That there are there's been this consistent desire to take them off of the active playing field for quite some time Mr Trump's critics say the action was reckless Iran has vowed revenge is on passage the United Nations says Tehran reserves the right to self-defense under international law. $3000.00 troops are to be deployed to help tackle raging bushfires across Australia temperatures are set to increase further today the country's Prime Minister Scott Morrison says it is as it is a disaster that's escalated to an entirely new level that we can m.p. Lisa Nandy has joined the contest to become the next labor leader she says she'll win back the trust of voters in former Labor Harlan's our political our political correspondent Nick Berg least sets out who should be up against the bombing on May be Jess Phillips The cleared yesterday to saying there needs to be more honesty in politics and she was ready to take the fight to Boris Johnson the shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry and Junior shadow minister Clive Lewis both declared before Christmas secure Starmer the shadow breaks secretary Rebecca long Bailey who speaks for labor on Baroness are likely to do so in the coming days a man in his thirty's has been stabbed to death in Finsbury Park in North London no arrests have been made a report warning that deaths caused by the drug fence in ill on the rise in the u.k. The advisory council on the Misuse of Drugs is cause for has called for urgent steps to tackle the synthetic opioid which has been linked to thousands of deaths in the United States and has been a surge in the number of people who have never worked according to research on the Resolution Foundation the think tank found that 8.2 percent of people in the u.k. Between $16.64 have never had a paid job that's a total of 3400000 law Gardner is from the Resolution Foundation and now takes longer to get a 1st job when you get out of education and into employment and then motherhood or ill health can leave people out of the labor market for many years more and it's now a life cycle journey has driven the overall rise in the proportion of adults who've never worked at the sport now with Nick Paton things cricketers were left once again rowing and other poor batting display as they failed to capitalise on openings on they one of the 2nd Test against South Africa in Cape Town the top order fell to build on decent starts on a good pitch but England have recovered to 185 for 4 only to lose the next 5 wickets for just 49 runs and the only pope could manage a. Sentry on 56 nags England will begin Day 21262 for 9 Total not lie their way with that star striker Harry Kane for several weeks after they suffered a torn hamstring in their defeat to Southampton on Wednesday no time scale has been given on a return but Spurs say their medical staff will continue to review the injury West Ham United Women simply match against Everton on Sunday has been perspire only club say there's a significant flu outbreak within the Hammers squad Sile moved up to 3rd in the Premiership thanks to their 6 try bonus point win against Hala Quinn's $4810.00 the final score it moves the hosts up from 7th with a defeat leaves Queens in 8th Scarlett's climb to the top of conference bay with a hard fought pro 141 study when it Cardiff Blues 1614 the final score 11 points coming from the boot of Lee Harvey all star backup last week's win of a Conex with an impressive 5 Try $3817.00 win over Munster this is b.b.c. Radio 5 Live on digital b.b.c. Salary small speaker. The weather today is going to be partly cloudy and mainly dry for the majority of the u.k. With the best of the sunshine to the southeast and the chance of the odd shower in the west rain will affect the far north but signs of a going out on d.t.c. Sounds will come back to that here crush more costly piece of crowd which have even tried to signal the media trailers. Up to this is a new world that you are now crouching right retirement and over that we were Lucero that day one of the 1st things she mentioned was a fish tank the Sousa way fired all 3 kids of my own as I watch or do slowly said will it go get a fish while this go for a while you'll be a cultural listen on the b.b.c. Sounds. This is a photo of 5 live on Dawson at a bar on coming up in this hour the programme with the Bush was in Australia haven't been extinguished far from it they still seem to be gathering strength to govern latest from there also a good news show in West Africa which includes. The a Suppose it irritation for George Foreman international football in a president of Liberia favorable having decided that the honeymoon period is over and he will get down to the real politics and achieve what the pleasure of the country wants him to achieve his will get the back pages of the morning papers over here and also talk about the assassination in a u.s. Air attack of a prominent Iranian military general we had a fascinating. Hour or so discussion earlier in the program we'll play some of that as well which examines many of the different permutations around. First serve the Australian Prime Minister's got more citizen as that he's calling up on the reserves to help fight the bush fires burning across the country dozens of blazes a burning across several states to extreme fire conditions are forecast for much of the country southeast strong winds and very hot temperatures are expected to intensify the fire danger and scenic Collins from the a.b.c. Is it Batemans Bay where many people have been a vacuum to see what's the scene like where you are and today. Well look at it's been getting progressively worse over the past couple of hours as a small cost as predicted it's been very very hot here temperatures in the lawyer foresees and they find that have been burning since new is a really and the ones that flared up very badly on New Day 5 again in deterioration there are several in the area immediately surrounding me that are at that emergency level warning which is really the most serious threat and I'm currently looking at it a massive plume of smoke lots of helicopter water bomb is in the sky trying to do what they can but really today was all about protecting lives not properly property there were a lot of warnings from now fire all Thora sees that property was not going to be able to be saved today they might be sound really sickly we are expecting a lot of property losses but cementing Paypal these 5 states and have been killed in these fires 5 that is the main priority today to avoid any more deaths but properties are expected they've been about 500 homes destroyed already about more are expected today and that situation is getting worse. Not very strong northwesterly winds that are fanning these flames towards the east coast where I am at now inspire about 4 hours south of Sydney it's a very popular holiday spot run the middle of a summer holiday a lot of people have been told to leave the area especially holiday makers and we saw a steady stream of traffic leaving the area over the past few days ahead of today which has been predicted to be very bad but those ties have been flaring up and we're