1 00:00:07,040 --> 00:00:10,279 [Music] 2 00:00:19,520 --> 00:00:22,520 I 3 00:00:40,280 --> 00:00:45,120 welcome to Sputnik orbiting the world 4 00:00:42,440 --> 00:00:46,960 with me George Galloway and me gatri 5 00:00:45,120 --> 00:00:49,039 this is where we cover the stories that 6 00:00:46,960 --> 00:00:51,199 made it into the news and those that 7 00:00:49,039 --> 00:00:53,800 didn't but should have it's news from 8 00:00:51,199 --> 00:00:56,559 elsewhere and from a different point of 9 00:00:53,800 --> 00:00:58,879 view it's not often I can squeeze in a 10 00:00:56,559 --> 00:01:00,559 guest fresh from her encounter with the 11 00:00:58,879 --> 00:01:02,239 Archbishop of can 12 00:01:00,559 --> 00:01:04,479 and on her way to the airport for an 13 00:01:02,239 --> 00:01:07,439 audience in Rome with his Holiness the 14 00:01:04,479 --> 00:01:09,200 pope but it's good she may be smelling 15 00:01:07,439 --> 00:01:11,479 of incense today but it's the rather 16 00:01:09,200 --> 00:01:13,479 more sulfurous whiff of the close 17 00:01:11,479 --> 00:01:16,159 proximity of high explosives that she's 18 00:01:13,479 --> 00:01:19,040 used to she's mother Agnes Mariam of the 19 00:01:16,159 --> 00:01:22,640 Cross of the dicese of HS hamama and 20 00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:24,640 yabu in the Syrian Arab Republic here on 21 00:01:22,640 --> 00:01:27,320 what has suddenly become a controversial 22 00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:29,159 tour of Britain you'd think the British 23 00:01:27,320 --> 00:01:31,040 anti-war movement would be interested in 24 00:01:29,159 --> 00:01:33,840 hearing what what a representative of 25 00:01:31,040 --> 00:01:36,399 Syria's Christian communities has to say 26 00:01:33,840 --> 00:01:39,280 about the us-backed so-called Rebels and 27 00:01:36,399 --> 00:01:41,240 their beheading ways but alas her 28 00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:43,439 scheduled appearance in today's stop 29 00:01:41,240 --> 00:01:46,159 thewar Coalition International Peace 30 00:01:43,439 --> 00:01:47,880 conference was scuppered by liberals who 31 00:01:46,159 --> 00:01:50,960 don't much care to hear from a woman 32 00:01:47,880 --> 00:01:53,439 with an actual firsthand account no 33 00:01:50,960 --> 00:01:56,079 apparently they prefer to hear only from 34 00:01:53,439 --> 00:01:58,640 other armchair activists who've gained 35 00:01:56,079 --> 00:02:00,520 their opinion from the Evening News 36 00:01:58,640 --> 00:02:02,000 Mother Agnes may have been denied the 37 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:04,320 right to speak at to stop the war 38 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:06,479 Coalition but she'll reach a much bigger 39 00:02:04,320 --> 00:02:08,440 audience here on Sputnik we'll be 40 00:02:06,479 --> 00:02:10,640 talking to her in the second half of the 41 00:02:08,440 --> 00:02:13,120 show this month in 42 00:02:10,640 --> 00:02:15,680 1979 hundreds of Iranian militants 43 00:02:13,120 --> 00:02:18,080 stormed the US Embassy in tan taking 44 00:02:15,680 --> 00:02:21,200 hostage those inside whom they described 45 00:02:18,080 --> 00:02:23,560 as a nest of spies sparking a long cold 46 00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:26,599 war between the Islamic Republic and the 47 00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:29,640 West punctuated by Hot War Slaughter by 48 00:02:26,599 --> 00:02:31,480 proxy in the Iraq Iran War and directly 49 00:02:29,640 --> 00:02:35,239 by the shooting down of an Iranian 50 