http://news.linktv.org Link TV News Videos (Filtered by topics: Withdrawal) en-us Sat, 01 Dec 2012 14:19:00 -0800 Copyright 2011 Link Media, Inc. http://news.linktv.org/videos/m23-rebels-pull-out-of-goma-but-will-the-ceasefire-last?start=0 Rebel M23 forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo moved out of Goma as promised, pulling back the agreed 20 kilometers to allow talks to begin with the government in Kinshasa. However, will the rebels newly seized arsenal and the DRC military's heated language undue the peace process? Sat, 01 Dec 2012 14:19:00 -0800 http://news.linktv.org/videos/m23-rebels-pull-out-of-goma-but-will-the-ceasefire-last March 23 Movement (M23), Goma, 2012 East DRC conflict, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Military of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Withdrawal, Euronews Rebel M23 forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo moved out of Goma as promised, pulling back the agreed 20 kilometers to allow talks to begin with the government in Kinshasa. However, will the rebels newly seized arsenal and the DRC military's heated language undue the peace process? http://news.linktv.org/videos/confusion-over-dr-congo-rebel-pullout?start=0 M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of the Congo say the United Nations is stopping trucks full of weapons and ammunition from leaving the city of Goma. The rebels were due to meet a Friday deadline to retreat from the city after capturing it last week. But M23 leaders say their withdrawal has been delayed indefinitely because of "logistical" problems. Al Jazeera's Nazanine Moshiri reports from Sake, DR Congo. Fri, 30 Nov 2012 14:56:00 -0800 http://news.linktv.org/videos/confusion-over-dr-congo-rebel-pullout Democratic Republic of the Congo, Goma, March 23 Movement (M23), 2012 East DRC conflict, Sake, North Kivu, UN Peacekeepers, Withdrawal, Military of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, United Nations M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of the Congo say the United Nations is stopping trucks full of weapons and ammunition from leaving the city of Goma. The rebels were due to meet a Friday deadline to retreat from the city after capturing it last week. But M23 leaders say their withdrawal has been delayed indefinitely because of "logistical" problems. Al Jazeera's Nazanine Moshiri reports from Sake, DR Congo. http://news.linktv.org/videos/rebel-gains-may-be-turning-point-in-syrian-conflict?start=0 Two Syrian military aircraft downed in two days -- seemingly by ground-to-air missiles -- changes everything, says Joshua Landis of SyriaComment.com, who believes the growing dominance of the Syrian Free Army in the north of the country may force pro-Assad troops to retreat south.<br /> Wed, 28 Nov 2012 16:20:00 -0800 http://news.linktv.org/videos/rebel-gains-may-be-turning-point-in-syrian-conflict Syrian Civil War, Free Syrian Army, Syria, Syrian army, Bashar al-Assad, Joshua Landis, Surface-to-air missile, Military of Syria, Withdrawal, France 24 Two Syrian military aircraft downed in two days -- seemingly by ground-to-air missiles -- changes everything, says Joshua Landis of SyriaComment.com, who believes the growing dominance of the Syrian Free Army in the north of the country may force pro-Assad troops to retreat south. http://news.linktv.org/videos/french-troops-end-combat-mission-in-afghanistan?start=0 French combat troops in Afghanistan are preparing to come home on Tuesday as their mission officially ends. Some 400 soldiers are pulling out from their forward operating base in Kapisa province to handover to the Afghan army. Between now and the end of the year a further 700 will leave. The remaining 1,500 troops will withdraw by next summer. <br /> Tue, 20 Nov 2012 09:18:00 -0800 http://news.linktv.org/videos/french-troops-end-combat-mission-in-afghanistan Afghanistan War, French forces in Afghanistan, ISAF, Afghanistan, Kapisa Province, French Armed Forces, Afghan National Army, NATO, Withdrawal, Forward operating base French combat troops in Afghanistan are preparing to come home on Tuesday as their mission officially ends. Some 400 soldiers are pulling out from their forward operating base in Kapisa province to handover to the Afghan army. Between now and the end of the year a further 700 will leave. The remaining 1,500 troops will withdraw by next summer. "We're a little stressed about the departure but we're happy to be leaving as we've been here for a while now. The last few days are the most difficult," said Private 1st class Terena. Chief Corporal Stephane added: "I'm looking forward to seeing my wife, children and going to a good restaurant." Policing Kapisa province has been a costly mission for France. Most of its 88 soldiers killed since the start of the conflict lost their lives fighting here. The head of the Afghan mission in the province says the force will be sorely missed. "They're our friends and they were by our side during operations. They also provided us with logistical and aerial support," said Colonel Bbabgul Haqmal. Successive attacks by rogue Afghan soldiers have hastened the pullout but French forces were due to leave by the end of the year. Beyond that, some 500 French troops will remain to provide training. http://news.linktv.org/videos/al-shabaab-rebels-pull-out-of-key-somali-town?start=0 Rebel Al-Shabaab fighters have pulled out of the southern port city of Kismayo, their last stronghold in Somalia, after a military assault by Kenyan and Somali troops, the rebels have said. Sat, 29 Sep 2012 07:05:00 -0700 http://news.linktv.org/videos/al-shabaab-rebels-pull-out-of-key-somali-town Kismayo, Al-Shabaab, Somalia, Withdrawal, Kenya, Politics of Somalia, Port, Military of Somalia, Al-Qaeda, Offensive (military) Rebel al-Shabaab fighters have pulled out of the southern port city of Kismayo, their last stronghold in Somalia, after a military assault by Kenyan and Somali troops, the rebels have said. "The military command of al-Shabab mujahedeen ordered a tactical retreat at midnight," Ali Mohamud Rage, a spokesman for the rebel group, said on Saturday. Rage said, however, that the group would continue to fight for control of the town. Al Jazeera's Peter Greste reports. http://news.linktv.org/videos/mosaic-news-052912?start=985 Talks between Sudan and South Sudan were launched in Addis Ababa, after a two-month delay, Dubai TV reports. Sudan said it will begin withdrawing its forces from the oil-rich Abyei region, as mandated by the recent UNSC resolution. Tue, 29 May 2012 00:00:00 -0700 http://news.linktv.org/videos/mosaic-news-052912 Israel, Syrian Civil War, Sudan, Ramallah, Yemen, Iran, Syria, Beersheba, Houla massacre, Egyptian presidential election, 2012 Presenter, Male #1 With the withdrawal of both countries' troops, talks between Sudan and South Sudan were launched today in Addis Ababa, after a two-month delay. Sudan said it will begin withdrawing its forces from the oil-rich Abyei region, as mandated by the UN Security Council resolution issued in the middle of the month. Presenter, Male #1 Omar al-Bashir told former US President Jimmy Carter that