expecting a sub change to come in. 3 or 4 hours time that's expected to change the fire front flanks heading north so it's actually going to expand the distance of the fire so that's the main concern for today really and into the say thing I'm hearing Woods children in the background there which shouldn't be surprising as you say home as a result. We've the situation. Yes Well look we re spoken to a number of families who are Batemans Bay evacuation center so that's where hundreds and hundreds of people have gathered in a caravans tents and makeshift sort of beds you know that's where paint nothing's opening by moment you can't go to a supermarket or get supplies so a lot of people are heading to the Batemans Bay evacuation center and a lot of the families and a lot of local families even so a lot of the holiday makers have returned to places like Sydney and Melbourne. Going home and not staying here for these holidays but residents in surrounding areas and so I slay the wives and children that have come to the evacuation center and while the husbands have been staying to defend their properties and we spoke to a family today who were really very emotional about having to say goodbye this morning event and deciding that it was just not worth the risk staying there although the husbands as behind staying to defend the property so it's very unsettling atmosphere here at the moment people are banding together and sharing stories a lot of people have already lost their properties in the fires a few days ago but that doesn't that's no guarantee even burnt out area is safe because there is still so much roll material here that is just able to go up in a minute and we train is not likely. At all predicted so it's really just a matter of. Sitting by waiting and watching as conditions are expected to deteriorate and there is a several is around Batemans Bay How many. We're going to back out let me just check at the mine in his current area 3 emergency level warning in the south coast one it's been burning through over 200 almost 270000 hits to this car when the fire has been burnt through and that stretches north to south of Nowra south to where I am that Batemans Bay There's another fire this. And another 5 to the west knowing mountains area New South Wales is also one of the main hot spots today there are 5 emergency warnings in that area are now a lot of that is National Park and national forest but it's normally a skating village and in winter so there are a lot of townships in that area that are under stress and we've also seen a major fire that's been burning to Sydney's south west a few wakes now that has flared up again and that is potentially going to impact on some of those than southwestern suburbs of Sydney and into the Southern Highlands so obviously the situation is bad in Victoria as well as in South Australia we can through Island it's under emergency threaten to people have died today so the situation is still unfolding and it's likely to continue through through into the evening and just for those who don't understand the the residents of 270000 he says it took about a 1000 square moves on. That's right and in the past 2 months since this bushfire season started firing really isn't is normal I have to say I think it's been going through a bad train me and take to a lot of the state to teach really all that eastern flank from the north coast to the south coast as is burning or has been over 105 out of control sorry under 5 in the state at the moment around 7 you guys are still out of control and that's the main situation here there's no anticipation is Pfizer going to be extinguished anytime soon it's just a matter of controlling them as best as possible within the conditions and 55 is have been working nonstop now volunteers to try and to their best to protect lives and properties but yes it's getting pretty dicey day with the service sirens. Yes they go running alongside the main star affair through the series of Princes Highway it's my night away through it's been cut off in several locations and fire crews as you can hear scuse me going up and down the highway trying to get on top spot 5 The other concern is obviously with the strong winds they've been gusting up to 6070 kilometers per hour the threat of ember attack is also problematic so. While you know there are areas it impacts which likely it's those spot fires is ember attack set up the tension really bad but could be really bad if that was case scenario presents itself which is what happened on Tuesday so that is the great see today and when it sounds are you needed most want to thank you. Very smoky here this time attorney and Conan's in from the a.b.c. . Barrie thank you very much and it's good news from West Africa with Kim McDougal I was to one of the n.c. Government protests in Liberia have been delayed supposedly there was a group for security reasons and you know some. You know allegedly according to news reports contend about security you know I think church services are on Sunday so that was part of the great you know why they've been delayed Well they were the principal in Liberia at the moment there's a lot of anger or sort of glory I don't know city towards George means government because you know the country is going through really difficult economic times at the moment I mean it is been issues civil servants not having been paid for months and basically there's this group called the Council of patriots that headed by a controversial Liberian radio show pundit named Henry Koester and. He sort of senses and politicians and today basically saying that they're unhappy with the way that their government is running the economy and dealing with corruption and there are a lot of you know Liberians who sort of who feel the same way but you know from generalists I've spoken to this sort of once and sure they have been mass demonstrations or mass anti-government demonstration like the save the state demonstration attracted tens and thousands of thousands of people but there are there are unsure as to sort of I guess more numbers you know that the council of patriots will get on Monday and dissolve the president responds to the criticism that is laid towards his government I think that the government's line for quite some time has been that it heritage as a broken economy from the government of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf I'm you know but I think that that argument you know it's the 2nd you know the 2nd gear shift you know it's keys into these 60 attempts and you know I think that argument is not sort of standing up with with a lot of labor in people without images of Georgia. Possibly I mean you know I think he's a he's a he's a very much loved to figure in Liberia and you know he's you know he's important to do if you know the symbol you know the hopes and dreams of many Liberians you know the possibility of sort of growing up in the slums and make you know becoming a great football star but you know I think that you know George we had very limited political experience he did run sort of a number of a number of times to the presidency and he said Senator of months or