driven by both the variance of the virus. both the delta and the ami kron. it has released some statistics that indicated over estimated how many people were being affected by the ami kron a virus. dropping the estimate by a, by 20 percent. however, experts pointing out that the data is still insufficient to draw this type of conclusion, particularly with the lack of testing that is happening throughout the country. but the one figure released by the cdc as well is that the death rates from both are variance are done by some 11 percent. the u. k is setting up temporary field hospitals to deal with the crown of our surge. the government is concerned that system could still be overwhelmed despite the mountainous of the new variant. the so called nightingale humps will be overflow facilities for people to ill to be discharged at a need of lower levels of support. for protest, this had been killed and threw down. i was shocked by the security forces in under mom, 1000 have been routing across the country against the recent military takeover. al jazeera has been told that an agreement to revive around nuclear deal with well, powers is still far off. a round of talks between different us commenced in vienna on monday for close to the negotiation. say there is deep disagreement surrounding wrongs demands for us sanctions to be lifted immediately. a protest camp in bagdad green zone has been dismantled iranian back she affections having protested against the results of october's legislative elections. the supreme court ratified the election results after 6 weeks of legal challenges mornings in south africa, paying their final respects to anti pod campaigner desmond tutu. his body is lying and stays in saint george's cathedral and cape town before saturdays funeral. the deadlines and news continues here on al jazeera right off the inside story, mostly after that. the wife now ah is america's role as a global leader in decline. the u. s. military withdrawal from afghanistan still with a rates across the region and beyond who will fill the void and what are the consequences of the american with read, this is inside story. ah hello and welcome to the program. i'm hashem, aha! america's military footprint in the middle east has been shrinking for years from the beginning of the withdrawal of us troops in iraq in 2007 to the most recent retreat from afghanistan. the panter guns presidents has declined this by advance. president, jo biden's administration has continued to reassure middle east allies of its commitment to regional stability and security. but traditional alignments between nations have shifted and the influence of world powers has changed. china, among other countries trying to fill the void left by the united states in modest on iraq and as were russian military contracts for our defense systems have attracted u. s. allies including fell on eto members, turkey as well as some gulf states. but the recent us approach to foreign policy isn't a surprise, antony blink and has this to say before becoming your secretary of state in the by the administration, we would see more emphasis on the in the pacific more emphasis on our own hemisphere as well as some sustained engagement, i would hope with africa, and obviously europe remains a partner. first resort, not last resort when it comes to contending with the challenges we face. just as a matter of time, our location and budget priorities, i think, where would be doing less, not more. in the middle east. ah, let's bring in our guests in washington, dc, hillary, my leverett chief executive or the political risk consulting firms strategy. she's also a former director for iraq, afghanistan, and persian gulf affairs of the national security council. in istanbul, turkey matthew brice a senior fellow of the atlanta council thinktank. he is also a former white house diplomat of the national security council from cambridge in the state of massachusetts ramey, hoary senior fellow of the harvard kennedy school. he's also a professor of journalism at the american university of baylor. welcome to the program, henry the, the picture of the last american soldier to get into the military plane of campbell airport in august. and then the taliban take over was for many, an iconic moment, an indication that the region won't be the same ever again. do you see that as an indication that the americans are starting to disengage from the middle east? well that, that moment was certainly i iconic, important had ramifications throughout the middle east throughout the world. i think most people, after that moment came to see the united states is a bit weaker as a bit less competent than they had previously. i think within the administration here in washington, within the, by the ministration, there has been some important, deep rethinking. and they've come up, come up with this policy that i think the u. s. middle east coordinator breton kirk outlined in rain a few weeks ago, which is back to basics. the united states will be back to basics in the middle east, which does not mean withdrawal. but it does mean a strengthening of traditional u. s. relations with traditional allies, especially israel, i'm one that will be focused on the use of force, not, not rebuilding societies as george w bush tried to you after $911.00. i mean, is it back to basics as far as the u. s. foreign policy is concerned in the middle east. do you see it as a real disengagement, or just a perceived withdrawal? are seen as a real threat to the region because it's the basics of american foreign policy as well as the autocrats in the region and many others, israelis on others. the basics of the last 3040 years have brought this region to a point of almost social collab sienna. we just had a couple of reports are published by un agencies and others showing something like around 70 percent, 70 percent of primary and secondary school students. in our world are not able to read and write properly or almost a letter. that's incredible. sign of what's to come in this region when you combine it with for a month and poverty and other things. so it's the basic stuff we have suffered for military intervention, a 100 years of the arbitrarily conflict on check or talk for c, rampant corruption out of control militarism, very much fueled by foreign