Sudan will withdraw all of its forces from Abyei, and redeploy them outside the region's borders. Juba has already withdrawn its troops from Abyei. Despite the plan to withdraw from Abyei, the mistrust that exists between the two sides will likely undermine any international efforts aimed at bridging the gap between them, according to observers. From al-Khartoum, Sami al-Shinawi has the details. Reporter, Male #2 Intensive international efforts are being exerted in a bid to ensure the success of the Addis Ababa-sponsored talks. A delegation of international governors, including former US President Jimmy Carter and former Algerian Foreign Minister al-Akhader al-Ibrahimi, has arrived in al-Khartoum, and has convinced President al-Bashir to withdraw from Abyei as a goodwill gesture from Khartoum to Juba. This news comes amid hopes that the new round of talks will help end the fighting between the two countries. Guest, Male #3 (Yassir Yousif, Sudanese Deputy Press Secretary) We must reach an understanding. In order to reach this understanding, they must work to preserve the interests of both nations. They also need to be reasonable. They must refrain from supporting the armed movements and undermining Sudanese national security. Reporter, Male #2 Al-Khartoum said that security issues must first be addressed during this round of talks, a request that Juba rejected. However, both sides agreed to hold talks under the terms of the new roadmap adopted last month by the African Union's Peace and Security Council. Amid fears that the talks may reach a stalemate, the international community has urged both sides to offer more concessions. Guest, Male #4 (Al-Fateh Abdullah, Journalist and Writer) These issues must be resolved. Mbeki now enjoys the support of the UN Security Council and the African Union. He is now in a better position to ensure the success of the negotiations. Reporter, Male #2 International and regional intervention has prevented the spread of the military confrontations that erupted between the two sides along their border last month. The lack of trust between the two countries is threatening international efforts aimed at bridging the gap between Khartoum and Juba. Reporter, Male #2 This new round of talks is different than previous ones, as it comes at a time when both countries are witnessing an economic crisis. And any solution to this crisis hinges on the determination of both sides to reach an agreement that will help end the political stalemate and the deteriorating security situation in the region. Sami al-Shinawi, Dubai TV, al-Khartoum. http://news.linktv.org/videos/democracy-now-may-22-2012?start=675 As NATO concludes its largest-ever summit in Chicago, Democracy Now! hosts a debate on whether the trans-Atlantic military alliance should exist at all. An attorney representing one of the activists detained on terror charges in Chicago says the group were victims of police entrapment. And Sea Shepherd founder Paul Watson fights extradition from Germany to Costa Rica over decade-old charges. Plus headlines, and more.<br /> Tue, 22 May 2012 09:47:00 -0700 http://news.linktv.org/videos/democracy-now-may-22-2012 NATO summit, NATO, Chicago, Afghanistan War, Barack Obama, ISAF, Afghanistan, Afghan National Army, Pakistan, United States As NATO concludes its largest-ever summit in Chicago, we host a debate on whether the trans-Atlantic military alliance should exist at all and its new agreement to hand over control to Afghan forces next year. "When you're a hammer, everything looks like a nail. When you're a military alliance, every problem looks like it requires a military solution," argues Phyllis Bennis, an author and fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies. "NATO is a giant, big hammer. The problem is, Afghanistan is not a nail, Libya is not a nail. These are political problems that need to be dealt with politically. And by empowering ... a military alliance, NATO is really serving to undermine the goal of the United Nations Charter, which speaks of the importance of regional organizations, in political terms, for nonviolent resolution of disputes, not to put such a primacy and privilege on military regional institutions that really reflect the most powerful parts of the world." Speaking in support of NATO, Stan Sloan, a 30-year security analyst at the CIA and former senior specialist at the Congressional Research Service, counters: "I believe that having allies in this alliance for the United States serves our interests, serves our national interests. ... [NATO] has always been a political alliance. ... I think as long as the member states regard cooperation among them as valuable and even necessary if they have to use military force, they will continue to judge that we need the alliance." As the largest NATO summit in the organization's 63 years came to a close, NATO leaders in Chicago endorsed plans to hand control of Afghanistan over to its own security forces by the middle of next year. The two-day meeting brought together leaders from more than 50 countries, including 28 NATO members, as well as Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari. Heads of state confirmed NATO combat troops would be withdrawn by the end of 2014, with only training units remaining. President Obama addressed a news conference as the summit came to an end. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: Since last year, we've been transitioning parts of Afghanistan to the Afghan National Security Forces, and that has enabled our troops to start coming home. Indeed, we're in the process of drawing down 33,000 U.S. troops by the end of this summer. Here in Chicago, we reached agreement on the next milestone in that transition. At the ISAF meeting this morning, we agreed that Afghan forces will take the lead for combat operations next year in mid-2013. At that time, ISAF forces will have shifted from combat to a support role in all parts of the country. Our coalition is committed to this plan to bring our war in Afghanistan to a responsible end. We also agreed on what NATO's relationship with Afghanistan will look like after 2014. NATO will continue to train, advise and assist and support Afghan forces as they grow stronger. And while this summit has not been a pledging conference, it's been encouraging to see a number of countries making significant financial commitments to sustain Afghanistan's progress in the years ahead. President Obama speaking at the close of the NATO summit last night in his hometown of Chicago. Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari received a last-minute invitation to attend the summit last week. He met only in passing with President Obama, and no agreement was reached on reopening supply routes to NATO in Afghanistan, a step seen as essential to an orderly withdrawal. To discuss the significance of the NATO summit and the planned withdrawal from Afghanistan—and whether NATO should exist at all—we're joined by two guests. In Washington, D.C., Phyllis Bennis, a fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies, she's written a number of books, including Ending the US War in Afghanistan: A Primer and Challenging Empire: How People, Governments, and the UN Defy US Power. And in Burlington, Vermont, we're joined by Stan Sloan, European security expert at the CIA from the late 1960s until 1999. He was also a senior specialist at the Congressional Research Service. Since retiring from government service, he has taught at Middlebury College in Vermont. His most recent book is Permanent Alliance? NATO and the Transatlantic Bargain from Truman to Obama. I'd like to start with Stan Sloan. The significance of the NATO summit, and your assessment of what they concluded? Good morning. My pleasure to be with you this morning. The NATO summit, I think, did what it was expected to do in terms of laying down a plan for the departure from Afghanistan. It is one that will satisfy nobody, but it was important that NATO follow in the steps that the United States had already taken with President Obama's trip to Kabul and the signature of an agreement on how the United States would withdraw and what the status of its remaining forces would be afterwards. So I think that was—that was expected. The alliance also acknowledged that it's dealing with a very difficult set of circumstances, with resources available for defense declining in all countries, and trying to put together a plan, which is referred to, to some—by some, as "smart defense," a plan for using resources more effectively. I know some people I've talked to would prefer that it be called "smarter defense," because the allies have been trying to do this more or less throughout the history of the alliance. And so, perhaps in these times, the alliance does have to be smarter. There's no guarantee that what has happened at Chicago will produce the kind of results that it desired, but at least it shows that all the allies are headed in the same direction. Phyllis Bennis, you were in Chicago. Thousands of people were protesting outside. What do you think of the results of the summit and whether the 63-year-old organization, NATO, should exist at all? Thanks, Amy. I think that we learned a number of things from the NATO summit in Chicago this past weekend. One of them was that a number of European countries have a far more functional democracy than we do, in the sense that governments are far more accountable to public opinion, particularly on the war in Afghanistan. I think that NATO played the role that it has played for a very long time, which is to provide political—and to a small degree, military and economic, but primarily political—cover to United States operations. What we see in NATO is that this is a U.S. set of decisions, and NATO is being brought on board, encouraged to keep even a few troops there. My personal favorite of the moment is Austria. They have three troops in Afghanistan at the moment. You know, this is designed to make it appear to be a multilateral operation in Afghanistan. And in fact, this is a U.S. operation and needs to be treated as such. I think that what we're dealing with is a scenario in which a relic of the Cold War, the NATO alliance, which was always designed in a far more offensive way than defensive, I think, has reached, if it hadn't before—and we can argue that separately—but certainly has reached the end of any shred of legitimacy in this period of history. You know, this is really about the hammer and the nail. When you're a hammer, everything looks like a nail. When you're a military alliance, every problem looks like it requires a military solution. NATO is a giant, big hammer. The problem is, Afghanistan is not a nail, Libya is not a nail. These are political problems that need to be dealt with politically. And by empowering, more than any other regional organization, a military alliance, NATO is really serving to undermine the goal of the United Nations Charter, which speaks of the importance of regional organizations, in political terms, for nonviolent resolution of disputes, not to put such a primacy and privilege on military regional institutions that really reflect the most powerful parts of the world. Stan Sloan, your response? Well, my response as—I qualify it, I guess, by the fact that I'm a confirmed Atlanticist. What does that mean? It means that I believe that having allies in this alliance for the United States serves our interests, serves our national interests. For the Europeans—I just got back from Prague last week, where I was talking to citizens of the Czech Republic about this—for Europeans, having the alliance with the United States serves their interests. So, that's my bias to—as a going-in position. The fact is that NATO is far more than the description that we just heard. It's always been a political alliance. I think there is, and I would agree with what Phyllis has said about the hammer and nail to the extent that NATO, or the trans-Atlantic alliance, needs to have more capacity to use the nonmilitary instruments of security more effectively. NATO does have the structure, the integrated command structure, that gives the allies the option of using military force when necessary. And if we believe that there will be cases— When you say "the integrated command structure," Stan Sloan, you mean the integrated military command structure? That's correct. That's correct, the integrated military command structure. That that makes it possible for the alliance to coordinate the activities, military activities, of the allies, as it did over Libya, for example, and has been doing in Afghanistan. I do believe that in the future the alliance ought to add additional tools to its inventory. It has already said that it believes in taking comprehensive approaches to security problems. But NATO doesn't have all of the instruments to do this. And partly it's a political problem. Members of the European Union, some of them in the past, have not wanted to give NATO a broader mandate. But I think now it is increasingly important for the trans-Atlantic alliance, for the allies, to be able to work together in diplomacy, use of other instruments of national power, to try to prevent crises from becoming violent. We have the ability to deal with in whether they become violent, if we're asked, if we're given an international mandate to intervene. And then I think the alliance needs tools to do with—to deal with the post-conflict environment, when you need a peace and resolution capacity, which again requires the coordination of diplomacy and economic tools. So, the alliance—the alliance has been a lot of things for a lot of years. And I think as long as the member states regard cooperation among them as valuable and even necessary if they have to use military force, they will continue to judge that we need the alliance. Phyllis Bennis, your response? Well, I think, first of all, we have to separate out what people think and what governments do. And I think if we look at Europe, there is a vast majority of Europeans who would, for example, want to get U.S. military forces, and particularly U.S. military equipment—namely, bombs—out of Europe. We've seen huge movements across Europe. So the notion that, quote, "Europeans" want this level of