Hello, i am libby casey. Until this week, the trouble in ukraine was a world away. And the prorussian separatist fight with the government was a regional affair with ominous over tones, since russia and crimea there haves been questions and worries about what Vladimir Putin would do next. Then in an instant the story grabbed the worlds attention when a missile fired from Eastern Ukraine shot down a malaysia passenger jet killing nearly 300 people. Within hours the israeliPalestinian Conflict escalated too. As the u. S. Restless with its role in these fights, we are talking about American Power and influence. When won flick and crisis erupt around the world the president picks up the phone. This morning i spoke with mine 34eu7bster netanyahu the Prime Minister of israel about the action in gaza, we discussed the effort to stop the threat of terrorist infiltration through tunnels in to is reeling. On thursday is reelings army began a grounds operation to end the rocket fire from raining down in gaza. In what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called a significant expansion the troop offensive in to the gaza strip is aimed at destroying rocket launch sites and tunnels used by hamas. I reaffirmed my strong support for israels right to defend itself. No nation should accept rockets being fired in to its borders or terrorists tunneling in to its territory. In fact, while i was having the conversation with Prime Minister netanyahu sirens went off in tel aviv. I also made clear that the United States and our friends and allies are deeply concerned about the risks of further escalation and the loss of more innocent life. What makes this such a challenge for the president is the longstanding support of israel by the United States. All the while recognizing the conflict is not fought on even materials, gaza and its nearly 2 million residents have endured almost two weeks of air strikes by Israeli Military forces who say they try to is avoid civilians, still more than 250 palestinians have been killed the thousands of hamas rockets fired from gaza have brought fear and running for cover, but have killed just one is really citizen. President obama has asked for restraint from israel in hopes that soon fighting will end and the party ies will return to i u. S. Brokered peace process. We are hopeful that israel will continue to approach this process in a way that minimizes civilian casualties and that all of us are working hard to return to the ceasefire that was reached in november of 2012. Secretary kerry is working to sporty i didnt wants i didn egypts initiative. I told Prime Minister netanyahu and john is prepared to go there. The focus. End of week News Conference was a shoot down of the Malaysia Airliner over ukraine thursday which left nearly 300 people dead. The president called for an immediate ceasefire from russianbacked separatists and a coordinated International Investigation and recovery effort at the crash site. He said its time to stick to the facts. Evidence indicates that the plane was shot down by a surfaceto airmissile that was launched from an area that was controlled by russianbacked separatists inside of ukraine. We also know that this is not the first time a plane has been shot down in Eastern Ukraine. The president said its too early to know exactly who was responsible, but said what happened is not possible without sophisticated equipment and training from russia. If mr. Putin makes a decision that we are not going to allow heavy armorments and the flow of fighters in to ukraine, across the ukrainianrussian border, then it will stop. Since russia annexed crimea, the United States and europe have been pressuring russian president Vladimir Putin with targeted sanctions. President obama called the downed jetliner a wake up call to action for europe and the world. Its not going to be localized, its not going to be contained. What we have seen here is just in one country alone, our great allies, the dutch, 150 or more of their citizens being killed. Just this week, president obama issued more sanctions, targeting russian banks and energy and defense firms. I spoke to president putin yesterday in the wake of additional sanctions that we had imposed. He said he wasnt happy with them and i told him that we have been very clear from the outset, that we want russia to take the path that would result in peace in ukraine, but so far at least russia has failed to take that path. Conflicts in ukraine, in the middle east, and iraq are major and ongoing challenges to president obama. The sanctions regime to temper russian an tig niche in to ukraine has had little impact. The events calling for a ceasefire in egypt is even more difficult. Its increasingly difficult hour by hour. What is the president to do, build and strengthen coalition or hold the course . So what are the options . The president said he wants owl the facts of the Malaysia Airlines shoot down before making a judgment. Still he sees the hands of putin in it. As for the protracted ward between israel and huh marks the president is urging a ceasefire and a return to negotiations while neither side is letting up. Its all made for a tiff week on his Foreign Policy portfolio. Joining our discussion today, from here in our washington studio, Mark Jacobson senior advice tore the Truman National security project. In nashville, tennessee, Thomas Schwartz, professor of history at Vanderbilt University and also here in washington, tom rogan a columnist for the National Review and the telegraph. Welcome to you all. Mark jacobson, lets start with you. The president basically laid responsibility for whats happened in ukraine at the hands of vlad moore putin. He talked about sanctions that hes already imposed this week. Is president obama doing enough . I think the president is doing what needs to be done at this point. And by that i mean there clearly will be some culpability on the part of the russians to what