00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:37,400 airliner by the US warship vincens not 51 00:02:35,239 --> 00:02:40,040 so long ago by which I mean weeks not 52 00:02:37,400 --> 00:02:42,959 months it looked like war war was 53 00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:45,720 imminent but as Mr Churchill said jaw 54 00:02:42,959 --> 00:02:48,080 jaw is usually preferable and lo and 55 00:02:45,720 --> 00:02:50,319 behold peace is breaking out at least on 56 00:02:48,080 --> 00:02:52,920 the international level in both Syria 57 00:02:50,319 --> 00:02:55,599 and Iran the nuclear deal sealed with 58 00:02:52,920 --> 00:02:57,319 retweets hugs and kisses well the 59 00:02:55,599 --> 00:02:59,840 Iranians don't do hugs and kisses but 60 00:02:57,319 --> 00:03:02,360 you know what I mean in Geneva this week 61 00:02:59,840 --> 00:03:04,760 is a Triumph for diplomacy and a defeat 62 00:03:02,360 --> 00:03:07,200 for the dogs of war how's it going down 63 00:03:04,760 --> 00:03:09,040 grie president Rohan who has an own 64 00:03:07,200 --> 00:03:11,799 Twitter account he yes and he's very 65 00:03:09,040 --> 00:03:14,280 active on it extraord he he this week uh 66 00:03:11,799 --> 00:03:16,480 on the day of the deal um said that the 67 00:03:14,280 --> 00:03:19,040 agreement in Geneva is a very positive 68 00:03:16,480 --> 00:03:21,599 First Step but the journey before us is 69 00:03:19,040 --> 00:03:24,360 long who knew a president on a president 70 00:03:21,599 --> 00:03:26,200 of Iran online on Twitter indeed indeed 71 00:03:24,360 --> 00:03:28,560 and so active it's fantastic he's got a 72 00:03:26,200 --> 00:03:31,480 lot of followers on it as well uh this 73 00:03:28,560 --> 00:03:33,560 week Ras and also came with a survey 74 00:03:31,480 --> 00:03:37,680 among Americans about how they feel 75 00:03:33,560 --> 00:03:40,519 about the Iran peace talks and 44% of 76 00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:44,200 them support the interim peace deal 77 00:03:40,519 --> 00:03:47,760 between Iran and the six big Powers 22% 78 00:03:44,200 --> 00:03:50,480 however oppose it just 50% however says 79 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:54,439 that us should use its military power to 80 00:03:50,480 --> 00:03:56,599 defent Israel against 50% well that 81 00:03:54,439 --> 00:03:59,920 would have been 100% just a few decades 82 00:03:56,599 --> 00:04:02,200 ago if you calibrate the effort that the 83 00:03:59,920 --> 00:04:04,760 Israel Lobby makes in the United States 84 00:04:02,200 --> 00:04:07,319 to absolutely control the political 85 00:04:04,760 --> 00:04:10,400 system and the money that they spend on 86 00:04:07,319 --> 00:04:13,439 it but they only have 50% of the support 87 00:04:10,400 --> 00:04:15,360 of the public now you took the camera 88 00:04:13,439 --> 00:04:17,680 out onto the Streets of London to see 89 00:04:15,360 --> 00:04:19,680 what the public thought about the fact 90 00:04:17,680 --> 00:04:21,320 that peace is breaking out everywhere 91 00:04:19,680 --> 00:04:22,840 how did that go well everybody's of 92 00:04:21,320 --> 00:04:25,120 course very very positive about it 93 00:04:22,840 --> 00:04:27,759 everybody wants peace there were some 94 00:04:25,120 --> 00:04:29,280 some who were a bit skeptic or maybe 95 00:04:27,759 --> 00:04:31,080 critical about the actual peace 96 00:04:29,280 --> 00:04:32,880 agreement what's in it but 97 00:04:31,080 --> 00:04:34,720 overwhelmingly they're welcoming it of 98 00:04:32,880 --> 00:04:36,440 course let's take a look I think it's 99 00:04:34,720 --> 