other counties for a limited period of time you know and I think that you know people are just becoming a bit more critical of him but you know we'll see people say how are you guys are that the next time the next. Was going on amongst us. So 11 thing that was really interesting is that it is very prominent. Activist His name is can be said by Franco Ben and was Pan African activist and he's. Sort of attracted a lot of attention in you know in front you know he's very well known in France and is you know being. Conducted a lot of sort of demonstrations in different West African countries and he's particularly against the the state which is concurrency you know of West and Central Africa there's a universal currency you know that aids is from the colonial era but on the he got into a lot of trouble in invoke a do gooder you with he was basically attending a big sort of conference that focused on the role of the u.s. In the security crisis in the say hello and he was at the University of work to do good and he decided that he was going to call 'd the president became a foster. Christian cabaret a call and or a cd of frauds a political strain of basically and he ended up getting arrested in his hotel and he was detained for about 5 days and then finally appeared before court on the 26th of December that the at the tile 8 is just is and you know it was a packed courthouse you know quite a few of his supporters were there wasn't a really big crowd but it was a very sort of interesting case to follow. So you know allowed to describe the President Clinton. No I mean I you know it was a was basically charged with insulting the president and you know it was it's. A very sort of unusual. Sort of metaphor that he was using but I think that he was basically sort of you know trying to illustrate that he thinks that the president is mean I said to the interference and. To stop and yeah and it was sort of controversial and I even sort of remember falling on Facebook I mean people had different sort of responses some people thought that he went too far other people read it basically as. His address to say I'm cracked down on freedom of speech and a crackdown of crazy sort of ordinary became a people criticizing where he's not taking a baby but a crackdown on. Citizens of West African countries particularly where French references militarily involved on you know speaking out against France so it was a really controversial case inscribed in tool kit a facet that you could describe the president was a metaphor. No I don't I mean I think that this sort of like this is an offense that must be because of some kind of offense in the paino code about about sort of offending the president I'm not sure it was sort of you know sort of like legal basis for it was I'm sure that there's not a law that specifically says that you can call the president a call and yes he basically was charged and. You know we didn't so sing the president and he was given a 2 month suspended sentence but he was ultimately found guilty you know and and he at the end of it he was incredibly defiant and you know he he basically told the president that he should think twice before arresting people in such a fashion and he said you know he's a very interesting activist because he told her very sort of critical of African leaders as well and you know often criticized her being you know complicit you know with the colonial you know former colonial rulers and he said when the us said Africa demanded that our parents take responsibility it's easy to attack the African used then it is to attack the franchise rock your latest ship. You mentioned a moment ago the survey was taken Paul to the local currencies under the issue of. Currency in West Africa is the Midlands. Yes definitely so I'm you know it's a really sort of interesting issue and basically the West and Central Africa we've had this currency is the the sci fi and it's you know basically you know 8 countries share the same currency and it's been historically very controversial you know because it's connected to colonial rule many West Africans say that it you know it can be said to himself you know called the colonial money and it's been particularly controversial because hasa of you know West African and Central African countries and Brazil have seen her actually kept in in the Treasury. Many many West African see it as as a means to sort of promise to control their economies and the cammies there by has been sort of protesting against this for. Quite a long time he was arrested in Senegal for banning 5000 safe nose in public but you know it looks as though there is some change. On the horizon we had the announcement President McCraw on the French president he was in Ivory Coast and he and president of the ivory and President water and now it's the end of the say for and use sort of currency called the Echo would be should be used but you know I think that. People are sort of I guess. West Africans are quite sort of cautiously optimistic about this and you know there are certain things you know like basically it's sort of it's still going to be a currency for francophone countries it won't be for sort of other West African countries like Kenya or Nigeria. All gone out and out and you know and I think it's it is you know unsaid and it's just it's like I guess what it is what changed it really had it means. You know West Africa and economic connections and ties we still we found as came a doodle that in Senegal with the ways it is from West Africa Richard Lewis of The Daily spreads sees their knees and it is here with the news in the back days of his Bible this morning is a very thankful we can make up should around all the guy in the stocks in a minute like the normal. Because when that minute is going to be done without If I use heads up campaign. Based around their mental health campaign that they're launching to get people talking about problems I'm and I'm I'm We have an extolled me back page with a picture of Paul Merson and the headline I had the pills in my hand I was ready to end this old and it's a story about how much and rigidity almost. Barney in the Depression. It was come as part of the economy writes every wait for the for assisted by the Daily Star and we're going to use this and it's really strong emotional words on such an important weekend. And you get the message across as well yes I as I am is am when you respond I not they say that it really really is tough tough read as he says on Monday are living side with for a year but this time last year I wanted to kill myself it was scary I had the chapters in my hand it was about how he battled through that and that's the that's the case this message of speaking to pain of people battling through it but he really is. Really strong words from them are such a popular footballing character. Subject is never far away from thoughts of food football fans anyway because every now and then we do hear stories of footballers who have taken their own lives most memorably for my generation said he was Gary Speed and I remember that Saturday when the news came through memory so well and how much and I just seen him