military cells. those basics are a real, real nightmare for the region. and of course the us, thanks going back to basics on the administration point of view. there's something sensible for the rest of us. it's really scary on. this is one of the problems that people in the region region especially, really have no way to confronted. the iranians are the only people who seriously putting up some resistance on they're not doing it. so a negotiated process header. if this is a reset of pilot is when it comes to the middle east on back to basics, what kind of impact would it have on the middle east would be the same middle east . we've known for the last 67 decades. what is likely to be a different one? well, it could be, it could be even more unstable. i think many of professor curry's points are very, very important. especially the one about iran. the reason that the united states did not go quickly back into the ronnie killer deal when president biden 1st came into office was because to work cooperatively with iran really would be a to have a whole new approach to the region. one that could actually facilitate somewhat of a u. s. withdraw from the region. united states is, is really focused on keeping its influence in the region and containing iranian power so that the united states can continue that influence and continue the approach it's taken for the past 20 or 30 years if not longer. so there is this, what we calibration of priorities to what they call back to basics, but it's not one that's going to be less militarized or more stable. it's one that will, i think, in many ways bolster our traditional what we call allies, especially in israel, but in other places with advanced military systems. and one that will be focus on containing any independent power, any rising power that could challenge the united states in any real way. and that focus, it's very much on iran containing iranian power. i mean, we've seen over the last few months, gulf states leaders think that it's about time to men fences with the iranians, particularly saudi arabia and the united out of america. and for many, this was find over anxiety in the region about a potential vacuum power vacuum. if the american say it's about time to turn the chapter. well, it's a sensible thing that they go, leaders are doing to talk to iran. they should have done it years ago, and we'll see what comes out of it. they're doing it in a moment of some panic. i'm a little bit of desperation. they don't know if the us and protect them, some of them, but think israel might protect them. a few of them might be looking to turkey and destination. so the gulf, countries by and large have not been able to, to fully assert their own sovereignty in terms of protecting themselves. and they actually rely on for, and the military and other support. but this is a good thing to do with the iranians and the parents around the adults are going to have to work out a mechanism that provide some kind of stability and basic rights for all people concerning the military threat. the sanctions threat. you know, all of the so tough guy approaches that have come out of washington and israel, very much driven by israel and was the are both. so it's kind of hanging on as bit actors in this process. it hasn't worked and we've seen now incredible stories coming out of iran by a good report as foreign and middle eastern ones all say they have a much, much more advanced nuclear industry now that you know, 3 or 5 years ago. so the approaches families that the us as trying to impose an, essentially the, the shorthand of this report. henry said, i agree with the showtime to this is that what we're seeing is a new form of colonialism. imposed by the in either states or kind of colonialism by proxy or higher, attached to local people and mercenary armies. you create to mercenary forces as they did m, j, m and syria. and this is a new kind of control essentially means what washington wants. levine wants, there's going to be the rule of the game of people in the region of pushing back henry this moment of uncertainty and anxiety as this other saying, i do think it will offer some sense of an opening for iran to further expand. it's political influence in the region or at least to reassert itself as a key player in the region. i think we've already seen that iran has more and more, and we're deep alliances throughout the region than almost any other country, whether in the region or outside iran has alliances that stretch from afghanistan and the taliban to the hoot is in yen. and they have alliances throughout the region. so they have already done that. i think what we're also seeing though is other countries gaining more influence in the region even beyond it. so of course, china, russia, even france with its, with its new military cells to the region. so you do see, you do see a recalibration in terms of the regional geo politics and global politics affecting the middle east. the united states is becoming perhaps less of a player than it has previously. but it does not mean that the united states is not active in the region for it's what it perceived to be its interest in a way that can be very, very destabilizing. as it tries to fight off a growing chinese influence russian influence and the growing power of regional countries, especially iran, or, i mean quite interesting since we're talking about those new political realignments in the region. and the u. a chrome prince went to turkey. the 1st visit in 9 years could, could it be an indication that in the, this bar, this predominantly cindy part of the well, some leaders as saying if the americans are not going to be a reliable potter in the near future, it's about time to have a strong ally that we can go to in case the situation gets worse. i would discount what you mentioned about this, predominantly somebody this has nothing to do with sunday or she our anything else? this is, this is national viability, national sovereignty, national dignity and national rights. but they are, countries are clearly, most of them, the leadership, not the people necessarily. the leaderships are really quite flustered. they don't know what's going on with the realignments. and the reason i'm there smashing around, trying to find any relationships that will will protect them. but