00:04:38,440 good you know you want to have peace 100 00:04:36,440 --> 00:04:40,080 around the world I mean you don't want 101 00:04:38,440 --> 00:04:42,479 any threat of nuclear bomb going off 102 00:04:40,080 --> 00:04:44,560 really anytime so the less bombs the 103 00:04:42,479 --> 00:04:46,600 better there only the Israelis think 104 00:04:44,560 --> 00:04:49,320 they haven't and they have a vested 105 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:52,360 interest in keeping the West at odds 106 00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:54,280 with uh Iran America and Israel work 107 00:04:52,360 --> 00:04:57,440 together you know they are from the same 108 00:04:54,280 --> 00:04:58,880 womb yeah so when one is doing something 109 00:04:57,440 --> 00:05:01,560 and the other is there are they playing 110 00:04:58,880 --> 00:05:07,720 good cup back cup people who don't have 111 00:05:01,560 --> 00:05:09,440 a stake in um uh in um um in the risks 112 00:05:07,720 --> 00:05:12,000 involved are able to create the peace 113 00:05:09,440 --> 00:05:13,199 treaty and the people um who are local 114 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:15,199 understand the major risk involved I 115 00:05:13,199 --> 00:05:17,560 think to trust the Iranians is a 116 00:05:15,199 --> 00:05:20,800 terrible mistake I think anybody that 117 00:05:17,560 --> 00:05:23,280 stands up against imperialism that 118 00:05:20,800 --> 00:05:25,639 stands against people that try and take 119 00:05:23,280 --> 00:05:27,639 your Independence away and anybody that 120 00:05:25,639 --> 00:05:30,919 stands up for their own independence 121 00:05:27,639 --> 00:05:30,919 rock on 122 00:05:30,960 --> 00:05:36,880 my first guest John White is a novelist 123 00:05:33,720 --> 00:05:39,639 a writer and an analyst he's also been 124 00:05:36,880 --> 00:05:42,160 the most stalwart defender of mother 125 00:05:39,639 --> 00:05:45,479 Agnes Mariam of the cross's right to be 126 00:05:42,160 --> 00:05:47,919 heard in Britain during her tour and 127 00:05:45,479 --> 00:05:50,639 he's joining us now for the first time 128 00:05:47,919 --> 00:05:53,080 on Sputnik John thanks very much uh for 129 00:05:50,639 --> 00:05:55,319 coming on the show tell us first of all 130 00:05:53,080 --> 00:05:57,280 how did it come to pass that someone 131 00:05:55,319 --> 00:06:00,600 with firsthand evidence of what's 132 00:05:57,280 --> 00:06:02,600 happening in Syria is effectively 133 00:06:00,600 --> 00:06:04,120 blackballed from the stop the war 134 00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:05,759 International Peace conference this 135 00:06:04,120 --> 00:06:07,440 unfortunately was the doing of a couple 136 00:06:05,759 --> 00:06:09,520 of liberal commentators who are also 137 00:06:07,440 --> 00:06:11,240 delegates at this conference who still 138 00:06:09,520 --> 00:06:13,240 believe for some strange reason that 139 00:06:11,240 --> 00:06:15,160 there is actually a revolution taking 140 00:06:13,240 --> 00:06:16,880 place in Libya and sorry in Syria and 141 00:06:15,160 --> 00:06:18,280 believe that you can have a situation 142 00:06:16,880 --> 00:06:20,800 where you're against Western 143 00:06:18,280 --> 00:06:22,759 intervention and against the presentent 144 00:06:20,800 --> 00:06:24,720 Syrian government but who else is going 145 00:06:22,759 --> 00:06:26,039 to stop these barbarians unless it's the 146 00:06:24,720 --> 00:06:28,120 Syrian government I don't know if these 147 00:06:26,039 --> 00:06:30,199 liberal commentators have 30 divisions 148 00:06:28,120 --> 00:06:32,360 