of 5 Live you know just like a couple weeks before the the impact of this f.a. Campaign will bring home to us that these people who provide entertainment for us. Week in week out are. He even beings like ourselves and feel depressed like we do. Looks upon almost as if they're invincible which makes it harder I suppose for people to be made to talk about it you know you know it's imagines Buddhism. Yes and I that I so true because we see these footballers at that peak of their powers wake him I know it's illiterate trans woman today but they are they already have on site for 90 minutes on a on Saturday off there is on the evening a Wednesday not whenever there is a lot of cool. And you think that's how they live their lives Oh I said a minute scars and my you might think they are not under the 1000 pounds each week and I'm not sure life is rosy I'm not going to be anything else but that is not always the case and it's so important of course as as campaigns or I say just you know people are always there to listen always at the top. And Prince William of course is heavily involved in this campaign. And all of the major footballers shakers. And. And what what is a course and as we think back through to around weight and matches all the matches the 3 o'clock well match the cake overthrow won 3 wanted out of the early games again over 1230 want to be even on on Sunday morning and West Ham The last of their weekend matches is kicking off a 616 so just just just that one minute time difference will fans look at that it was like this friend realise why and and I did it it is such and such a tender message your wife get in and getting it through I think by just trying to take our time by that one minute because you know so you should I was sort of think of traditional times. And then miss the story from a certain way and it really is is so important in the whole fabric of the whole weekend. And this will be not the 1st time that Paul Merson is revealed the more source of the other side of football if you like his you know but you are both remember a quarter of a century ago when he was. Basically forced in a way by. A newspaper exposure seems remember to reveal that he had a gambling habit Ok inhabitants or and he became I think something of a. Poster boy. Revealing that you know the borders Did you have a weak side and do you have mental health in diction. Issues as well I think the fins for blood that we'd seen even break down in the way the head you remember I remember very much as actually the press conference when he when he did break down and yeah I was covering the story and expression sometimes a lot of years ago and yeah it was it was something I would never ever seen before in Headline News and then in a different different Piper and then you know opened up to spike about it is rethink. And it and you are it again the work that I eat there without man and I mean and kind 3 and of course is such and such a popular book or personal it's a very insensitive punditry and this is right he writes a great column every week in The Daily Star and if it's something they just do not know what goes on goes on anyone's life and that last thing you know we have Rosa imaginary with mercy and there's no question that time. Off was a very successful key member of the Jewish crime side. You know and when I when I was so close the final whistle a match you don't know what happens next that's the thing so yeah I was going to you know a quarter century has been playing this message out and but it's a guy is really really the most important most important weekend all the Ses and space such a great weekend of course we had like up there around week and the significance of it this weekend it's quite seen as just remind us of was have me in the England cricket team there on the roads. There on the rocks in day and yes they are 262 for 9 out of the 1st day of the 2nd Test in Chi town. And they go to that school because only pope in his 2nd 15 as many tests in 88 he was. England rude ways to her rude ways to chances to seize control of this text on this I think. Strokes are 47 imminent poke him and strike some Piper sharing a good partnership but equally you know it's right that I met him I now make many more runs in this in this 1st innings when play regimes in a few hours but it's a solid score at least and sickly compared to the 1st test. Which I don't mean when I was 300 nationalistic So you know infamously as a competitive score but of course there's no chance Roger is injured so yeah there's 4 tests on Africa and it's not. Going to great serious so far with all the injuries and problems in the slew that the Enterprise had but I really want to square this series with this match. Having battling back to something that would hope to score bloom or a few morons but population size them from true from what about the worst I think on this opening day of the 2nd text which elusive The Express there after the news in sport will get the debate around to our top story which was the assassination of a prominent Iranian general but 1st let's get the latest 5 Live headlines has told mostly on digital b.b.c. Celsus snubs face. This is c.b.c. Radio 5 Live President Trump says the top Iranian military commander Kaz Emslie money was killed to stop a war not start one Donald Trump says he was plotting attacks against u.s. Targets Iran says the killing was an act of international terrorism has been another air strike in Iraq based I'm against an Iranian backed militia 2 vehicles were destroyed and at least 6 people killed yesterday in 5 minutes to Scott Morrison he's calling up Army Reserves to help fight the bushfires sweeping across parts of the country extreme heat in winds have been forecast for this weekend which could worsen the crisis and to backbench Labor M.P.'s have joined the race to replace Jeremy. Corbin as Labor leader there we can m.p. Lisa Nandy in jest Phillips who represents Birmingham Yardley will both stand along with shadow ministers Emily Thornberry and Clive Lewis has the support now with Nick Castle England's cricketers were left once again rowing another poor display with the bad leg failed to capitalise on openings on day one of the 2nd Test against South Africa the top order failing to build on decent starts on a good pitch in Cape Town and been recovered to 185 for 4 but then lost the next 5 wickets for just 49 runs the resume on day 212624 9 and the only pope could manage a half century is $56.00 not act credit to their bowlers a probably does says a little bit about the work it but yeah for straight in for those guys I'm sure they'll be a little bit frustrated because the hardest bit is getting us after 30. Lurk here who knows like I said we'll see we'll see other work it is a problem not like they'll be without star striker hurricane for several weeks after he suffered a torn hamstring in their defeat to Southampton on Wednesday no timescale has been given on a return Spurs Salem medical staff will continue to review the injury if Manager Joe is a marine near wants to move forward but knows just how important Kane is everybody knows again the importance of Harry in the squad