U.S. intervention, I think, is a very—is not really true. I think that we have to be clear that what's needed in the world is very much what Stan is talking about: ways of resolving disputes without resorting to violence, etc. The problem is, NATO is a military alliance. And charging it with doing nonmilitary things, giving it more power, more influence, would be a disaster. If we want to, for example, look at Kosovo, which supporters of NATO love to point to as a great human rights accomplishment, I think there are serious problems with that assessment, given the number of casualties that happened after and during NATO's intervention. But aside from the ultimate consequences, the fact that the decision to intervene militarily in Kosovo was taken not in the U.N. Security Council, which international law and the U.N. Charter say is the only place that can decide on that kind of intervention legally, but was given instead to the NATO high command to make that decision, as if that's somehow equally legitimate, because everyone knew that it wouldn't be possible to get unanimity in the Security Council, that that was a serious breach of international law and a serious problem. When you had—right before the NATO intervention in Kosovo, you had the first involvement of the OSCE, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, a nonmilitary collaborative effort that had monitors on the ground. Instead of shoring them up, perhaps even providing some kind of armed protection for them so they could continue and strengthen their work, they were withdrawn. So the possibility of negotiations was simply taken away. That's what happened in Libya. The possibility of negotiations, based on perhaps a combined effort of the Arab League, part of whom did not support the NATO intervention, and the African Union, none of which supported the NATO intervention—there could have been some kind of negotiated settlement with far less civilian casualty levels, far lower levels of national trauma, and far more success than what we're seeing now in Libya. So I think that this notion of relying on NATO for things outside of its purview—NATO is a great military alliance. It does a really good job at what militaries do: killing people and breaking things. When we talk about cleaning up the pieces, you don't send in the same bull that broke the cups in the china shop. Last month, we spoke to Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Davis, the most prominent active-duty servicemember to question the U.S. war in Afghanistan. In a report following his second year-long deployment in Afghanistan, Davis was skeptical about whether Afghan security forces could take on what NATO and U.S. forces have been unable to fully accomplish themselves. LT. COL. DANIEL DAVIS: If you're telling me that with 100,000 U.S. troops and about 50,000 NATO troops throughout the entire amount of time that we had the surge forces in there, if they were unable to materially degrade the Taliban, then what logic are you going to place that, as we're taking 33,000 out, as we're drawing down significant amounts of financial inputs, that suddenly the Afghan security forces, who have been unable to, with our help, to knock down the Taliban, are now suddenly going to be able to do it on their own? I don't see the logic in that, frankly. That's Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Davis. Stan Sloan, your response, as we wrap up? I think there are good arguments to be made on both sides of this question. Certainly, there is a possibility that once the United States has withdrawn combat forces, that the central government in Kabul could even fall and that security forces would not be able to do the mission. Who knows? It's a difficult question. I think the President is in a difficult spot. And he's made some choices, reflecting the desire of the American people and the people of the other alliance countries, to end the commitment to combat there, and hoping that in fact there will be some degree of stability possible in the wake of the withdrawal. Let me make just a quick comment on the question of what NATO is and what NATO isn't. In Kosovo—and Phyllis was talking about the decision of the allies to go into Kosovo without a U.N. Security Council resolution—that resolution was not possible because both Russia and China would veto such a resolution. And I think that probably I would agree with those who say that when something—in the view of American interests, and, for that matter, European interests, when something needs to be done, that if Russia and China are blocking it, then there need to be other options for dealing with it. And that's what happened in Kosovo. I also should say NATO is far more than just a military alliance. If you go back and read the North Atlantic Treaty, you'll see that it's a value-oriented organization. And the preamble makes it very clear that the organization is intended to support individual liberty, democracy and the rule of law. And that became very important in the 1990s, when countries that had come out from under the control of the Soviet Union wanted to reestablish their sovereignty. The 1995 Senate—NATO enlargement report made it very clear that these countries would have to establish democratic systems and control over the military by civilian authority and all of these things that these countries needed to do, because they wanted so badly to get the protection of being a NATO member. This produced a dramatic—after the revolution of getting out from the control of the Soviet Union, it produced a revolution in Europe that created more democracies and countries that then were viable as European Union members, and it created a whole different Europe. This was a political accomplishment of the alliance, not a military accomplishment. Finally— I think— —your response, Phyllis Bennis? I think that that was much more the accomplishment of the European Union than NATO. And I think, at the end of the day— Not true. —when we look at the major work that the NATO military alliance is conducting today in Afghanistan, I think that the great singer-songwriter Phil Ochs, writing about Vietnam, had it right about NATO and the U.S. in Afghanistan: we're fighting in a war we lost before the war began. And finally, that issue of what you feel, Phyllis Bennis, needs to happen in Afghanistan now? I think there needs to be a much faster pullout, and it needs to be a complete pullout. What we're hearing now, the decision that was endorsed— Thank you. —the U.S. decision endorsed in Afghanistan in the NATO summit was for a partial pullout, leaving behind somewhere probably between 16,000 and 20,000 U.S. troops, who will be doing training, but who will also be doing special operations. That means it's Green Berets being left behind. And I think that what we see in the future in Afghanistan is going to be very much a legacy of what this 11 years of occupation have created: a situation in which women in Afghanistan still are dying in greater numbers than anywhere in the world but Niger, where children in Afghanistan have the worst outcomes for surviving to their first birthday. This