of armed troops up their sleeve to take 149 00:06:30,199 --> 00:06:34,280 to the conflict but if they don't then 150 00:06:32,360 --> 00:06:36,680 that's a non-pos and it's actually 151 00:06:34,280 --> 00:06:39,560 disgraceful given the position of this 152 00:06:36,680 --> 00:06:41,360 country with Vis V Libya and Visa Iraq 153 00:06:39,560 --> 00:06:44,080 they've not learned from history now 154 00:06:41,360 --> 00:06:46,919 there seems to be a complete about face 155 00:06:44,080 --> 00:06:49,039 going on on the part of the big Western 156 00:06:46,919 --> 00:06:50,960 Powers just a few weeks ago we were 157 00:06:49,039 --> 00:06:54,240 almost at war with Syria and thus by 158 00:06:50,960 --> 00:06:57,360 extension Iran MH now we're headed for 159 00:06:54,240 --> 00:06:59,800 Geneva 2 in Geneva on the Syrian track 160 00:06:57,360 --> 00:07:02,160 and we've done a deal on the nuclear 161 00:06:59,800 --> 00:07:04,840 question with Iran how do we get to this 162 00:07:02,160 --> 00:07:06,800 stage well this is due to two things 163 00:07:04,840 --> 00:07:08,800 it's due to the resistance of the Syrian 164 00:07:06,800 --> 00:07:10,520 people in the syan Arab Army standing by 165 00:07:08,800 --> 00:07:13,000 their government against what is an 166 00:07:10,520 --> 00:07:17,680 invasion it's not R it's an invasion of 167 00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:19,639 their of foreign uh jihadists extremists 168 00:07:17,680 --> 00:07:21,319 religious obscurantist and barbarians 169 00:07:19,639 --> 00:07:23,080 and it's also British public opinion if 170 00:07:21,319 --> 00:07:24,560 you recall you were part of that I know 171 00:07:23,080 --> 00:07:26,560 the moment's vote taken in the 172 00:07:24,560 --> 00:07:28,440 parliament where the British public 173 00:07:26,560 --> 00:07:30,960 opinion drove our politicians for once 174 00:07:28,440 --> 00:07:33,039 to find a spine to find the guts to stay 175 00:07:30,960 --> 00:07:34,599 the hand of the British government and 176 00:07:33,039 --> 00:07:36,400 that was a very seminal moment in our 177 00:07:34,599 --> 00:07:38,280 history and comparisons have been drawn 178 00:07:36,400 --> 00:07:40,240 quite rightly I think with the momentous 179 00:07:38,280 --> 00:07:43,039 Norway debate that turned the course of 180 00:07:40,240 --> 00:07:45,800 the second world war this is 1940 where 181 00:07:43,039 --> 00:07:47,759 uh Chamberlain fell and was replaced by 182 00:07:45,800 --> 00:07:49,199 Mr churo absolutely after the invasion 183 00:07:47,759 --> 00:07:50,639 of Norway and Britain's we might have 184 00:07:49,199 --> 00:07:52,720 been conducting this conversation in 185 00:07:50,639 --> 00:07:53,840 German if that debate had not happened 186 00:07:52,720 --> 00:07:55,759 but for the people of the Middle East 187 00:07:53,840 --> 00:07:57,840 this is equally as momentous because 188 00:07:55,759 --> 00:07:59,879 they they are facing a a turning point 189 00:07:57,840 --> 00:08:01,000 in their history is this country is 190 00:07:59,879 --> 00:08:03,400 Syria going to be turned into a 191 00:08:01,000 --> 00:08:06,000 graveyard for minorities Muslim and 192 00:08:03,400 --> 00:08:08,159 non-muslim or is it going to remain a 193 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:11,120 multi- language multiethnic 194 00:08:08,159 --> 00:08:14,080 multi-religious secular modern state 195 00:08:11,120 --> 00:08:17,240 which the overriding identity that joins 196 00:08:14,080 --> 00:08:19,400 syrians together is Arab not religion 197 00:08:17,240 --> 00:08:21,479 not sectarianism so these