong place at the wrong time-- specifically, the white house during his own administration. ( laughter ) ( applause ) this iran-contra wasn't a-- it wasn't a scandal. >> it was a mistake. it was not a disaster, but it was a mistake. >> jon: mistake, like writing the wrong date on a check or writing the wrong address on a box marked "weapons." ( laughter ) so how about obama? is he off the hook then for his mistake? >> ultimately, these are executive agencies which are proving so deeply problematic. is he president or not? >> jon: it doesn't matter if obama knew with the wrongdoing or if it was the people around him. hhe is the president. the buck stops with him. what about r

and iran have been add ats decades. the 1979 hostage crisis, human rights issues, tehran's weapons program. now wrestlers from the countries find themselves grappling for a common cause. their aim is to keep wrestling in the olympics. nhk reports from new york. >> reporter: new york's grand central station was the scene of a historic wrestling match on wednesday. iran and the united states have been at odds for more than 30 years, but now the two countries are teaming up to ensure wrestling can remain an olympic sport. the reason f this friendly match was thss 2020 olympic games. both the united states and iran are big wrestling nations. in february, the two countries agreed at a conference to make efforts to save wrestling as an olympic sport. >> i would like to invite you to new york city on may 16. >> i would like to visit new york city. >> on may 16th, the u.s. and iran match, in the center of new york city, times square, okay? >> yes. >> okay. >> reporter: wrestling is very popular in iran. the country's athletes h

like iran had the oil money. the islamic republic does not need to get loans from the united states. so it has the money to buy equipment, to create its own force, the besiege and the revolutionary guards which are benefiting hugely from the status quo. they don't want to see any change. they'll go out of their way to suppress any kind of pro-democracy protest. in addition to that, there are no alternatives to the islamic republic. iranians remember what happened in 1979. they remember the bloodshed afterward, they remember the war x. it's not that they like the islamic republic, but they are very much afraid of any kind of institutional breakdown, especially as long as they don't see another alternative. i mean, mousavi was the man that they thought could bring some little change, and they are happy to see some grassroots, slow change rather than a big institutional change, probably instability, violence and then going through what they did 35 years ago. >> okay. thanks very much. at this point i'd like to open

now, if iran -- and this is a key point here -- if iran did not have access to this money, its ability to influence the region would be significantly curtailed. in other words, they cannot pose a threat without their oil revenues. so the reason that we have threat from -- and the problems that we have in syria is because the mean is being sent to syria, the source of that -- the money that is being sent to syria, the source of that money is oil revenues. and it shows that the -- the effort that we've made in syria -- in iran is not really enough because they have access to that much -- that much -- that many resources. fortunately, the international community has generally recognized this. last year senator kirk of illinois led the senate in the consideration of sanctions against iran's oil trade. at that time, iran exported 2 1/2 million barrels of oil a day and kirk sought an outright global embargo against the iranian oil. during the debate, however, many members of the international community stated that they would not be able to wean themselves off of iranian oil quickly enough to

no measured response from iran iran is seen as the main thread by israel's government which is very nervous about its nuclear activities and in response to these airstrikes iran has already called on the whole region to stand against israel iran labeled the airstrike as an act of aggression accusing israel of advancing its own interests by creating instability in the region with an unprovoked attack and the commander of the country's ground forces warn that to iran is ready to provide logistics support and military training to help syria defend itself against israel so townshend's ass collate and the motives are for on low cursed to gas that is launching missiles into syria actually part of israel's plan to contain iran. well you can always log on to walk to dot com and get involved with the story let us know what you think about the recent israeli air strikes on syria here come the numbers are for this hour from. forty four percent saying while israel just carrying out western plans to help the syrian rebels for example from london or paris or washington d.c. for that matter a fairly close

nervous about its nuclear activities and in response to these airstrikes iran has already called on the whole region to stand against israel iran labeled the air strike as an act of aggression accusing israel of advancing its own interests by creating instability in the region with an unprovoked attack and the commander of the country's ground forces warn that iran is ready to provide logistic support and military training to help syria defend itself against israel so townshend's ass collate and the motives are for onlookers to guess at its launching missiles into syria actually part of israel's plan to contain iran. and there are so you we always love it when you get involved with our stories here at r.t. dot com right now you can let us know what you think about the recent israeli air strikes on syria let's bring up the numbers for this hour from the web site so far it's looking like you have forty four percent the majority of those from voting on our web site saying well israel is carrying out western plans to help the syrian rebels down to just over a third saying it's an undecl