is the legacy of our 11 years of occupation and war. There needs to be a much faster withdrawal, and it needs to be based on the understanding that it is a complete withdrawal. Then we can begin the process of making good on the obligations that we have to the people of Afghanistan for reparations, for compensation for the damage that we have done to that country. But as long as U.S. troops and NATO troops are occupying the country, the process of beginning that reconstruction process can't even begin. Phyllis Bennis, I want to thank you for being with us, fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies— Thank you. —written a number of books, including Ending the US War in Afghanistan: A Primer and Challenging Empire: How People, Governments, and the UN Defy US Power. And Stan Sloan, European security expert at the CIA from the late '60s until 1999, also senior specialist at the Congressional Research Service. He now teaches at Middlebury College in Vermont. His most recent book is Permanent Alliance? NATO and the Transatlantic Bargain from Truman to Obama. http://news.linktv.org/videos/sudanese-forces-liberate-heglig-from-south-sudan?start=0 After weeks of fighting along the Sudanese border, Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir has declared victory against his southern neighbor. The news was met with celebrations in Khartoum, but South Sudan has denied it suffered a military defeat. Fri, 20 Apr 2012 14:59:00 -0700 http://news.linktv.org/videos/sudanese-forces-liberate-heglig-from-south-sudan Omar al-Bashir, Sudan, Heglig, 2012 South Sudan–Sudan border conflict, South Sudan, Khartoum, Juba, Armed Forces of South Sudan, Sudan People's Armed Forces, Sudanese Air Force After weeks of fighting along the Sudanese border, Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir has declared victory against his southern neighbor. The news was met with celebrations in Khartoum, but South Sudan has denied it suffered a military defeat, announcing instead that it had withdrawn its troops from the Heglig oil region in response to international pressure. Al Jazeera's Peter Greste reports. http://news.linktv.org/videos/democracy-now-040512?start=133 In a broadcast exclusive, Democracy Now! reveals the name of the police officer who allegedly killed 68-year-old Kenneth Chamberlain, a retired African-American Marine who was shot dead in his own home in White Plains, New York, after he inadvertently triggered his medical alert pendant. Plus headlines, and more. Thu, 05 Apr 2012 10:00:00 -0700 http://news.linktv.org/videos/democracy-now-040512 United States, US Congress, Shooting, Civilian casualties, Barack Obama, Politics of the United States, Suicide attack, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Athens, World Trade Organization In news from Afghanistan, a suicide bomber killed at least 10 people Wednesday, including four U.S. soldiers who had strayed from their base to take photographs in a park despite warnings not to roam around the city. The killings occurred in Maymana, the capital of the relatively peaceful Faryab province. In western Afghanistan, Taliban gunmen have reportedly killed eight local Afghan police officers. Meanwhile Democratic Sen. Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia has sent a letter to President Obama urging him to accelerate withdrawal from Afghanistan, arguing that recent steps to pull troops back from combat in 2013 do not go far enough. http://news.linktv.org/videos/tensions-high-as-us-defense-secretary-visits-afghanistan?start=0 US defense secretary Leon Panetta is in Afghanistan to hold talks with local leaders, just days after a rogue American soldier killed 16 civilians in Kandahar Province. Wed, 14 Mar 2012 10:42:00 -0700 http://news.linktv.org/videos/tensions-high-as-us-defense-secretary-visits-afghanistan Afghanistan, Leon Panetta, Panjwai shooting spree, Afghanistan War, Kandahar Province, US-Afghanistan relations, ISAF, US Secretary of Defense, Shooting, Abdul Rahim Wardak US defense secretary Leon Panetta is in Afghanistan to hold talks with local leaders, just days after a rogue American soldier killed 16 civilians in Kandahar Province. http://news.linktv.org/videos/humanitarian-conditions-worsen-in-homs-as-siege-continues?start=0 As residents of the besieged Homs district of Baba Amr lined up outside with buckets in a desperate attempt to reap drinking water from the slight snowfall, the government continued to attack the opposition stronghold. Thu, 01 Mar 2012 07:19:00 -0800 http://news.linktv.org/videos/humanitarian-conditions-worsen-in-homs-as-siege-continues Siege of Homs, Syria, Homs, Syrian Civil War, Residential area, Syrian Red Crescent, Civilian casualties, Snow, Drinking water, Humanitarian aid As residents of the besieged Homs district of Baba Amr lined up outside with buckets in a desperate attempt to reap drinking water from the slight snowfall, the government continued to attack the opposition stronghold to only worsen its humanitarian conditions. Witnesses say Baba Amr is surrounded by government forces as they continued to shell residential areas using heavy tanks and rockets for the 27th day in a row. Some activists say opposition fighters have been withdrawing from the district as a "tactical retreat." They said they were running out of weapons and humanitarian conditions were catastrophic. Meanwhile, the Syrian Red Crescent has been denied passage into Baba Amr to help deliver much needed aid to residents. Al Jazeera's Laurence Lee reports. http://news.linktv.org/videos/as-the-last-us-troops-prepare-to-leave-what-next-for-iraq?start=0 Scott Peterson goes back to Iraq and talks with locals about what the future holds for them once US troops pull out. Thu, 08 Dec 2011 09:24:00 -0800 http://news.linktv.org/videos/as-the-last-us-troops-prepare-to-leave-what-next-for-iraq Iraq, Withdrawal of US troops from Iraq, US Armed Forces, Iraq War, Iraqi security forces, Politics of Iraq, Withdrawal, Iraqi Army, Scott Peterson, Christian Science Monitor Scott Peterson goes back to Iraq and talks with locals about what the future holds for them once US troops pullout. http://news.linktv.org/videos/mosaic-news-110211?start=1109 <p>Syria accepts Arab League's proposal to end crisis, independent human rights probe finds "systematic" torture in Bahrain, thousands of Pakistani villagers displaced by operations against al-Qaeda, and more.</p> Thu, 03 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0700 http://news.linktv.org/videos/mosaic-news-110211 Protest, Civilian casualties, Israel, Iraq, Iraqi security forces, Syrian Civil War, Arab League, Bahrain Uprising, Occupy Oakland, Occupy movement Presenter, Female # 1 After over eight years of war in Iraq, American forces have almost begun to withdraw from the country. The operation is to be completed by the end of the year. Nearly 50,000 American soldiers will be pulled from the country. American soldiers gathered in al-Assad air base. This comes after the negotiations over the past few months between Washington and Baghdad failed; the proposal was to leave a US training force in the country. During the war in Iraq, American forces lost over 4,400 soldiers. The organization of security in Iraq is still not complete as Iraqis face death on a daily basis. In the month of October, 258 Iraqis were killed, most of whom were civilians, and nearly 440 were injured in the violence across different areas of the country. Violent acts included booby-trapped vehicles and explosive belts. http://news.linktv.org/videos/mosaic-news-102611?start=1323 <p>Anti-regime Syrians strike as massive pro-Assad rally held in Damascus, Libya's new ruler urges NATO to stay through 2011, Iranian workers rally in solidarity with "Occupy Wall Street," and more.