13 soldiers following a report on war crimes committed by the countrys forces in afghanistan. Although they dismissed troops were not directly involved in the atrocities youre watching, arent International Coming to you straight from the russian capital. Welcome to the program. A heinous assassination. Thats how the United Arab Emirates has described. Fridays killing of irans top nuclear scientist, also voicing concerns on deepening tensions in the middle east. The emirates condemns the crime of the assassination cocksure, no sides to practice the greatest possible restraint. So as to avoid dragging the region to new levels of instability and threats to peace. The attack sparked uproar in irans capital with rioters burning the flies of israel and its allies in the us, as well as torching portraits of donald trump and joe biden. All demanding war with america to run immediately blamed the incident on israel, which denies the accusations. Heres what is known about the assault with tehran already involving retaliation. It will only aggravate the triangle of tension between the us israel and iran. As a 1st on the explains that creates a real headache for a future of biden administration. So far, its really up to iran to make accusations and israel alongside with the u. S. Quite expected. Lee. Are its prime suspects. Warning against any adventurist stick measures by the United States and israel against my country. Particularly during the remaining period of the Current Administration of the United States in office. The Islamic Republic of iran reserves its right to take all necessary measures to defend its people and secure its interests. In response. Israel, the one country whose spies might actually know more about iran than iran knows about itself. Has had this to say. I have no clue who did it. Its not that my lips are sealed because im being responsible. I really have no clue. And the United States, the same United States that kicked off 2020 with an open assassination of irans top general has been completely mute this time. And it would be perfectly fine given the total lack of evidence and nation thousands of miles away from iran had anything to do with the killing except in the past 2 weeks. Several unconfirmed reports claim that donald trump was seeking options to attack iran. To further deal rael its nuclear program. Factories that there would make a perfect target given he was quite a celebrity for Israeli Intelligence in number than moon 5 years ago. So heres his direct and uses. The general aim is to announce the closure of project. But then he adds special activities. You know, what are those special activities will be carried out under the title of scientific know how developments. And in fact, this is exactly what iran proceeded to do. It continued this work in a series of organizations over the years. I know for preside a well, he does know how well i know him. If i met him in the street, most likely i would recognize him. He does not have a new nitty. He did not have immunity, and i dont think he will have immunity by aggravating iran. Trump would also be throwing a spanner in the machinery of joe bidens Foreign Policy. Given that the president elect has hinted at a friendly, a stance on to iran would offer to iran a credible path back to diplomacy. If iran returns to strict compliance with the nuclear deal, the United States would rejoin the agreement as a starting point for follow on negotiations. With our allies, we will work to strengthen and extend the Nuclear Deals provisions while also addressing other issues of concern and europe, whose leaders probably still have a p. T. S. D. Over januarys prospects of world war 3. Have been pointing out that this latest killing creates a tough road ahead for biden, a few weeks before the new u. S. Administration takes office. It is important to preserve the scope for talks with iran, so that the dispute over Irans Nuclear program can be resolved through negotiations. We therefore urge all parties to refrain from any steps that could lead to a further escalation of the situation. During the past 4 years, trump has sent americas relations with iran, back into the pit of hostility, by unilaterally tearing up the nuclear deal, recognizing jerusalem as israels capital. And sending his top diplomat on a Charm Offensive to all of the middle eastern nations that oppose iran. Thats definitely what the israelis were aiming for. I mean, theyre there. Sure. And hope is that the United States gets involved in a military action against iraq. Thats. Thats their ultimate goal, thats their ultimate objective. You know, boy, that the next best thing is to ensure that the United States doesnt improve relations with iran, by rejoining the Iranian Nuclear agreement. In the way you do that is to sabotage any effort at diplomacy. I mean, when you knock off the number one side just Irans Nuclear program in a suburb of tehran in a cold, daring daylight attack, youre not going to have the iranians go. Thats ok. Lets, lets get on with the plan. Its going to get the reaction. Its getting right now, hard line iranian response through the restrict, the shutdown, the efforts of International Actors in only increase International Security that iran might be edging toward a military weapon is a sure effort, this new high profile death, even though theres no hard evidence to reveal the culprits will only once again prove to tehran, that the raw power is hell bent on destroying it, and with the wounds from the assassination of general salim ani still fresh in the mind, no one can be expecting restraint from iran. Most teachers in norway fear personal consequences