they turn to iran, the turn to turkey, the turn to china, russia getting more into all these fascinating symes, especially they are on turkey relationships because iran and turkey, you know, at several points in history, rule the middle east, they are huge powers that, that shape and define much of what happens and middle eastern our other cultures. today, you can just sideline these people are sanction them or threaten them or ignore them as the western countries are generally trying to do. and i think we're, we're still at a point of broad maturity of political leadership and our country's kind of amateur ism, the sovereignty has worked very well. say to it hasn't worked very well. citizen, right. so, and worked very well. the accountability is non existent, parliament. so the job, so the structures of state are the most out of not all, but most of them have not worked. and the leaders are especially around trying to figure out how to shape whole things together. they will figure it out at some point and what they realize is that sovereignty and legitimacy come from your own people, not from foreign military sales, not from israelis. 5 technology mark from chinese container ships as strong as the citizens of your country. and this is something we have to keep our matthew, i guess the back double things i see that we've been talking about in this part of the world about what kind of all the americans will likely play in the future. do you think that when you look at what happens, you know, i got the advice that invited us followed in this part of the world. this is something that will have an impact on the outcome of the talks with the iranians about the nuclear agreement. are we likely to see that americans think let's go ahead whether deed or the back is likely to step back to show that our lives in the region that they are very cautious about iran future? i think for certain administration which means you rhonda to return to compliance, but you know, i'm not sure that that's the limiting factor here. i think the limiting factor is which it seems to be buying time and closer, closer breakout capability and reaches more right into higher grades allow it to be in a position to, to be able to build nuclear weapons. so yes, if i'm administration is determined to try to get back. but in addition to that, i think that wall is committed to a less boisterous master us foreign policy and at least, which is so reliance on praise like maximum pressure on iran. you know, we recall that with other states pressure happened right on the wings of pressure. the 1st trip to saudi arabia. i think both those states, each and all, they have a green light in the truck. the registration is gone. i think we're going to see obviously a much more or less administration. i wouldn't be leaving the middle east. i think it just means this is a different style. okay, why me, what do you see these rarely policy and conflict move forward in the, in the future? it's not moving anywhere right now. the random leadership has been full speed colonialism all over the region. they're destroying houses every day. their prison and kids are actually more land, the palestinian leadership is essentially nonexistent. virtual leadership. and what's happening is that the political activism of the palestinian people is shifting to grass roots. organizations like b d. s like media activists like people and taking a block cases all over the world challenging as honest extremist moves. and so there's, there's no real movement on the palestinian israeli question. but what has happened is that the palestine issue has now become one of the 4 global drivers of citizen activism around the world. if you look at the issues that move people to go to the streets and hundreds of thousands around the world, climate change, women's rights, black lives matter and tell us. so this is very significant. this is a slow shift and there was early conflict and there's going to take years. but eventually, hopefully some wise leaderships will move into a diplomatic negotiation that gives the exam isn't the palestinians. rice but nothing. now. then matthew, the abraham a course did they undermine the chances of a bigger american influence in the near future. they still can restore the sense of faith in the peace process between the out of them. these rallies was 2 different questions and i think of course being abraham records really help back that, that even further against the policy. and so that, that would be a measure. yes. your question be undermined us to build a broader along just to matthew settlement. however, we just don't know or so the ever going to actually choose something different with the, with the pang of donald trump president, i will of course there's a whole dynamic now i think throughout which is one know more maximum pressure on iran much lower and threat uses military force united states, and therefore new vectors of possibilities. and then you could argue as a back in order to get started is opportunity, as you've seen over the course of the past years. so there been high context between government or ministry and saudi government. we just kind of united the, remember to city opera and also between turkey. you each coming into coal as well. and there been more relation to the teacher also which could have all sorts of applications and eastern mediterranean stretching always that at all. so i think the us, if you decide not to stick with the sanction of course, toward turkey, but wants to work with it's made around trying to shake the middle east. i think a lot of us, henry russia in syria. this both of diplomacy admitted say paula has consolidated its presence. that could it be the next key player in this part of the world? any time soon? i think russia is the key player guarantee player in, in syria they have an important relationship with turkey, a traditional steadfast american ally. the russians have a very important oil based relationship with saudi arabia in opec and opec class, russian saudi arabia are now the 2 key drivers for the global oil market. so, and much of course is selling i selling weapons throughout the middle east as well . and we'll see president, right, you see the ron, go to russia, i think in about a week or so. so russia certainly is a player