</p> Wed, 26 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0700 http://news.linktv.org/videos/mosaic-news-102611 Israel, Egypt, Middle East Peace Process, Middle East Quartet, Israeli settlement, Protest, Palestinians, Victoria Nuland, US Department of State, Syrian Civil War Presenter, Male #1 Media sources announced the departure of the last US soldier from the Wasit and Diyala provinces, as stipulated by the Framework withdrawal Agreement signed between Baghdad and Washington. The sources quoted military leaders in Wasit saying that the Iraqi Air Force Command Center received all security installations of the Delta military base from the US military, which completed transporting its personnel and equipment outside the country. In another development, Diyala Governor Abed Naser al-Mahdawi announced the withdrawal of the last US soldiers deployed in the Baladruz, Khalis, and Miqdadiyah counties. Al-Mahdawi confirmed that plans were being drafted to counter the security challenges in the upcoming phase. Presenter, Female #1 With the year-end US troop withdrawal approaching, fears are mounting over the possibility that the withdrawal may cause a logistical and information void in the country. However, Iraqi parliamentarians have stressed the importance of implementing the withdrawal as planned, saying it's a popular decision and that Iraqis are capable of facing the upcoming challenges. Meanwhile, observers confirmed that the American side is mandated by the security agreements signed with Baghdad to help protect Iraq and its airspace. Ahmad al-Zaidi has the details. Reporter, Male #2 Four hundred and eighty-five US bases have been handed over to the Iraqi forces, leaving 20 bases scattered across the country to be handed over by the end of the year. However, fears are mounting that the long-awaited withdrawal may likely leave behind a logistic and information void in the country. Iraqi members of parliament stressed the importance of implementing the withdrawal, saying that the Iraqi people are capable of facing the upcoming challenges. Guest, Male #3 The US forces' overstay in Iraq doesn't mean security. It means deterioration and indicates that the Iraqi forces are not ready. The withdrawal of the occupied forces from Iraq means the Iraqi forces are ready and capable of taking over the security file. Reporter, Male #2 Political analysts confirmed that the US government is mandated to provide logistical and intelligence support as well as to help protect Iraq's borders and airspace, in accordance with the security agreement signed with Iraq. Guest, Male #4 I believe the agreement or articles of the Framework Agreement made reference to these points. The Framework Agreement doesn't only address the military issue. Yes, there will be forces remaining for training purposes as stipulated by articles of the agreement but there are security benchmarks that the American side is responsible for, which will help both sides maintain relations after the withdrawal. The Framework Agreement also addresses other political, economic, and cultural aspects, including the logistical support for the political process, as specified by the agreement's articles. Reporter, Male #2 Fears are mounting over the Iraqi forces' readiness and capability of maintaining security and infiltrating terror networks. This is what's on everyone's mind. By interpreting the political and security status quo in the country, one can conclude that the Iraqi government will face logistical and informational challenges, pending the implementation of the security agreement. For Forat Channel, Ahmad al-Zaidi, Baghdad. http://news.linktv.org/videos/mosaic-news-081011?start=38 <p>Iraqi cleric al-Sadr renews warning to US forces in the country, Bahrain's February 14 Movement call for another "self-determination" march, Syrian army withdraws from Hama as crackdown continues elsewhere, and more.</p> Wed, 10 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0700 http://news.linktv.org/videos/mosaic-news-081011 Protest, Syria, Iraq, Bahrain, Syrian Civil War, Muqtada al-Sadr, Gaza, Libya, Iraqi Kurdistan, Israel Presenter, Male #1 Our BBC correspondent in Syria reported that Syrian forces began to withdraw from the city of Ariha in the countryside of Idlib. This comes after the Syrian forces deployed in the city of Hama withdrew this morning. The withdrawals began after Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu visited the Syrian capital yesterday. He requested the Syrian leadership pull the army out of the Syrian cities and release the detainees. Meanwhile, the death toll from the army's security operations yesterday rose to 21, including 17 in the city of Deir az-Zour alone. Reporter, Male #2 Rif Damascus is still the platform for raids and arrests, according to human rights activists. Phone lines were cut off in Zamalka, Arbeen, Hamouria, and Saqba, which witnessed a campaign of arrests and confiscations of motorcycles starting at dawn after yesterday's protests. In Deir az-Zour, the death toll rose to at least 21. Tanks are besieging the area around the city's airport and the neighborhoods of Jibili, al-Muwathafin, and Sheikh Yasin. Rights activists say that the tanks are preparing for broad military operations as strong explosions were heard in the region. Rights activists said that Syrian forces began a military operation in Idlib province and a wide-scale military operation in the city of Sarmin using heavy machineguns and wounding at least ten people. Meanwhile, nighttime protests continue after Ramadan's Taraweeh prayers in various areas, such as the Tarifat neighborhood of Aleppo, condemning the regime and the security forces' actions. Several protests occurred after the Fajr prayer, such as this demonstration in al-Muadhamiya in the suburb of Damascus, and in Homs, and even at al-Fateh Mosque in Hama. The opposition says that security forces and the shabeha are in tanks and armored trucks, and are on their way to besiege the city of Taftanaz in Idlib, which was subject to a military raid yesterday. However, our BBC correspondent who arrived in Hama for a media tour organized by the authorities, said that he saw military vehicles leaving Hama and headed to their bases, as the Syrian military officers had informed him. Guest, Male #3 (Essaf Aboud, BBC Correspondent in Hama) Seventy vehicles, including armored vehicles and tanks mounted on trucks were on the Homs international highway. When we asked the brigadier-general, the commander of the military