if they show cartoons of the prophet mohammad in class. A survey has found that in the wake of last months murder of french teacher, samuel party, they displayed images of the founder of islam to students. When norwegian teacher says there are now very real dangers to those working in the profession after the murder of some, well, i decided not to show them at all because i felt its wonderful. I felt my profession was attacked at the moment and the freedom of speech over expression was attacked, of course. And i wanted to find other ways to express myself and to achieve the same goal with my teaching. Because the characters to get your drawings are not the goal. Theyre at just a part of criticism against our religion. And theres other texts we can use as well. According to the poll, almost 2 thirds of teachers fear showing the images and many worry about even bringing up related issues like islam, concern about scaring students is the main reason given though negative reactions from students and parents are also a factor. And in france partys brutal murder is proving extremely divisive present. And since the cartoons are about freedom of speech, but muslims are outraged on the answer to one of our competitors was murdered because he taught our competitor, it was the victim of an islamist terror attack. The norwegian teacher we spoke to an educator should be free to decide how to explain religion to students. Theres the law and the is the law and it one hand and freedoms of speech on the other hand. And we can maneuver in between the limits of those. And i dont want to have anyone telling me which texts to choose in my teaching. I think its really important that teacher, its all around the world, is allowed to to, to make those choices by themselves. We have the curriculum and we have these limits and i think for us its really, really important too to make choices about these things ourselves. The thing is that as the know, each and curriculum has a very important main topic, thats democracy and citizenship. And we are teaching in with the law on one hand, the laws against hate speech and in the rain, and we have the human rights on the other hand rights. So we have to maneuver in, in between them. And for us, we will have to find our way to achieve, to develop the students skills and their, and ability to, to read attacks with a critical mind. And i think we can do that even though were not showing these specific pictures. Australia is demanding china apologize. For posting a shocking mock up image of an australian soldier with a knife to the throat of an afghan child, a warning you might may find the image were about to show you disturbing. The picture is part of a tweet by Chinas Foreign Ministry spokesperson condemning the unlawful killing of afghans by australian troops. But Prime MinisterScott Morrison lashed out at the image as truly repugnant, demanding its removal and an apology urging defended the tweet insisting australia should be the one apologizing to the Afghan People. And theres already a move to dismiss 13 soldiers over the unlawful killings in afghanistan. And as the country deals with the fallout from its damning war crimes report, danielle hearkens asks if it will hurt those not even involved. The burgeoning inquiry is sending shock waves through australia, dozens of afghan civilians and prisoners of war, killed and brutalized by special forces the evidence systematically and deliberately covered up. And as the grim details emerged, calls for Army Top Brass to take responsibility have grown. In each case is important that not only is there accountability in the Defense Forces for individual alleged acts, but also in the chain of command about those who had responsibilities and accountabilities in that chain of command. The report was heavily redacted, but its still described as possibly the most disgraceful episode in australias military history. And the commanders are feeling the heat. There is a process to be followed here. Weve received the inquiry one week ago. We need to follow a very deliberate, very methodical and very fair process. Whats the best damage control . Well and apology for starters. To the people of afghanistan on behalf of the Australian Defense force. I sincerely and unreservedly apologize for any wrongdoing by a stroll in soldiers. Such alleged behavior profoundly disrespected the trust placed in us by the Afghan People who would ask 1st to the country to help them. Action has begun to trickle down so far. 13 soldiers are facing anything from warnings to discharge if they fail to explain their actions. Its still unclear though, if criminal proceedings will go ahead and many feel this is insufficient and unacceptable. Its not the wish of blowers, its not david mcbride, its not jealousy. Manning . Its not, julian, its noted snowden, it is the war criminals to be put in prison and the man i came to stand by on this issue was even going to think war crimes. Even when i mean my experience is weve seen that defense chiefs have opted to go further and strip medals from the thousands of afghan veterans who had nothing to do with the crimes causing a massive backlash from the military community and beyond. This is not fair on thousands of our soldiers who served with distinction and deserve the thanks of a grateful nation, not to be thrown under the bus. Over the last 3 weeks, 9, serving and veteran soldiers, 8 men and one woman have taken their own lives. Though theres no direct proven link to the scandalous britain report. Some say perceptions of collective blame are damaging veterans mental health. Basically branded every soldier as hes all