are the stakes 198 00:08:19,400 --> 00:08:23,560 involved and this is why when the 199 00:08:21,479 --> 00:08:25,680 Western powers are entering into Geneva 200 00:08:23,560 --> 00:08:27,800 to in January they're doing so from a 201 00:08:25,680 --> 00:08:30,000 position of weakness their first option 202 00:08:27,800 --> 00:08:32,519 was to topple Assad through their 203 00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:34,360 proxies among the so-called opposition 204 00:08:32,519 --> 00:08:36,279 the second option was to enter peace 205 00:08:34,360 --> 00:08:37,959 talks but Assad would have to go he 206 00:08:36,279 --> 00:08:40,000 would have to resign why should he 207 00:08:37,959 --> 00:08:41,279 resign the Syrian Army have bled for 208 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:43,200 this man for two and a half years the 209 00:08:41,279 --> 00:08:44,320 Syrian people have suffered and stood by 210 00:08:43,200 --> 00:08:46,320 their government for two and a half 211 00:08:44,320 --> 00:08:48,440 years so it's a question of national 212 00:08:46,320 --> 00:08:50,000 sovereignty it's a question of dignity 213 00:08:48,440 --> 00:08:51,920 and so it's encouraging that the Western 214 00:08:50,000 --> 00:08:53,839 powers are entering these talks however 215 00:08:51,920 --> 00:08:57,080 there is that we have to be but it's 216 00:08:53,839 --> 00:08:59,720 very surprising I myself as as a a 217 00:08:57,080 --> 00:09:03,040 practitioner in the field I'm not entire 218 00:08:59,720 --> 00:09:04,440 sure why they have apparently taken this 219 00:09:03,040 --> 00:09:06,399 big step back I won't call it a 220 00:09:04,440 --> 00:09:08,360 capitulation because they're still 221 00:09:06,399 --> 00:09:10,320 causing real trouble in Syria and 222 00:09:08,360 --> 00:09:13,160 they're still capable of causing real 223 00:09:10,320 --> 00:09:14,880 trouble for Iran but it's a very big 224 00:09:13,160 --> 00:09:17,240 step backwards for them does it reflect 225 00:09:14,880 --> 00:09:19,240 the weakness of the political class on 226 00:09:17,240 --> 00:09:21,040 both sides of the Atlantic it does yes 227 00:09:19,240 --> 00:09:23,560 especially the Obama Administration the 228 00:09:21,040 --> 00:09:25,320 Western Powers understand the character 229 00:09:23,560 --> 00:09:28,040 of the opposition they know that they 230 00:09:25,320 --> 00:09:30,040 can no longer uh be seen to even hint at 231 00:09:28,040 --> 00:09:32,120 any support of these 7th Century 232 00:09:30,040 --> 00:09:34,720 barbarians the same ideology responsible 233 00:09:32,120 --> 00:09:37,240 for 9/11 the 77 bomb in London the 234 00:09:34,720 --> 00:09:39,399 Madrid bomb the murder of Lee Rigby most 235 00:09:37,240 --> 00:09:41,440 recently in London we were going to join 236 00:09:39,399 --> 00:09:43,320 forces with that ideology in effect and 237 00:09:41,440 --> 00:09:45,519 so people could see that and there's an 238 00:09:43,320 --> 00:09:47,600 old saying fool me once shame on you 239 00:09:45,519 --> 00:09:49,240 fool me twice shame on me and these 240 00:09:47,600 --> 00:09:53,079 people will not be Fooled Again will it 241 00:09:49,240 --> 00:09:56,160 be sabotaged it has two major uh 242 00:09:53,079 --> 00:10:00,040 opponents in the region Israel and Saudi 243 00:09:56,160 --> 00:10:02,480 Arabia the medieval despotism linked up 244 00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:05,079 with the so-called only democracy in the 245 00:10:02,480 --> 00:10:07,200 Middle East this is an Unholy Alliance 246 00:10:05,079 --> 00:10:09,399 to be sure but it's