unit, where these military vehicles carrying soldiers were headed, he said that they were returning to their bases. Reporter, Male #2 While media networks say that these images spreading online show the army passing by a Syrian region, the opposition says the images are of the army during its operations in al-Bukamal. Many questions were raised around these images, which are horrific but do not seem to be of live events. All of these developments come after the Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu visited Damascus and held talks for one day. The Syrian president issued a statement after the meeting, affirming the regime's right to grapple with armed terrorist groups, which he says are active in Syria. Hayan Aqoub, BBC. Presenter, Male #1 Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan expected the situation to calm down and the violence to end in Syria within ten to fifteen days. Erdogan said at a press conference in Ankara that the Syrian government is turning its guns on its people. He also indicated that the Turkish ambassador in Syria visited Hama and reported that the tanks started to leave the city. http://news.linktv.org/videos/gaping-holes-in-iraqs-national-security?start=0 As US troops prepare leave the Iraq in six months as planned, the country will be left with no effective defense from external threats. The army is ill-equipped, with no Iraqi pilots trained on modern jet fighters and no missile defense system. Thu, 30 Jun 2011 09:08:00 -0700 http://news.linktv.org/videos/gaping-holes-in-iraqs-national-security Iraq, Iraqi security forces, US Armed Forces, Missile defense, Withdrawal, Fighter aircraft, Mosul, Taji, Iraq, Baghdad, Tikrit As US troops prepare leave the Iraq in six months as planned, the country will be left with no effective defense from external threats. The army is ill-equipped, with no Iraqi pilots trained on modern jet fighters and no missile defense system. Moreover, Iraq does not have a single fighter aircraft. If and when Iraq buys the jets, it would take two to three years to fill a single squadron of pilots. Al Jazeera's Josh Rushing reports from Iraq, having visited military bases in central and southern Baghdad, Taji, Mosul, and Tikrit. http://news.linktv.org/videos/mosaic-news-062911-world-news-from-the-middle-east?start=676 Martyrs' Day of Rage erupts in Cairo's Tahrir Square, Bahraini opposition group deems national dialogue a sham, dozens of Yemeni troops defect to the opposition, and more.<br /> Wed, 29 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0700 http://news.linktv.org/videos/mosaic-news-062911-world-news-from-the-middle-east Protest, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Israel, Kabul, Pakistan Army, Syria, Cairo, Yemen, Bahrain Presenter, Female # 1 Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa ordered the formation of an independent fact-finding commission tasked with investigating the protests and events witnessed in the kingdom in February and March. During an extraordinary Cabinet meeting, Bahrain's king confirmed the invitation to launch a national dialogue and stated that the kingdom will not tolerate any human rights violations by any side. Guest, Male # 1 (Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa) We have decided to appoint an independent fact-finding Commission to look into the events of February and March. It will be comprised of eminent persons with extensive expertise in international human rights law, who have no role in our government, nor in our political sphere. They have been chosen because of their personal stature and international achievements. Presenter, Female # 1 The news agency said Saudi occupation forces were redeployed across Bahrain while Sheikh Sadeq el-Jumari demanded the Saudi occupation immediately leave the country. He indicated that opposition parties have called for a "self-determination" demonstration on Thursday. Reporter, Male # 2 Over three months after Saudi Arabia invaded Bahrain to crackdown on peaceful protests there, news agencies reported on the redeployment of Saudi occupation forces. Statements made by an unidentified Saudi official contradicted the news. He considered it to be standard to restructure the position of these forces but stated it did not imply that danger was over. He confirmed that these forces will not completely retreat. A Saudi government source had earlier announced that the majority of these forces were getting ready to withdraw from Bahrain on Monday. Another source said the pullout would be gradual. In either case, observers believe that both scenarios will not reduce the anger of the Bahraini people or international condemnation. Guest, Male # 3 (Abdullah al-Mahuzi, Bahraini political activist) When the Saudi army entered Bahrain, it did so while raising the banner of victory. As for now, it is leaving while raising the banner of surrender and the shame that will pursue it. This shame has led it to the trash bin of history. The Bahraini people will always remember this oppressive army. Reporter, Male # 1 A February 14 Revolution Coalition leader, Sheikh Sadeq el-Jumari, demanded Saudi occupation troops immediately leave the country after having surrounded Bahrain by land, air, and sea. He announced that all opposition parties are calling on all sides to participate in the "self-determination" demonstration on Thursday, denying Bahraini officials' accusations of Iranian interference in Manama's affairs. He stated that the Bahraini king's invitation to hold a dialogue was destined to fail and said it is opposed by all opposition parties, individually and collectively. They view the dialogue as an attempt to thwart and seize the revolutions and reduce international pressure on Manama. The series of persecutions carried out by Manama's authorities, in all shapes and forms, against its unarmed people is still ongoing. The latest episode was the Ministry of Education's announcement of having fired 11 teachers from the Imam al-Ghazali Intermediate Boy's School. They were fired on the basis of recommendations by investigation committees. The salaries of others were reduced without any investigation. According to a statement released by the Ministry of Education, the number of teachers who were fired has reached 24. Meanwhile, the military court continues the prosecution of doctors and nurses. Some have been released on bail while others have had their trials postponed. Despite the authorities' crackdown, protestors managed to commemorate the anniversary of the martyrdom of Imam Musa al-Kazim, peace be upon him, in massive funeral convoys that were challenged by Saudi occupation forces, especially in the capital Manama. http://news.linktv.org/videos/mosaic-news-062811-world-news-from-the-middle-east?start=787 (Press TV, Iran) Bahrain says Saudi troops will withdraw from its soil more than three months after entering the country to crush anti-government protests. Tue, 28 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0700 http://news.linktv.org/videos/mosaic-news-062811-world-news-from-the-middle-east Israel, Protest, Palestinians, Syria, International Criminal Court, Israeli-occupied territories, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Libya, Omar al-Bashir In the headlines today, Bahrain says Saudi troops will withdraw from its soil more than three months after entering the country to crush anti-government protests. A source within the Bahraini government said the withdrawal will start next week. Another source confirmed the news and says not all troop will be withdraw at once. Meanwhile, Saudi sources have ruled out a complete pull out, saying Riyadh is seeking to redeploy its forces. Back in March, about 1,000 Saudi soldiers along troops from the United Arab Emirates entered Bahrain to help Manama quell anti-government protests http://news.linktv.org/videos/mosaic-news-062311-world-news-from-the-middle-east-video?start=898 <p>Yemeni protests insist Saleh can return for his prosecution only, 18 Egyptian parties form an unprecedented electoral alliance, Karzai welcomes US withdrawal plans from Afghanistan, and more.