Welcome to hardtalk, i m stephen sackur. The chaotic evacuation operation still underway at kabul airport has put a harsh spotlight on two decades of us and nato military commitment in afghanistan. It looks and feels like a strategic defeat, but what does it tell us about the wider geopolitical balance of power? well, my guest is russia s ambassador to the uk, andrei kelin. Is this reverse for the us and her allies a positive for russia? and is moscow seeking to exploit other perceived vulnerabilities in the west? ambassador andrew kelin, welcome to hardtalk. Your government appears to view the overthrow of a democratically elected government in afghanistan by a theocratic islamist militant group as an overall positive. Why? oh, i wouldn t say so, and i never heard such an estimation. You wouldn t say so? that we are glad that it s happened? no, of course not. It is definitely a failure for the coalition to be in afghanistan for 20 years and doing nothing. But on the other hand, there
Like the strategic defeat. But what does it tell us about the wider geopolitical balance of power was back at my desk is russia s ambassador to the uk. Andrei kelin. Is this a reversal that is positive for russia and is moscow seeking to exploit other perceived vulnerabilities in the west? ambassador andrew kelin, welcome to hardtalk. Your government appears to view the overthrow of a democratically elected government in afghanistan by a theocratic islamist militant group as an overall positive. Why? oh, i wouldn t say so, and i never heard such an estimation. You wouldn t say so? that we are glad that it s happened? no, of course not. It is definitely a failure for the coalition to be in afghanistan for 20 years and doing nothing. But on the other hand, there is no idea and no way to dance over the ashes, because we now have to cope with consequences and to limit damage of what has happened. And the damage is enormous, of course. But the reason i assume that you were regarding it as a
To ensure essential workers can avoid self isolation and keep working. President biden warns that the us is facing a pandemic of the unvaccinated, as the delta variant of coronavirus spreads. Police make arrests in sydney as thousands of anti lockdown protesters breach covid 19 restrictions in australia s biggest city. A warm welcome to tokyo, where the first gold medals of the tokyo olympics have been awarded. 11 medals are up for grabs on the first full day of action, including in fencing, judo and weightlifting. But perhaps the most eagerly awaited event of the day was the men s road cycling race. Let s cross to the bbc sports centre and speak to our sports reporter, mike bushell, who s been watching the action in tokyo. Mike, the road race. Gruelling at the best of times, but i have to tell you in this heat it must have been so challenging. And richard carapaz, it was a fantastic race for him, winning gold. figs carapaz, it was a fantastic race for him, winning gold. carapaz, it
Also left the u. S. Olympic team, i have a message for her and others tonight but first, another serious question. This isn t a joke. Who is in charge of 1600 pennsylvania avenue? look at this, the convention of states pull, one of the most accurate posters in the country. A majority of the american people believe that it is definitely not joseph biden, a whopping 57% think that joe is not fully executing the duties of the office of president. In other words, joe is not making the decisions, he is not in charge. I know at times on this program i have joked about this but honestly starting tonight, the stops, that stops. This is not a joking matter. America has a president that is now obviously cognitively compromised and not only the country sees it, our enemies see it and this could not be good for anyone. According to this poll, look at these numbers, 58% of independence see it, they understand joe is not really the one in charge. That s right, a third of voters, joe s own party beli
Also my message to the star athlete that was left off the u. S. Olympic team, i have a message for her. And others to make. But first we begin with very serious questions. This is a joke. Who is in charge of ns1600 pennsylvania avenue? look at this trafalgar, that s robert ray haley, and the convention of states poll. It s evidently not joseph biden, a whopping 57% think that joe is not fully executing the duties of the office of the president. In other words, joe is not making the decisions, he s not in charge. I know at times on this program i have joked about this but honestly, starting tonight the stops, thaton stops. This is not a joking matter. America has a president that is now obviously cognitively compromised and it not only can the country sees it, our enemies see it and this cannot be good for anyone. 58%, they see it. A third of voters, joe s own party, and of course they see what we all see. It s somebody that is weak and frail and a cognitive mess and a shell of his form