one is to attacked iran's nuclear program to prevent iran from having a nuclear bomb. that is what the president has promised he will do. of course, clinton promised he would do that with north korea and he didn't do it and wisely so because it was not sensible to allow 1 million south koreans in exchange for preventing north korea from having a nuclear weapon. the president has promised to prevent it from having a attacked it would be very costly and to put it would be regarded as legitimate to most of the road and it is a failed because iran will leave these and proceed in secret to develop the nuclear weapon. and to control or contain fat he is even worse but we're in the middle east but it will destabilize the part of the world and iran is a threat to israel and has threatened in fact, that israel should be wiped off the face of the ears. said you could have a major war between two nuclear powers. but those are variable on this as a -- can still consider a third wave that is what my book says vadim. we have a lot to sponsor the killing american soldiers. the marine

region to stand against israel iran labeled the airstrike as an act of aggression accusing israel of advancing its own interests by creating instability in the region with an unprovoked attack and the commander of the country's ground forces warn that to iran is ready to provide logistics support and military training to help syria defend itself against israel so townshend's as collate the motives are for on low curse to gas what is launching missiles into syria actually part of israel's plan to contain iran. in a culture of i would love it if you would i log on to r.t. dot com right now we always enjoy when you get involved with our stories you can tell us what you think about the recent israeli strikes on syria from the web site right now let's bring up the stats for this hour from dot com looking like over forty percent of you are voters now i believe in the israelis just carrying out west and plans to help the syrian rebels not a distant second to thirty three percent thinking there's an undeclared war being fought i've got a sixteen percent of all it's sending a clear message to

that's the perfect brick text for what really shocked and or against syria iran is seen as the main thread by israel's government which is very nervous about its nuclear activities and in response to these airstrikes iran has already called on the whole region to stand against israel iran labeled the airstrike as an act of aggression accusing israel of advancing its own interests by creating instability in the region with an unprovoked attack and the commander of the country's ground forces warn that iran is ready to provide logistic support and military training to help syria defend itself against israel so townshend's ass collate and the motives are for onlookers to guess at its launching missiles into syria actually part of israel's plan to contain iran. with the twenty four hour a day still to this pre-election. fourteen killed in the latest attack we've got an update from. the program also. the plane that disappeared over the russian. border is finally sold and much more. thousands of opposition activists have gathered in central moscow one year since mass protest that ended in

thank you. >> i just want to ask one question about iran. i think everyone was quite pleased to hear you restate american policy on iran that you and the president have stated on many occasions about the need to prevent iran from obtain agnew clear weapon, and we have been working in many different realms diplomatic, economic sanctions and making sure that there's a credible threat of alternatives that the iranians know about. and i want to match and connect that third point with your comments towards end of your remarkability se quest ration and limitations. we have had to withdraw a second carrier from the gulf, and i want to ask you to discuss with us sort of the difficulties in the balancing of trying to deal with the limitations and the sequest ration and the cuts at the same time as we need to project credible threats, project our power and our commitment to an adversary like iran. >> let me answer it this way. it's an important question. and it's one that the president deals with. i deal with. secretary kerry deals with every day, bec

those are each anime iran now reports suggest that it was in the rain in shipment to has volokh that israel was told getting so it's possible that syria is just the middle man and it wouldn't be be young reason that around is equipping has a blog as a backup in case of conflict with israel israel with this provocation there will be for a response either from syria either from his block or better yet from the point of view of the obama to be in israel from iran so if you run in syria don't do anything for the moment just wait this will be seen as it is just a provocation but if there is you know the slightest bit of a response from either syria or iran that's the perfect brick text for a lot. against syria iran is seen as the main thread by israel's government which is very nervous about its nuclear activities and in response to these airstrikes iran has already called on the whole region to stand against israel iran labeled the air strike as an act of aggression accusing israel of advancing its own interests by creating instability in the region with an unprovoked attack and the comm