degree . Only a full investigation will let us know thats why its important to get people in ntsb reps and fbi are already on their way to kiev. Whether or not they can get in to the crash zone, thats another story. What i think the president needs to be prepared to do is press on the europeans to get tougher. You dont want to create a situation where we are arming the ukrainians, the russians are arming separatists that will make it worse and more likely tragic incidents like we saw yesterday will happen again. The president said this is a wakeup call to europe. A very sad wake help up call but a call nonetheless. What sort of pressure does the white house need to exert on europe right now or will events unfold on their own . I would say there has been an absence for too long of American Leadership. Its a true point that the europeans have a different conception of russian relations. The role of Russian Energy and finance in europe is a big thing. In london as well. And so i think what is going to have to happen is that the president is just going i think he should take a trip too europe actually and physically, he has to actually embarrass the europeans, germans especially, in to taking much tougher action. Because this is not just about ukraine. You know, it is about the russian attempt to create a sphere of domination in the ring. Unsring. Region. So thomas give us some context. The president is talking about making phone calls and reaching out to other world leaders, so far as we know there was one u. S. Citizen shot down and all eyes are on what the president of the United States has to say. What one has to understand is that during the cold war the really led the western alliance on the europeans had the same degree of caution that they show now. But it was the president of the United States who frequently had to push them to take tougher actions against the soviet union, against the eastern block and had to provide the sort of yard nation, sometime the financing, but clearly the leadership. And that i think is still a role that the president can play. Although i think this president wants to do it more with allies, but he has to i think recognize that historically the context has often been that the United States has to lead in order to get europe which is not really a all. You know, there has been some criticism about sanction about d whether they have gone far enough, members of congresses have called on the white house to push harder. Mark jake son, whats the role of congress in the mix here . I am listening to what Thomas Schwartz said, it reminds me that the president has a great degree of latitude in terms of Foreign Policy. But that really can be thats really restricted to his role as commanderinchief his ability to get on the bully pulpit and be the world leader but congress has not been very helpful in allowing the president to achieve some of his Foreign Policy objectives. First there is a great deal of disagreement over what role the United States needs to play in the world. Not just between the president and congress, but within congress and within the Republican Party itself. We have ice hangsist 10 tendencies on the left and right and we need to do more at home. Its the latter piece. The concern that we need to do more at home thats really the driving factor within congress and frankly amongst most of the american pimas well. I want to you reflect on that, as well . Thats true. You can certainly see the influence that rants paul has. The difference is the president in the aftermath of this getting the europeans on board he has to call for tough decisions. We need to be looking at financial lockouts of the russian in the western Banking System which is a big deal and that doesnt come easy, because that will cost American Business business. And the europeans. Its not just getting the european on his board its the american pimas well. If john boehner hears what is the Economic Impact the rand paul becomes easier to play to. Thomas schwartz, how has the role of congress affected president s in moments in the past at moments like 24 and take us to the present. This is unusual. At moments of crisis congress is not as prepared to challenge the president. Crisis works towards the president s favor. This type of crisis in past circumstances like the downing of the korean airliner in 1983. Or other circumstances where there is a shock to the system, Something Like this the stream is a shock to the american will yo public, the president has more ability to lead than hes showing. There is more opportunity in moments of crisis for the president to stake ute an agenda and have congress follow. Where do you see the lack right now . What would you do differently . I think the president could order up or at least make it clear that the United States insists think not simply putting it in terms of if president putin makes a decision, the United States insist on his an open investigation. That the United States insists that the russians provide or at least not contaminate the investigator play politics with the investigation. I think he could be stronger in rhetoric about the nature of this catastrophe and the clear inning sin action that it is a product of the russian policy in Eastern Ukraine. Well take a short break, when we come back and continue our conversation, more on ukraine, well also add in the israeliPalestinian Conflict as we discuss the challenges facing president obama and american Foreign Policy. Al Jazeera America presents a global finacial powerhouse the Roman Catholic church, they have an enormous amount of power accusations of corruption. There is a portion of the budget that takes care of all the clerical abuse issues. Now we follow the money and take you inside the vaticans financial empire. When it comes to money, this is one of the sloppiest organizations on earth. Al Jazeera America presents. Holy money only on al Jazeera America its a chilling and