in the middle east in a way that it has not been for many, many years of i me, what does it leave of a conflict in the region we're talking about, you know, for example, has a complex lemon. libya lingering conflicts in iraq and syria and other places. somalia, the world essentially has written off these conflicts. what we're seeing now is the expansion of the concept of disposable nation in somalia was the 1st disposable country in the world. and the late eighty's ninety's when it started to fall apart, and most of the world just didn't care. and we're seeing similar things. you know, what not only do, does the world not care very much about the libya, palestine, one of the things that they're actively involved in the military, you know, the british, french, the americans, the russians are the iranians, the turks, everybody is actively involved in these conflicts so i think we're going to just see them continue. and the reason the underlying reason is that the social integrity of many of these countries is collapsing because about 70 to 80 percent of people in the arab countries cannot meet their basic weekly and monthly needs of madison education and shelter. so the integrity, the viability of these countries is, is rattled, it's not collapse, let it's rattling, and it's in some countries i think we're going to see this go on for some time. matthew, one of the defining moment in this part of the world was the out of spray in 2011. the americans were baffled at the beginning than this. so the port unity for political transition and they said we have to embrace it. then under the trump administration, the turned back on the aspirations of the people. now you don't get any indications of the americans are willing to take an aggressive war when it comes to we will fool with a political transitions. is this something that was likely to perpetuate auto attachment rules in this part of the world? certainly, then the pattern of us foreign policy decades to failure or put stability over democratic more earlier real you can have little stability in countries. if people don't feel that there's just and democratic changes, part of that when we're working together there was a very strong push to enable countries of the middle east and the peoples of the middle east to better democrats in europe. and not to think that for some reason they're not entitled to those are not able to to take advantage of such freedom in high. so i think, you know, what happened when the us in iraq, the requisition for products or democracy and the debacle. aspen dental concept sounds sounds a bit points to to put it mildly. and so i think for a while you see withdraw from the dentist and i'm saying our mission mission don't go i hello it. whatever the americans i'm trying to figure out and do hear this part of the well do you think that the chinese see unfortunately for themselves they are very problematic. the use the belt and road initiative, the economy to further expand that in for was do they sent a portion of it for the move to this part of the world? yes they did, but if i could for, for one moment the issue of the arab spring and the protest that broke out in the middle east in 2011. because i think many of the topics that were discussing about u. s. foreign policy or structural in their nature, but they also have a huge impact in terms of who is the president of the united states at any time. and now with president by and i think it's really indicative of his outlook in terms of foreign policy in the middle east. to remember that when he was asked as the protest, we're breaking out in egypt in february, 2011. what he thought of then president mubarak, who was being besieged by these protests and president then vice president biden said that he did not see president mubarak as a dictator, because president barb was a good friend of israel. that is such an important indication of how the president biden sees the middle east through the lens of the traditional, what we call, traditional allies for china. china doesn't see any friends anywhere. china doesn't have a line. thank you kind of has interest. and that's what it's pursuing in the middle of fortunately, we're running out of time in time, hillary and by leverett, my fear brian, under the hotel, really appreciate your insight. thank you. and thank you for watching. you can see the program again any time by visiting our website, amazon dot com for further discussion. go to our facebook page. that's facebook dot com, forward slash ha inside. sorry, you can also join the conversation on twitter, our hand that is at a j and say, so to, from the hash about, and the entire team here in doha bye for now. ah, january and i just need 20 years ago, the euro was brought into circulation. we investigate have a year ago and benefited from having an official currency be part of the street. a dorm out social media community. as sierra leone recovery from civil war continues . we moved to decades since the end of one of africa's most booth and complex. the bottom line div clemens dives headlong into the u. s. issues that shape the rest of the world. as we enter the 3rd year with covey 19, we go back to woo. hm. where it all began and investigate how far we've come since the pandemic january or no, just the about a right of passage present to the generation. my cousin was laying down there was claiming she was helpless. the woman who after indoors as go so far talk of paint for what fatima naive meets the women affected by f g m. and those re shaping perception. do you think people will abandon the site eventually? but to those take al jazeera, correspond the con, call. power defines how wow launched. new babies were dying. i did nothing about people empower, investigates, exposes, and questions they use and abuse of power around the globe on how to get ah, hello. this is al jazeera ah hi there, kim vanelle. this is the news are live from doha. coming up in the next 60 minutes . corona, the iris cases are inching to to 1000000 globally, with the us alone, accounting for nearly half a 1000000 infections. security forces killed 4 protest isn't saddam, as thousands rally against the recent military takeover. we report on the plight of thousands of northwest me and mar, fleeing unrelenting attacks by the military class.