has already called on the whole region to stand against israel iran labeled the airstrike as an act of aggression accusing israel of advancing its own interests by creating instability in the region with an unprovoked attack and the commander of the country's ground forces sworn that iran is ready to provide logistics support and military training to help syria defend itself against israel so townshend's ass collate and the motives are for onlookers to guess at its launching missiles into syria actually part of israel's plan to contain iran so will the syrian conflict spill over the country's borders much more analysis on what is available right now but a website. where you can also express your opinion on the unrest is heading. a group of bahraini anti-government activists has been sentenced to fifteen years in prison for attacking a police patrol the protesters deny the charges claiming they were tortured into making confessions bahrain has been engulfed in protests for more than two years now with police often brutally cracking down on demonstrators the opposition accuses the rul

israel's massive attack near damascus days ago why isn't serious raging civil war what are the chances of iran and hezbollah could be directly drawn into this conflict then there's the issue of chemical weapons should western support of assad's enemies be withdrawn if it is proven the rebels are using them against their own people. to cross like syria i'm joined by pepe escobar in london he is an investigative journalist and author in washington we have christopher chivas he's a senior political scientist at the rand corporation and an adjunct professor at john hopkins university and in new york we cross it jeffrey ingersoll he is a defense reporter with business insider right gentlemen cross-talk rules and i don't mean you can jump in anytime you want pepe if i go to you first it looks like there's more and more effort to inflame the conflict in syria than resolve it would you agree or disagree with that. this is just the beginning of tempted to start. you know seeing a little bit peter what a wonderful world this would be the obviously to make the g.c.c. this is what they're trying you know

has already called on the whole region to stand against israel iran labeled the airstrike as an act of aggression accusing israel of advancing its own interests by creating instability in the region with an unprovoked attack and the commander of the country's ground forces warn that iran is ready to provide logistic support and military training to help syria defend itself against israel so townshend's ass collate and the motives are for onlookers to gas that is launching missiles into syria actually part of israel's plan to contain iran. election three. with killed in the latest attack. in the program. the plane that disappeared over the year ago with. a much more later in the program. of thousands of opposition activists have gathered here in central moscow to mark one year since mass protests that ended in violent clashes last year the anti-government rallies left dozens injured and saw hundreds of arrests. joins us live now from the heart of the capital so just how big is this rally now looking at this stage of the day. in fact right now the rally has come to an end and be the p

and he is the president of the iran policy committee and author of the upcoming book arab rebels in iranian dissidents also in washington we have raymond mcgovern he is co-founder of veteran intelligence professionals for sanity and in atlanta we cross to jay bookman he's a columnist and blogger at the atlanta journal constitution all right gentlemen crosstalk rules in effect that means you can jump in anytime you want if i go to you first in washington is this a scandal or just incompetence or both. well the scandal is all out of proportion and what needs to happen is adults need to look at the situation and determine number one what happened number two why it happened and i'm not talking about additional security measures and three can it happen again and will it be able to be prevented and the answer to that last one key one is no it cannot be prevented because the reason why it happened is not a lack of security measures but it has to do with u.s. policy with that part of the world that's why they hate us that's why all our diplomats are at more peril than ever before ok interesting the

scores more while at least ten people died in earlier explosions in basra a town near the border with iran our disposal here has been monitoring the situation. according to iraqi officials some car bombs have exploded in shiite neighborhoods in the capital city of baghdad now we're hearing that they took place at outdoor market places at bus stops and on the streets of shiite areas on monday morning also on monday morning before these attacks they were to diggy car bombs that targeted a bus station and a restaurant in the southern city of basra which is close to the arabian border in that attack at least ten people were killed and some twenty seven people wounded not no one has immediately came responsibility for these blasts but they do have all the signs and the hallmarks of al qaida attacks in the mainly shia muslim a bus route which was previously relatively peaceful have increased recently back in march a car bomb in that city killed ten and wounded many others these situations certainly does seem to be spiraling out of control tensions have been intensifying since the country's minor