of the 3000 as murderers. And its just not right, and it will have an awful impact on these people who are very vulnerable. Afghanistan is not a normal war. Its not between its a guerrilla warfare. The reality is, like sending back these soldiers and time again. And i think that was quite wrong and that explains, i think what happened and you know, the politicians have a lot to answer to this and, and everyones ducking for cover all the leadership was also made clear that responsibility must go up the ranks for what happened in afghanistan, accountability ris with those who allegedly broke the law and with the chain of command, responsible for the systemic failures involved. Ironically, general campbell himself was in command of australian troops in the country from 2011 to 2012, where most of the killings in a broken report took place even receiving a distinguished Service Cross for his efforts. His medal doesnt appear to be up for a vacation. And as the scandal drags on with army chiefs finding themselves under fire from all sides, accused of doing too little too late. Dodging blame themselves are now collectively punishing innocent veterans, whatever the outcome, the broken report fallout is only just beginning. Russia has accuse western powers of unleashing a mass december mation campaign over the alleged poisoning of opposition. Figurehead alex in a volley that was during day one of an annual conference of the Global Chemical weapons watchdog, the open at which 56 nations demanded answers from moscow. You cannot bring in live artist peter oliver in berlin. Peter talk us through moscows response. Well over 50 nations, as you say, have put their name to this o. P. C. W statement, saying that russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny was poisoned using a nerve agent from the novacek group. Moscow, for their part are far from happy with these allegations that are being made against them. Instead of trying to look into what had happened, germany and its allies resorted to megaphone diplomacy. Unleashed a mass disinflation campaign against russia and started to demand some independent, International Investigations under the auspices of the o. P. C. , doubly alexei no later ill on a flight from siberia to moscow. But in all he ended up here in berlin to receive treatment. And it made you in the statement that was released on monday, the 5556 nations, members of the organization for the prohibition of chemical weapons, say they have full confidence in the o. P. C. W. Findings that a nova chalk nerve agent, was used against mist in the valley on russian soil now the russian side dispute, those claims, they say that when tests were carried out on alexei no volley when he 1st received treatment in the siberian city of almost no traces of any nerve agent were found. Now russia has made numerous requests that the evidence that these allegations of based upon be shared with small sco so far. Well, those requests of fallen on deaf ears, both berlin on the o. P. C. W. Refusing to share that information. Arties peter, our thinking for breaking down that story for us. Now for more on this, we can actually cross live to mark the 1000000, a member of the European Parliament representing the alternative for germany party. I welcome to the program. Now, what did this statement from those 56 members of the actually achieve or more or less hearing the same back and forth there demanding answers from russia while russia demands answers from germany asked i mean, the, this statement follows the findings of the organization for the prohibition of chemical weapons, and now this nations just say, we urge russia to cooperate and to investigate the case and russia tells, so we dont have any findings share the results with us. So its, its the same procedure as we have seen in the last month. But no, it is a new step of pressure against russia. It is hard to say what will follow up and we cannot see that this is a 1st step to a new escalation. It just seems as an action to keep does not only case a lie, if you know mr. Nobody was here in a palm and last week to debate with some Foreign Policy or with the Foreign Policy committee members. So obviously, is forces who want to have a more strict approach against russia. Try to keep that case alive, to play their road to play the game in antirational sanctions and in the entire russian policy. That whats happened when we hope that it will go over new, it doesnt go over. Its still here and be debated in russia accuse the German Government of megaphone diplomacy over than of on the case saying that rather than engaging in constructive dialogue and sharing information that theyre just making these accusations. Is that a Fair Assessment . If i very russian, i would probably do the same from the german side. You can say that we got, we got mr. No one need to send to berlin, the german liberty and the laboratory of the p. C. W. How and poison in view and his body. So the russians say look we, we send it to you. We allowed him to travel to berlin. We would never have done this. If we had any, we suspected that there is real a possum in his body. Obviously what you, what you claim against us is wrong, but the germans say ok. He came to us, we did nothing except to test him and we found something. So you have 2 positions and both have some some ratio within the problem is not that we cannot deal with that position on the fair base. But what i see especially here in brussels is that many people just used that no vonnie case because they want to play an anti russian policy. They wanted to prolong sanctions. They attack them all stream to Energy Pipeline