</p> Thu, 23 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0700 http://news.linktv.org/videos/mosaic-news-062311-world-news-from-the-middle-east-video Syria, Israel, Turkey, Syrian Civil War, Syrian army, Yemen, Bahrain, Libya, Afghanistan, Gilad Shalit Presenter, Male #1 Afghan President Hamid Karzai welcomed the US's decision to withdraw over 30,000 troops from his country within a year. Karzai considered this announcement a positive step for the interest of both the US and the Afghan people. Guest, Male #1 (Hamid Karzai, Afghan President) I welcome the US president's announcement to withdraw 10,000 soldiers this year and withdraw 33,000 by the middle of next year. This is a good step for the interest of the US and the Afghan people. We support this decision and we congratulate them. I hope that the Afghan people will live in their country with security created by their own abilities and capabilities. Presenter, Male #1 US President Barack Obama announced a plan to reduce the number of US troops in Afghanistan by 10,000 soldiers by the end of the year. The total number of US troops planned to be removed is 33,000 soldiers by September 2012. Reporter, Male #1 President Barack Obama believes that the US military reinforcement that his administration began in Afghanistan eight months ago has successfully achieved its goals and the time has come to begin reducing the US military's presence in Afghanistan. Guest, Male #2 (Barack Obama, US President) In Afghanistan, we've inflicted serious losses on the Taliban and taken a number of its strongholds. Along with our surge, our allies also increased their commitments, which helped stabilize more of the country. Afghan security forces have grown by over 100,000 troops, and in some provinces and municipalities we have already begun to transition responsibility for security to the Afghan people. Reporter, Male #1 On the other hand, the plan comes within the framework of President Obama delivering on his electoral promises to Americans, which included eliminating al-Qaeda's leader, Osama Bin Laden, and decreasing the danger that al-Qaeda creates for US homeland security. Guest, Male #2 (Barack Obama, US President) Al-Qaeda is under more pressure than at any time since 9/11. Together with the Pakistanis, we have taken out more than half of al-Qaeda's leadership. And thanks to our intelligence professionals and Special Forces, we killed Osama bin Laden, the only leader that al-Qaeda had ever known. This was a victory for all who have served since 9/11. Reporter, Male #1 The withdrawal announcement comes at a time when several US lawmakers see numerous missions that the US troops should accomplish in Afghanistan and believe that President Obama is being too hasty in reducing the number of troops there. Guest, Male #1 (John McCain, US senator) This date never should have been set to start with. It was done for political reasons, with no recommendation from any of our military leaders, but I hope that it's modest. And I believe that one more fighting season, and we can get this thing pretty well wrapped up. Reporter, Male #1 The soldiers say that the US forces in Afghanistan are fighting in an environment where it is difficult to learn the rugged terrain and their enemy's combat methods. Guest, Male #3 We are driving along the road and they hit us and we try to resist it. We suffered a big loss. We are attacked by an enemy who we can't see but who can see us. They inflict large losses on us. This is a difficult war to be engaged in. Reporter, Male #1 On this memorial is a list of names of American soldiers killed in Vietnam. There will be memorials for those killed in the Afghan war, which some soldiers say is a difficult war. About 68,000 American soldiers will remain there fighting the war until the beginning of 2014, the scheduled date for NATO forces to end their mission. The US is hoping that by that date, it will have achieved its strategic goals in Afghanistan and its troops will start withdrawing, so that it won't be forced to maintain any major US military presence in the country. Luqman Ahmed, BBC, Washington. http://news.linktv.org/videos/obama-set-for-key-speech-on-afghan-troop-pullout?start=0 US President Barack Obama will announce the first phase of promised troop reductions in Afghanistan in a televised address this evening in Washington. He is expected to unveil plans to remove some 5,000 troops starting next month and perhaps double that figure by the end of the year. A source in Congress said next year might see a pullout of the rest of the 30,000 extra "surge" troops he ordered deployed 18 months ago. <br /> Wed, 22 Jun 2011 08:57:00 -0700 http://news.linktv.org/videos/obama-set-for-key-speech-on-afghan-troop-pullout Afghanistan, Barack Obama, Withdrawal, Afghanistan War, US Armed Forces, US Army, US Congress, United States, Euronews US President Barack Obama will announce the first phase of promised troop reductions in Afghanistan in a televised address this evening in Washington. He is expected to unveil plans to remove some 5,000 troops starting next month and perhaps double that figure by the end of the year. A source in Congress said next year might see a pullout of the rest of the 30,000 extra "surge" troops he ordered deployed 18 months ago. http://news.linktv.org/videos/afghans-mixed-on-us-withdrawal?start=0 Kabul residents express mixed views on their country's future security ahead of US President Barack Obama's announcement of a withdrawal plan. Wed, 22 Jun 2011 08:48:00 -0700 http://news.linktv.org/videos/afghans-mixed-on-us-withdrawal Afghanistan, Barack Obama, Afghanistan War, Taliban, Withdrawal, US Armed Forces, US Army, United States, Al Jazeera English Kabul residents express mixed views on their country's future security ahead of US President Barack Obama's announcement of a withdrawal plan. The Afghanistan government has welcomed news that the US will withdraw troops from Afghanistan. However, the Taliban has dismissed the news. The Taliban says this move by the US is only "symbolic". They have demanded that the US leaves immediately. Al Jazeera's Bernard Smith reports from Kabul, Afghanistan.