if you seemed about one player by one player I think is. Irreplaceable. But we have to try solutions in relation to the players that we have going to says former Manchester United forward Robin van Persie doesn't have the right to criticize his management style when Percy said he wasn't happy with saw shells demeanor after Wednesday's 2 nl defeat by are still saying that that was not the moment to smile I don't know Robin Robin doesn't know me he probably doesn't have the right criticize my management style and I won't change that's definitely the Robin Yeah it took my number 20 and I was probably always going to think for me as West Ham United Women Super League match against Everton on Sunday has been perspire in the club say as a significant flu outbreak within the squat sale moved up to 3rd in Ruby in his premiership thanks to their 6 try bonus point win against Harlequins 4810 the final score it moves the house up from 7th or defeat leaves Queens in 8th Scarlett's climb to the top of conference be with a hard fought pro 14 Welsh Dobby when a Cardiff Blues 1614 the final score Lee Harvey scoring 11 points with his boot is a scarlet center Stephany's 1st up you know I thought we'd play the face of good stuff there are a couple of things we needed at idea about the fix the blues go to attack was excellent 1st half. We needed to tighten that up so we did or did that because we in the 2nd half and you know we did enough to hang on and that shows a good composure and we have backed up last week's win of a Connacht with an impressive 5 Try 3817 victory over Munster Alex Danson says every moment as a professional hockey player is a gift they live picture is returning to the Great Britain set up after 18 months out struggling with long term concussion this is b.b.c. Radio 5 Live on digital b.b.c. Salads small speaker Hello Mark morning all it's quite a quiet weekend ahead across the country some subtle differences I'll start off with the best of the sunshine and have to be across eastern England healthy eating them but it's a chilly start here though single figures maybe a touch of light frost as well 1st thing in the. High pressure is dominant down to the southern half of the country that is the winds of feeding in from the southwest the further south and west you are the cloud and that carrot time sticking out. So into generally across England and Wales with the. Sun temperatures will peak between 8 and 10 Celsius to Scotland's Northern Island and think it out and again some light drizzly rain but to the northwest a great little bit more of a breeze and some of that rain will persistent as well temperatures peaking 7 to 9 degrees now as we go through Saturday night that area of high pressure across the south that drifts its way steadily eastwards No allows another weather front to drift in from the fall northwest so as we go into Sunday not that much in the way of change will be more breeze more persistent rain into the northwest that the country across Scotland in Northern Ireland elsewhere cloudy skies across western areas best 20 brightness again the east top temperature is 9 to 11 degrees enjoy the weekend if you can because it tends increasingly wet and windy as we get into next week. Coming up in Swayze Swayne see all b.b.c. Radio slowly blogs. Sort of from 0. To 22 and see. The best live. East as you know from digital b.b.c. So it's a small streak of days is b.b.c. Radio. Iraqi state television says the. Strike in the country just 24 hours after the killing of the reigning. It said the u.s. Had targeted a convoy. Back to Iraq militia of the capital Baghdad destroying vehicles the Iraqi military's. Said at least 6 people have been killed and this comes after the strike on the sort of money who spearheaded Iran's Middle East operations as head of the could force Iran has vowed to severe revenge on those responsible for his death speaking in the u.s. Senate the minority leader the Democrat Senator Chuck Schumer said there were questions about the legal basis for the decision to carry out the attack he said the trumpet ministration had failed to gain the necessary congressional authorization to carry out the ministry operation and that President Trump risked involving the u.s. In a long drawn out military conflict last night the United States conducted a military operation designed to kill Major General Passim School of money a notorious terrorist no one should shed a tear over his death the operation against solo money in Iraq was conducted however without specific authorization and any advance notification or consultation with Congress I'm a member of the Gang of 8 which is typically briefed in advance of operations of this level of significance we were not the u.s. Special representative for Iran Brian hook told the b.b.c. The Us was justified in killing his sons for the money the world is much safer with some sort of money taken off the battlefield he is somebody who famously said that mankind's Last Paradise is the battlefield and he glorified terrorists and he has the blood of around a 1000 Americans on his hands in Iraq alone he killed 608 Americans and injured thousands he is very effective as I said very deadly The last thing I'd States is looking for is more conflict in the Middle East but he had been escalating the situation by killing Americans he ordered attacks against the Us embassy in Baghdad and he was plotting to kill. Well hundreds more so look any nation that takes its responsibility to protect its citizens seriously had to act decisively sighed Mohammed Marandi is an Iranian American academic and political analyst in Tehran and a former member of Iran's Revolutionary Guards and he told the b.b.c. That the United States should expect a strong response from Iran this is an attack on our sovereignty and our dignity and the dignity of the people of Iraq and Americans are going to have to face the consequences for Imagine a foreign country was to kill you at the most senior officials or military officials in the British armed forces what with the British response be that's exactly the sort of response that people are discussing right now we're late on Friday evening President appeared in Florida to tell reporters of his decision Solomin was plotting imminent and sinister attacks on American diplomats and military personnel but we caught him in the act. And terminated and. Under my leadership America's policy on the Big us to terrorists who harbor intent to harm any American. We will find you we will eliminate you we will always protect our diplomats service members all Americans and our allies for years the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its ruthless codes force under so it made its leadership has targeted injured and murdered hundreds of American civilians and service the recent attacks on u.s. Targets in Iraq it wouldn't rocket strikes that killed an American and injured 4 American servicemen very badly. As well as a violent assault on our embassy in Baghdad was carried out at the direction of Solomin. So it may be made the death of interest. People is sick passion contributing to tears plots as far away as New Delhi in