draconian sentence. It simply cannot stand. This trial was a sham. They are truth seekers. All they really wanna do is find out whats happening, so they can tell people. Governments around the world all united to condemn this. As you can see, its still a very much volatile situation. The government is prepared to carry out mass array. If you want free press in the new democracy, let the journalists live. Welcome back to inside story. I am libby casey. On wednesday this week president obama said we live in a complex worlds and at a challenging time. He said those challenges dont lend themselves to quick and easy solutions, but all of them require American Leadership. On thursday, two of those challenges flared when israel launched a Ground Invasion in to gaza and a passenger plane was shot down over Eastern Ukraine. In that context we are continuing our conversation about American Leadership and influence in the world. Tom rogan, we heard a few moments ago from professor schwartz some criticism that the president isnt using Strong Enough language to make demands on russia and president putin. Is there a danger, though, in going too far making big demands and if they are not met having to walk through that . I think there is always a political risk. I agree that the situation that we have at the moment really with a palpable sense of absent leadership and perception drives a lot of reality and International Politics is a big problem. The president does have to roll the dice in significant ways because what we have seen over the past few months whether it is ukraine or syria is that this broughtinbrooding notion that an cant be relied on but fostering these doubts and we can debate that. But Vladimir Putin is not concerned about the american threats so far. Mark jacobson, reflect on that tone. The one area i would agree with is this issue of per session. Despite the president having taken what i believe are some very good actions or some strong actions both in the middle east and europe. I think there is a perception problem. I think there is a belief that the impact of American Leadership abroad is not as great as it was. Case in point, secretary kerry has gone several times to the middle east and i think has created some progress and has create some areas where you could even see potential agreement. But we now have israel has responded to the rocket attacks, with first aerial strikes and now a Ground Invasion in gas arc you have a very teen justice situation in afghanistan and you have a situation in iraq that i am not sure if the president or secretary kerry can do much about. Thomas schwartz what, cues are you watching as president obama talks about the middle east. Secretary kerry is not there and while the white house says that hes ready to go back, hes not part of the equation right now. No, i think whats interesting in the middle east of course is the role of egypt as well in this. And nba that egypt, of course, did try to broker a ceasefire so that there are things going on in the middle east in particular among the in the different alliances between some safe arab states and israel. That are different than what one might have seen in the past. That strikes me as particularly interesting and different from what had occurred in the past. Tom rogan, how does the white house react at this moment. If egypt is being watched, qatar being watched, turkey as potential arbiters or country that his can have influence in the israel and i Palestinian Conflict does the u. S. Need to get involved outfield or did he behind the scenes that feels stronger . I think the white house does, the way they have to do that is to rely interim relationships egypt without sisi is a relationship between the army when sisi encapsulates is not good of but the United States needs egypt. Hamas needs egypt and to some degree the israelis need egypt. Therthere is a relationship that there that needs to be pushed. My concern is that unless you see hamas dropping some of its demands for we need a number of factors before well agree to a ceasefire the israelis will not stop. Netanyahus patience hay vanity waited. I think its exactly right. It gets to a point that we discussed earlier. You cant take any one of these single situations in a vacuum. You have to understand the relationship between them. The press president is absolutely right. The challenges that we face have to be dealt with by a set of partners. Egypt has turkey, qatar, et cetera is a very good example. At the same time you look at whats happening in the ukraine and its actually a signal to our european ally that his we have to focus on the issues in europe and cant help the United States with all of these kind of Little Things going on in the middle east as well. So you dont get yo oven intended consequences of all these issues and it makes for a very complex kaleidoscopes of relationships that the president has to manager. Professor or schwartz the biggest challenge for president obama right now . The biggest challenge i think is regaining the sense that he reeling is a a forcal lead never International Politics. I think that question of perception, the defens sense ths really plagued him since the syrian back down when he drew a red line and decided not enforce it over the chemical weapons and tried to get a different solution there. Still that has i think plagued him and he needs to reassert his hole on the world stage and his role as a decisive commander in chief. Mark jacobson do you see that as a pitch to the moment . You have talked about how congress was responding immediately as the president was still just announcing what his game plan was when it came to syria. I think its pivotal in two ways, first, i agree with thomas, there is a question out there now over whether or where the president of the United States draws red lines and when the president of the United States will commit to military action. There were good very good reasons for