an alliance with a 247 00:10:07,200 --> 00:10:11,959 lot of powerful friends and in the Saudi 248 00:10:09,399 --> 00:10:14,079 case a lot of money yes are they capable 249 00:10:11,959 --> 00:10:15,680 of sabotaging the peace track they're 250 00:10:14,079 --> 00:10:17,440 certainly capable of trying their damers 251 00:10:15,680 --> 00:10:19,079 to do so uh and they are trying but 252 00:10:17,440 --> 00:10:20,839 they're becoming increasingly isolated 253 00:10:19,079 --> 00:10:23,440 not just regionally but in the whole 254 00:10:20,839 --> 00:10:24,680 world we've got Benjamin yeyahu he's 255 00:10:23,440 --> 00:10:26,720 been like Doctor Strange Love on 256 00:10:24,680 --> 00:10:28,560 steroids over the past week the way that 257 00:10:26,720 --> 00:10:30,760 he's tried to know this is a historic 258 00:10:28,560 --> 00:10:33,800 mistake and so on all this apocalyptic 259 00:10:30,760 --> 00:10:36,360 language and rani's been the Exemplar of 260 00:10:33,800 --> 00:10:38,920 rational and diplomacy and you know 261 00:10:36,360 --> 00:10:41,600 flagma ISM but you you you encountered a 262 00:10:38,920 --> 00:10:44,279 lot of English people in London saying 263 00:10:41,600 --> 00:10:46,120 to hang with Israel's objections why 264 00:10:44,279 --> 00:10:48,680 don't we start acting in the interest of 265 00:10:46,120 --> 00:10:50,680 ourselves and everybody else in future 266 00:10:48,680 --> 00:10:53,480 and the people suffering of course the 267 00:10:50,680 --> 00:10:54,959 actual s sanctions people are tired 268 00:10:53,480 --> 00:10:57,160 people are seeing the real face of 269 00:10:54,959 --> 00:10:58,959 Israel you know yes but the one thing 270 00:10:57,160 --> 00:11:03,320 that the people were very critical about 271 00:10:58,959 --> 00:11:06,399 is um they're wondering why um why isra 272 00:11:03,320 --> 00:11:08,440 why the US is now making such a deal 273 00:11:06,399 --> 00:11:09,880 what what what what's behind it why 274 00:11:08,440 --> 00:11:11,839 they're why it seems like they're 275 00:11:09,880 --> 00:11:14,079 betraying their friend Israel and Saudi 276 00:11:11,839 --> 00:11:16,200 Arabia for that matter well I think the 277 00:11:14,079 --> 00:11:18,600 US requires stability in the region and 278 00:11:16,200 --> 00:11:20,800 its first option was to forment Regional 279 00:11:18,600 --> 00:11:23,279 hegemony uh this was part of a long 280 00:11:20,800 --> 00:11:26,240 process after 911 that's failed that's 281 00:11:23,279 --> 00:11:28,200 crashed on the rocks of Syria and nasan 282 00:11:26,240 --> 00:11:30,680 Hassan Nala the leader of hisbah rightly 283 00:11:28,200 --> 00:11:32,920 described Iran Syria and hisbah is 284 00:11:30,680 --> 00:11:34,959 constituting an axis of resistance so 285 00:11:32,920 --> 00:11:37,399 Israel's interests are regionally in 286 00:11:34,959 --> 00:11:40,000 order to weaken and neuter Iran for its 287 00:11:37,399 --> 00:11:41,720 own Regional hegemonic purposes but what 288 00:11:40,000 --> 00:11:43,279 we have to understand is Iran has never 289 00:11:41,720 --> 00:11:45,000 occupied another country in the region 290 00:11:43,279 --> 00:11:46,600 it's never initiated military conflict 291 00:11:45,000 --> 00:11:48,639 and it doesn't have nuclear weapons well 292 00:11:46,600 --> 00:11:50,200 Israel is guilty of all three so what is 293 00:11:48,639 --> 00:11:51,600 the cause of instability in the region 294 00:11:50,200 --> 00:11:53,480 it does need take a genius to work it 295 00:11:51,600 --> 00:11:55,519 out and so I think American public 296 00:11:53,480 --> 00:11:58,399 opinion has