London today we remember and honor the victims of Solomin these many atrocities and we take comfort in knowing that his reign of terror is over. We took action last night just stop a war. We did not take action to start a war one of the reasons why it's such a big story is that he said referring to administration any administration days to strike at anything as C.D.'s Kassim said the money so well kind of thing King underpinned the president's decision Brad boatman the senior director of the central military and political power at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies think tank brads was I spent 9 years working for various members of the Us Senate and is a former me officer and pilot was this what you describe is a proportionate response to recent attacks on u.s. Assets and people in the region the Pentagon described this as a defensive action to protect u.s. Personnel both diplomats and service members and suggest Qassam stolen money as he has so often over the last 2 decades was actively involved in in planning major attacks against u.s. Personnel and so Secretary Pompei and others everyone forced out an hour since the attack and you know I think it's important for your listeners to zoom out for a minute and remind ourselves where we've been I mean since May We've seen a string of escalating attacks from the Iranian regime whether it's the the sabotage of tankers in the waters there in the Middle East to be essentially an act of war against a cake energy facility in Saudi Arabia attacking roughly a dozen u.s. Installations in Iraq and Syria to the killing of American on December 27th and to the burning of part of our embassy in Baghdad so we can talk about the nature of the attack and I'm happy to do it but any suggestion that this is you know just something out of the blue or is you know on an on solicited an illicit American provocation I think lacks some perspective of what we've seen over the last 6 months or so and zooming out of the way the votes is too bad. The question is why did it take 2 decades then to assassinate guess and say the money it wasn't like Kassam So the money was hiding from any attack America could have a Cessna to demit any time why now what's changed Yeah it's a fair question and I wouldn't which I welcome certainly cos I'm still money in my view as an evil man in a terrorist our Pentagon says he's responsible for the deaths of over 600 u.s. Service members between 20032011 the Army issued a formal 2 volume report on its experience in Iraq during that time period and explicitly mentioned soul money by name saying that many of the Iraqi Shia militias not only their existence but their left ality the Qassam stolen money of course Iran manufacturing designed an explosive they formed penetrators are specifically designed to penetrate u.s. Armor is to kill and maim American So as someone who served in the u.s. Army and graduated top from West Point I have no love for this man and I think we're better off that he's no longer with us you phrase it why did it take so long it took so long because the previous administrations both Republican and Democrat decided not to kill him smart people with a lots of information were looking for opportunities to do it they had opportunities to do it and they for a number of reasons they decided not to do it apparently weighing the cost and benefit and deciding that the costs outweigh the benefit obviously tonight the Trump ministration came to a different decision acted on Dee Dee will get the sense spread that something is change in the administration's thinking I'm not inside the mind of President Donald Trump so you can only judge him by what he says and by what it is actions are which sometimes is a difficult challenge but you know when you when you add the list together of what Iran has done and doing there is I would characterize it as a growing Esko Tory actions and it's exactly what I warned against what I've been warning against for months that if we didn't respond for example when they downed u.s. Drone in international airspace. Yes there was no u.s. Kinetic response I think that was a mistake when they engage in the act of war against out Kate facility there was no kinetic response and so what's an authoritarian regime if you don't respond in a robust way and there's a number of ways you can do that cyber and other methods is simply invites more of the same so I think that for a long time there's been an implicit or explicit red line that if Americans were killed that this administration would act and an American was killed on December 27th and I also think frankly President Trump does not want to have a quote unquote Benghazi on his watch and so I suspect and this is simply an educated guess that the images of a partially burned u.s. Embassy in Iraq concerned him for both real and genuine and good reasons and also perhaps political reasons that he did not want to bring God knows wash and so we've seen the reinforcement Marine the personnel sent so for in that case does this action these cessation of Kassam So the money does it stop a war as the president suggests rather than starts a war it's a good question I saw the president's comment you know anyone who makes a confident prediction right now I would kind of question numb I think that's the danger with things like this is that it can escalate out of control and there's no one person not President Trump not the supreme leader Iran that controls the situation now there can be miscalculations and that's the danger but anyone who wants to be excessively critical of this and say that the president impetuous I would say well look at you know that look at the absence of any kinetic response after the downing of the of the drone in international airspace look at the lack of a response after the ad cake attack you know with cruise missiles and drones I mean that was an act of war by any reasonable definition so if you're going to say he was impetuous now you know Well Ok but there was a real restraint on his part in there in those previous incidents as we tried restraint and what did we get we got more aggression from Iran so how crucial then was custom so the money to the Radian gov. For the country don't to me is the direct to the center. He studies at the University of Denver as Joseph Cobell School of International Studies was general role within the khud schools can you give me a sense of his importance to Iran's regional potency he was the key architect of your arms regional policy. He was the you know the coordinator the implementor the strategize or if you're a Titian and someone who was you know were sponsible for the strategic plan that has increased Iran's influence throughout the Middle East in the last roughly 2 decades making a name specifically for himself in the aftermath of the truth 2003 American invasion and occupation of Iraq and the rise of al Qaeda but more and more specific significantly and I think catastrophic leading role that he played in Syria where he was you know directly involved in what international law would consider to be human and human rights atrocities war crimes crimes against humanity but