deal. So if both sides would try to deal with it, with the aim of solving the questions and find a move to understanding. In my mind it would be very easy. But especially on the western side, we see a lot of anti russian sentiment. And so we dont get that case solved. Im very sad about it. There seem to be saying that there is very much to a political agenda involved in the numbers in the case. And given that we dont know what happened to me and he is alive and well, do you find the rest western reaction overblown. I mean, for comparison, theres been quite a muted western reaction to the assassination of irans top nuclear scientists. Theyre disappointed or 1st thing is are i strongly opposed to the combined and avani question with economic sanctions and especially with the gas pipeline laws for him to why we do that. There is no reason to combine it. We should, we should look at a separately imagine when mystica shockey was murdered in the Saudi Arabian consulate in istanbul, where the evidence is clear, different in the money case, new one ever tried to connect it with all oil business, that saudi arabia sophists and why we do that with russia. The 2nd is that we see a clear illegal 3rd party sanction by the us again, small stream to which connects russia and germany directly from natural gas. And now obviously to the money is used to justified is illegal sanctions. And to make pressure on the pipeline project. And that is not russian policy. That is antirational sentiment from the us and from parts of western europe. And suv of my position is lets separate it. And then if we go to this is as an isolated case, then of course we should also all the question that or that or a and in the room. We should share the information we should share the libertarian formation and findings. And that im very optimistic that we could find a solution. But what i see is that there are many people, especially in the west who dont want to, who dont want to find a solution. They want to play a game against russia. This new declaration of the organization for the prohibition of chemical weapons as a new step of escalation. And i, i didnt like to, to read about it and i hope that we can downsize case very soon. Thanks a 1000000 cross am e. P. Thank you for your time. And your comments and thats our wrap up of the days top news for now, but dont forget, you can always find us on many of your favorite social media platforms like twitter and facebook for up to the net reports. Join me every thursday on the alec simon show and ill be speaking to guest of the world of politics or business. Im show business. Ill see you then post bank you have my pappy and always will pocket board if he does much good you know book as a composer. Good luck to you. Go. Google. Have near that someone get up on the can handle the job center. Hold it up as a sort of will they need to get them involved . Not have an army. Whats going to go on and all that will buy a book about when nobody will be here, but not part of a lot of people, you know, and its a committee of the buying even if youre going to confirm whether it was a pandemic. No, certainly no borders, im just blind to nationalities. You know so much we dont look like seem to be sticking to your commentary crisis, which is interesting to me. More times we can do better, we should be doing better. Everyone is contributing. Its your own way. But we also know that this crisis will not go on forever. The challenge is grateful to respond because for so many good people are helping us. It makes us feel very proud that were in it together. Hello and welcome to cross top. Were all things are considered. Im peter lavelle, the Foreign Policy team of a potential biden ministration is being touted by the liberal media. We tell you why all this should be horrified. Also theres a lot of talk of a great reset and build back better does looking back or bode well for the future. To discuss these issues and more, im joined by my guest, patrick hemmings, an employment hes the editor and founder of the 21st century wire. And here in moscow, were joined by bob. Shes a political analyst and editor at, you know smee internet media project. All right, gentlemen crossed uprose in effect, that means you can jump in anytime you want. And i was appreciated. Ok, lets go to patrick 1st. Their employment in watching the potential by a cab and being presented to the public through the liberal media. We heard of phrases like they are like the avengers is like theyre super heroes or Something Like that. And then there was a talking head on p. B. S. Saying, these are intensely professional people and theyre apolitical. I mean, almost fell out of my chair. When that was said here, i look at this team and its a rogues gallery of people that want endless war promote them. Were very much involved in designing a horse that are still being fought and theyre being but when the liberal media is cheering them as if theyre some kind of an enlightenment after darkness. Ok, obviously the donald trump is the darkness in their mind. But theres a lot of continuity here and i think this is whats really terrifying. And we have election cycle after election cycle where the public says theyre sick and tired of these wars. But it doesnt seem to have much of an impact on the professional manager class that runs what i call the Foreign Policy block. A get away, patrick. Youre right to point out peter about the continuity. Theres a if you look back in history, theres a tremendous continuity of u. S. Foreign policy from the ministration to administration. Its a slow moving elephant. It doesnt change much between administration, but