the president to take the actions he did. And i think its given him some advantages in terms of being seen as someone who can bring people together around the diplomatic table. At the same time, you know, so its a little bit of both. I do think its pivotal. I think its going to continue to create problems with regards to the executive branch and congress with regards to the use of force. Do you look shortterm or longterm if you are in the oval office and juggling ukraine, and throw in places like iraq. The problem is in this day and age longterm is two or three weeks, if i were to tell i what the president s number one challenge is, its getting the president and more importantly his staffer to start thinking about the longterm, to start looking six, 12, 24 months out and frankly five years out and say what type of world do we want and how do we get there. Lets talk about the longterm when we come back after this short break, stay with us, this is inside story. Al Jazeera America presents we all live for the moment thats all im trying to do 15 stories, 1 incredible journey edge of eighteen coming september only on al Jazeera America america mobile app, available for your apple and android mobile device. Download it now welcome back to inside story. Im libby casey. President obama and president s before him have often called the United States the full dispensable nation. Even if thats true, does it always have the power to change world events . We discuss the challenges of american Foreign Policy. Mark jacobson, Senior Adviser to the Truman National project. In tennessee, Thomas Schwartz, professor of history at Vanderbilt University. And in washington, tom roguen, columnist for the natural review and the telegraph. Professor schwartz president obama only has a couple of more years in office. Whats his goal in terms of legacy issues . Peace brokered in the middle east. Freedom in iran. What is he trying to achieve. I think he has focused on Domestic Affairs as his legacy. And youre right. He does need a Foreign Affairs legacy and the middle east and peace may be the one hes looking for. Although his policy is pivotin pivoting towards asia. All of this will require him to reassert a stronger american role in the world and matches take more action in dealing with both of these crisis. Professor schwartz, what is that stronger role look like . Does that mean that being at the tip of this sphere . Does that exclude Coalition Building and working with other nations side by side . Not at all. Most of our successes in the cold wear came from coalitions. In dealing with the ukraine, dealing with chancellor merkel, for example, thats an important relationship. And we damaged our relationship in germany with scandals, so in that sense the president has to Pay Attention to these alliances and recognize the importance of that in creating his legacy. Tom roguen, the advantages of going it alone being the leader versus trying to building coalitions and doing things as a group. If you look at middle east, the willful of paranoi pair knowthe level of paranoia, the problem going back to that red line dynamic, where america was seen not to act in that singular incident, the impact of that with israel, the different states interact with each other. The political sectarian has now come to the fore. To some degree all of that takes place in the absence of American Power. Now there are other issues, but the United States has to be understood as involved in the world and clear. I would say that press conference we saw earlier today there were too many legalisms. There were too many legalisms, and too much hedging rhetoric. You need to be firm. You need to see in that one limited incident the bush approach. No bush approach. Was it a cool operator. Before you can understand where the president wants to go, you have to understand where he began. He said im going to end the war in iraq and take a different approach to the war in afghanistan and the troops will come home from there. You had lib y and a little bit of stability so you could start to refocus on asia, and i think all thats fallen apart not due to any action of the president but just the way the world works. Now you have a president who wants to keep an eye on afghanistan, make sure iraq does not fall apart, but at the same time has to deal with syria, africa, the sudan, mali, and with ukraine, and i think this is a challenge. How does he keep his eyes on those goals with one crisis after another coming his way . Tom schwartz, in a very gray world does the shooting down of this passengers jet make things more black and white when it comes to ukraine . I think it does. I think it demonstrates the nature of putt no one ukraine, giving weapons to people who would shoot down a passenger plane or be careless enough to shoot down a passenger plane, i think the president needs to answer that with clarity. I dont think bush rhetoric, but a stronger moral clarity would help. 20 seconds, Mark Jacobson, are we going to be able to see that in this black and white moment . I think well see the european come on board. I think well see enough pressure put on putin so he reduces his support for the insurgents in the ukraine. I think the Malaysian Air disaster will the catalyst. That brings us to the end of our show. Thank you so much to our guests. Thank you for being with us. This is inside story. The program may be over, but the conversation continues. You can log on to our Facebook Page or send us your thoughts by twitter. Our handle is aj inside story a. M. You can reach me directly libby casey. In washington, im libby casey. Returning to the site of the Malaysia Airline shot down in ukraine. Hello, you are watching aljazeera and coming up, homeless terrified and nowhere to go. We talk to the gaza residents affected by the Ground Invasion. Giving ultimatum to christians to leave iraqs second biggest city
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