ultimately he was the one who rescued Bashar al Assad from imminent defeat and Preval reasoned he is he's considered to be one of the most influential and important actors in the Middle East politics it's unclear to me been doing a lot of reading up about this doltish him as you'd expect me to do its own kid to me tonight as to whether it rain is not talked about you know right to fall in write ins as much as I'm talking about the political elite in the country will see soon the money as a national hero in the one hand because of his international expeditions on behalf of the country's patriotism you might want to argue or indeed as the the butcher of these own people has the president the United States has been describing him as where do you sit on this can you can you clarify how ordinary Iranians regard him. That's a great question and I think the correct answer is there's there's differences of opinion awesome sorry Nonie did not spend his career inside Iran involved directly in political repression of dissidents and of human rights activists he made a name for himself most prominently you know in the war against al-Qaeda and Isis and for that reason he has a substantial I would say support among Iranians of different political persuasions even if you are not a supporter of the Islamic republic there was a certain sense that at least he was fighting the war against these extremist Wahhabi Jihad ists and that was a good thing for you know your audience debility so his is a popular base of support I think it's accurate to say he does extend beyond the hard line conservative constituency with any Ron I think that's that's an accurate assessment but at the same time I think the biggest concern and most you audience are feeling today is not over the demise in the assassination of Qassam so in money but really what comes next for Iran as we head to the precipice of what seems like a major Middle Eastern war do you do you think that's what's going to happen is a constant We were all waiting for the response from Iran that we were somewhat bated breath and perhaps some nervousness as well from our position here in Britain we're wondering whether we'll be dragged into any potential conflicts are you able to give some clarity as to what happened Iran will respond if it doesn't respond they would send a signal that the United States can get away with assassinating senior leaders and not pay a price so there's incredible military incentive to respond simply from a national security perspective but politically you know there is a lot of pressure within Iran to respond to you know what is basically the equivalent of the Supreme. Leader of Iran giving the order to assassinate John Bolton I mean that's that's how significant this event is and how you Ron might respond I think we have already we really seen a display of what they're capable of attacking tankers in the Gulf attacking sell you oil facilities attacking American bases I suspect they might extend that to possibly attacking diplomatic American personnel throughout the Middle East but most significantly I would watch for the following key event within the next week or so I suspect a dramatic announcement from the Islamic Republic of Iran with respect to its nuclear program it might formally announce the withdrawal of Iran from the Iran nuclear program perhaps a stepped up enrichment program perhaps even going as far as pulling out of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty I think that's a car that you were on has not played yet it's certainly something that has been part of the internal discussion so I think those are some of the things that you know we can expect Iran to do in the coming weeks and months but most importantly I think they're also the Iranian regime is going to take advantage of these are opportunities to score as many political points as possible by rallying domestic opinion and regional opinion around the theme of anti Americanism this is a great political opportunity for the Islamic Republic to shift the focus of Middle East politics away from demonstrators demanding their rights and shift the conversation in the direction of you know American imperialism and so this is a an opportunity that I suspect the Islamic Republic will not want to waste and I think we're going to see a lot of that in the coming weeks and months as you were on tries to shore up its position regionally. Whether we are on the precipice of a much wider conflict. Before a country like Britain gets to the me the bigger question is Is there any sort of off ramp. Here is there any way of deescalating what has already started and it seems like the answer that question is a firm No I don't see any sort of opening where perhaps there can be a deescalation and I think the only possible opening then it's an unknown you know prospect at this moment is the next Us presidential election assuming that Donald Trump is defeated which is not a certainty by any stretch of the imagination but then perhaps a new president might be able to deescalate this think for the next 11 months we are headed for very stormy waters and we are down as a school of Torey cycle and the full breadth and depth of the you know repercussions that will flow from yesterday's assassination are unknown but you know the problem else is does not look very good though to that is a fellow at the defense priorities things hank of the military fellow in residence of the Catholic University of American Center for the Study of statesmanship the situation in the Middle East is never simple Has it just become more complicated in the last $24.00 ohms Oh yeah 100 percent this is a huge moment and the killing of of so many Here is one of the you know I think I think I want to tell most important people in Middle East and probably the 2nd most powerful powerful man in Iran this is a huge escalation and huge change in the stakes given that we where in the 3000 troops I think it is u.s. Troops have been sent to the region. To put boots on the ground is that right precautions preparations to take whoever is becoming it does it doesn't change the basic arithmetic there that much right so if you look at the reasons Olney is you know there's a u.s. Bases major naval base in that rain major air base. You know u.s. Troops in Saudi Arabia and have that for 7 cost up significantly as well but you look at Iraq which I think is probably the place where Iran has the biggest disparity in its favor and where the u.s. Most vulnerable you've got about 6 now. U.s. Troops right now counting the recent reinforcement the embassy and the Iranians have $120000.00 plus you know Iraqi militia men that are that are essentially funded and directed by them and are probably their proxies for the most part you know chain out equations of to actually with that with you know 3500 u.s. Troops that is the intent the in send from the president to send a message that far from retreating we're prepared to dig in yeah there's an element of signaling there and of course you probably talked about and I'm sure you know that that also runs count contrary to what the what the president's The Saints are certainly on