significantly shifted with 297 00:11:55,519 --> 00:12:02,040 regard to Israel uh especially read a 298 00:11:58,399 --> 00:12:05,120 statistic earlier which was amazing 50% 299 00:12:02,040 --> 00:12:07,399 just not even a majority exactly half of 300 00:12:05,120 --> 00:12:10,160 Americans think that America should 301 00:12:07,399 --> 00:12:11,880 continue to guarantee the security of 302 00:12:10,160 --> 00:12:14,720 Israel this is but the dog that is 303 00:12:11,880 --> 00:12:17,760 embarking there is the other 50% and 304 00:12:14,720 --> 00:12:20,360 Once Upon a Time in recent memory almost 305 00:12:17,760 --> 00:12:23,240 all Americans would have uh pledged 306 00:12:20,360 --> 00:12:25,160 their Troth to the defense of Israel's 307 00:12:23,240 --> 00:12:27,560 security so the world's falling out of 308 00:12:25,160 --> 00:12:29,360 love with Israel and never has been in 309 00:12:27,560 --> 00:12:31,199 love with Saudi Arabia yes so they've 310 00:12:29,360 --> 00:12:33,680 got an uphill battle if they want to 311 00:12:31,199 --> 00:12:35,480 persuade people to Scupper this deal 312 00:12:33,680 --> 00:12:38,199 John White thanks very much for joining 313 00:12:35,480 --> 00:12:40,240 us on Sputnik stay with us we'll be 314 00:12:38,199 --> 00:12:43,279 right back with an interview with the 315 00:12:40,240 --> 00:12:43,279 aforementioned Mother 316 00:12:51,279 --> 00:12:56,120 Superior welcome back to Sputnik in 317 00:12:54,240 --> 00:12:58,560 January some of the Waring parties in 318 00:12:56,120 --> 00:13:01,160 Syria will sit down around a negotiating 319 00:12:58,560 --> 00:13:04,279 table in Geneva after the success of the 320 00:13:01,160 --> 00:13:07,360 Iran deal can we look forward to peace 321 00:13:04,279 --> 00:13:10,120 and Reconciliation in Syria you were out 322 00:13:07,360 --> 00:13:13,279 in the Streets of London gatri was there 323 00:13:10,120 --> 00:13:15,959 optimism abroad about that Prospect well 324 00:13:13,279 --> 00:13:17,880 where there is a way out diplomatically 325 00:13:15,959 --> 00:13:20,079 people will always prefer that rather 326 00:13:17,880 --> 00:13:23,959 than the military way joj rather than 327 00:13:20,079 --> 00:13:28,279 war war as Mr Churchill famously said 328 00:13:23,959 --> 00:13:31,519 but the skepticism of the British media 329 00:13:28,279 --> 00:13:32,720 remains High I they have developed a 330 00:13:31,519 --> 00:13:36,440 kind of 331 00:13:32,720 --> 00:13:38,199 ogre demonic figure in the current 332 00:13:36,440 --> 00:13:40,560 government of Syria it's difficult for 333 00:13:38,199 --> 00:13:43,320 them to climb down well the people 334 00:13:40,560 --> 00:13:46,839 believe differently so let's have a look 335 00:13:43,320 --> 00:13:50,079 as you well know the main media yeah has 336 00:13:46,839 --> 00:13:52,920 been just feeding things out there for 337 00:13:50,079 --> 00:13:55,160 people you know to take you know without 338 00:13:52,920 --> 00:13:56,720 thinking about it yeah and that's what 339 00:13:55,160 --> 00:13:59,360 we're being fed but there's a lot more 340 00:13:56,720 --> 00:14:02,480 going on there than we realize that's 341 00:13:59,360 --> 00:14:05,519 that's far too sectarian now this there 342 00:14:02,480 --> 00:14:07,800 alqaeda there's everybody in there 343 00:14:05,519 --> 00:14:10,120 pretending to be opponents of the 344 00:14:07,800 --> 00:14:12,800 government I think what Obama has done 345 00:14:10,120 --> 00:14:16,079 basically is retreated from the world I 346 00:14:12,800 --> 00:14:19,399 think he's basically um abdicated any 347 00:14:16,079 --> 