Now on bbc news, its hardtalk, with stephen sackur. Welcome to hardtalk, im stephen sackur. Its tempting to ask what almost two decades of American Intervention in afghanistan have achieved. Even now, the death toll in the afghan conflict far outstrips the losses in syria and yemen. But the grim statistics tell only a part of afghanistans story. Also important is the testimony of my guest today, kimberley motley, an American Lawyer who went to kabul in a training capacity and stayed to become a respected litigator, fighting for the rights of the abused and powerless, especially women. Does her experience give grounds for hope or despair . Kimberley motley, welcome to hardtalk. Thanks for having me. I want to take you back a little bit. Im just wondering whatever prompted you as a young lawyer in the United States to sign up for this Us Government programme to go to afghanistan. It seems quite a remarkable decision to take as a young woman . It definitely was. I went to afghanistan in 2
Ive looked carefully at mobile, that outcome would be a failure for which we would all be responsible. If there is no deal, it will cause severe destruction of the british and irish people alike, not so much oii and irish people alike, not so much on the continent. And whatever happens, we will have to get back to the negotiating table quite quickly. And, todays other main story, British Airways pilots begin a two day strike over pay and conditions, affecting 1700 flights. Its five oclock. Were live at westminster, where the latest twist in the Political Drama happened a short while ago, when the speaker, john bercow, announced he would stand down at the end of this parliament or the end of october, whicever is earlier. Later tonight, parliament will be suspended, or prorogued to use the formal term, for five weeks. In the next few hours mps are expected, once again, to turn down borisjohnsons call for a general election. If they do, a poll would not then be possible, until late novemb
Looking for another stronger voice. Has been the strongest voice of the last 20 years. A good sportsman must stop at the top of his form currently putin is not even able to leave because his popularity is declining. He wants it to be written in russian textbooks that he is a great man similar to peter the great catherine the great. Because you have got a. Also coming up possible snap elections in italy after a far right deputy Prime Minister imitator salvini questions the Ruling Coalition future so is italy about to move even further to the right. I do my job with my heart with honor with pride if i can do it freely and until the end i mean if i realize that someone is trying to stop me then the decision must go back to the italian people with no ifs and buts. Hoping you decide you and no one else is 30 people. 20 years ago today Vladimir Putin became russias a Prime Minister picked out by post soviet leader Boris Yeltsin the young putin was a relative unknown no one back of and of cou