the campaign trail and for most just 3 years in office you know you talk about getting out of endless wars about getting out of the Middle East about how does this benefit Americans and yet when you know when the moment of decision comes we're doubling down in the region and so there we are did this response this is. A you know any doubt that it was triggered by the images that we saw of the American embassy under attack this week is that what from 2 this was something else changed in just American relations with American thoughts about its role in the region when you say to the president actually you Babsy Rudd since he stood for election has always said has pulled troops out suddenly seems to have changed Yeah I think let me wait for the story on school and I'm sure General there are leaks out of this White House I'm sure though you'll get a pretty good write up of the decision making and what it was like in that room to some extent you know that and the options of present was presented but I think his is fundamental and 6 are where they are but that what he's doing now runs runs very counter to that and I think that the certainly the specter of another Benghazi which was a you know I pull a very political and politicized issue and a specter of a us embassy in fact the biggest u.s. Embassy in a world in a fortress in Iraq essentially the specter that being overrun and hundreds of Americans being killed I think I think probably terrify the president that was a big part of the equation sure we. Which talks about the assassination of cas Simson the money but the strike also killed match the disease a deputy commander of the rugs puppy mobilization fools his was that collateral damage will was part of the assassination plot because he was popular mobilization forces had been fighting with u.s. Forces against ISIS minute since be full hadn't the I mean the Pm has an interesting piece in that this is the center of this kind of storm right so you've got these these are Ronnie and funded and organized and led and then so money of course the guy that drove this entire process these militias that came in to replace the Iraqi army which which help art in the face of ISIS right in late and late twenty's and summer 2014 so the Pm of say that country I mean no 2 ways about it where they funded and driven and led in a lot of cases by the Iranians absolutely but they saved Iraq in a lot of ways from being overrun and of course the u.s. You know we found ourselves as you said on the same side of being uncomfortable co-belligerents you know if you want to draw an analogy the u.s. And Britain fight alongside the Soviet Union 70 years ago we found ourselves in same side of these Iranian directed allied militias and I would be a master in this in this situation with her being there supposed to be integrated into the Iraqi into the formal the army into the security infrastructure so whether minors was or was collateral damage or whether it was calculated as part of the equation to kill him as well I don't know come out of it it won't it has huge knock on effects and politically in Iraq beyond the killing of so money itself you mentioned the Soviet Union that once upon a time as it was a cools it's all quiet on the Eastern Front is that surprising that there's been no significant response from Russia this is a station you know the Foreign Minister Lavrov had a had a statement today that was kind of and damned the killing it was very if you break it down it's kind of funny in a way that it it you know Mitt the way you worded it omits of course Russian killing of their own diffidence abroad which is you know it happened to happen in Britain but the Russians are is in place I mean if you want to take an optimistic view of this and I hope there's some way to. U.s. And Iran can climb down from this spiral into a full fledged war and Predator tit for tat or getting a proxy war the Russians are potentially a part of that equation as long as there is well as some solution focused on his part the best 1st option. This c.d.c. 5 times with the latest 5 Love News I'm somebody Donald Trump says an Iranian commander killed in a u.s. Air strike was caught in the act of plotting attacks on American diplomats Iran has vowed severe revenge and President Trump critics have accused him of escalating tensions David Willetts is our correspondent President Trump again called This American operation that killed customs on the money flawless strike and he said the Kassam Soleimani had been planning what the president called a major attack on u.s. Diplomats and military personnel in the region adding that we got him the Australian prime minister has called up 3000 Dami Reserve to tackle a worsening bushfire crisis high temperatures and strong strong winds over the weekend threatening to make conditions worse Scott Morrison says it is a disaster this escalated to an entirely new level there are now 4 M.P.'s officially in the race to become the next Labor leader at least in the ingest Phillips announced they were standing yesterday evening shadow ministers Clive Lewis and Emily Thornberry are also in the contest with others including Sakia Starmer and Rebecca long Bailey still expected to come forward. The government's being urged to take immediate action to tackle the rising danger of Fenton ill an opioid that's caused a large number of deaths in North America but our values re Council on the Misuse of Drugs says it's also responsible for a growing number of deaths in the u.k. And the Local Government Association says the number of fly tipping incidents has gone up by 50 percent in England in the last 6 years the organization says the problem is costing 58000000 pounds a year to clear up and tougher sentences are needed for Environment analyst is Roger how open the Association talks about one delivery driver who flights it wastes in 4 separate trips to a trading estate in just one month he was fined 300 pounds the problem stimulating innovation Wolverhampton seen a 50 percent drop in flights of thing since it introduced 100 pound rewards for people who were willing to shop or tip or is this borne out with Nick Hansen thing as cricketers were left once again rowing in other poor batting display as they failed to capitalise on openings on day one of the 2nd Test against South Africa in Cape Town the top order fell to build on decent starts on a good pitch but England have recovered to 185 for 4 only to lose the next 5 wickets for just 49 runs and the only pope could manage a half century on $56.00 flags England will begin Day $21262.00 for 9 Tottenham looked like there were that star striker Harry came for several weeks after he suffered a torn hamstring in their defeat to Southampton on Wednesday no timescales been given on a return but Spurs say their medical staff will continue to review the injury West Ham United Women simply match against Everton on Sunday has been perspire only club say there is a significant flu outbreak within the Hammers squad sale moved up to 3rd in the Premiership thanks to their 6 try bonus point win against Harlequins $4810.00 the final score it moves the hosts up from 7th or 8th to.