00:14:22,160 leadership position and um um I don't 348 00:14:19,399 --> 00:14:24,199 want to insult any Brits by saying this 349 00:14:22,160 --> 00:14:26,920 but I think that uh he's Neville 350 00:14:24,199 --> 00:14:26,920 Chamberlain number 351 00:14:27,079 --> 00:14:33,720 two my next guest is mother Agnes Mariam 352 00:14:30,480 --> 00:14:37,320 of the Cross of the dicese of HS hamama 353 00:14:33,720 --> 00:14:40,279 and yabu a very very honored guest 354 00:14:37,320 --> 00:14:42,160 mother Agnes thank you for joining us on 355 00:14:40,279 --> 00:14:44,440 thank you both of our parts we're 356 00:14:42,160 --> 00:14:48,079 honored to have you here it's a pleasure 357 00:14:44,440 --> 00:14:51,360 now you are one of the leading voices 358 00:14:48,079 --> 00:14:54,120 standing up for Unity and Reconciliation 359 00:14:51,360 --> 00:14:57,240 and peace in Syria you are one of the 360 00:14:54,120 --> 00:14:59,800 great Defenders of the once cherished 361 00:14:57,240 --> 00:15:01,720 Christian Community in Syria where it 362 00:14:59,800 --> 00:15:04,560 was the safest place to be a Christian 363 00:15:01,720 --> 00:15:07,639 in the whole Arab world and is now 364 00:15:04,560 --> 00:15:10,160 practically hell on Earth tell us please 365 00:15:07,639 --> 00:15:12,720 from your standpoint as someone who's 366 00:15:10,160 --> 00:15:15,800 been living through all of this exactly 367 00:15:12,720 --> 00:15:19,759 what the situation is for Christians in 368 00:15:15,800 --> 00:15:23,880 Syria well uh all the fears in the 369 00:15:19,759 --> 00:15:24,880 beginning uh are becoming uh incarnated 370 00:15:23,880 --> 00:15:28,440 in the 371 00:15:24,880 --> 00:15:32,440 reality uh we have now a succession of 372 00:15:28,440 --> 00:15:35,560 invasion real Invasion on Christian 373 00:15:32,440 --> 00:15:36,680 stronghold historical also stronghold 374 00:15:35,560 --> 00:15:40,440 like 375 00:15:36,680 --> 00:15:46,920 mahula uh sadad 376 00:15:40,440 --> 00:15:49,880 K neek and yesterday I heard about s NAA 377 00:15:46,920 --> 00:15:52,800 uh is it a religious War I don't think 378 00:15:49,880 --> 00:15:56,160 is it a Christian persecution I don't 379 00:15:52,800 --> 00:15:59,360 think I think that uh those who are 380 00:15:56,160 --> 00:16:00,880 engineering uh the events in Syria wants 381 00:15:59,360 --> 00:16:04,399 to give a 382 00:16:00,880 --> 00:16:08,480 justification for the systematic 383 00:16:04,399 --> 00:16:13,000 destruction of the Syrian State and the 384 00:16:08,480 --> 00:16:17,079 dismantling of the Syrian uh Syrian 385 00:16:13,000 --> 00:16:20,560 social tissue uh because they have very 386 00:16:17,079 --> 00:16:25,399 wide objectives and the Christians the 387 00:16:20,560 --> 00:16:28,519 religious component the what is more 388 00:16:25,399 --> 00:16:32,600 precisely extremist religious extremism 389 00:16:28,519 --> 00:16:35,120 is it tool a war tool indeed but the 390 00:16:32,600 --> 00:16:38,519 Fanatics are not just targeting 391 00:16:35,120 --> 00:16:43,120 Christians no they're they're targeting 392 00:16:38,519 --> 00:16:46,000 other Muslim uh sects and also those in 393 00:16:43,120 --> 00:16:49,680 their own sect who don't agree with 394 00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:52,279 their medieval obscurantist Savage 395 00:16:49,680 --> 00:16:55,240 interpretation uh of Islam exactly and 396 00:16:52,279 --> 00:16:58,240 so almost everyone is an enemy except 397 00:16:55,240 --> 00:16:59,480 those who agree with their very narrow 398 00:16:58,240 --> 00:17:01,240 interpretation 399 00:16:59,480 --> 00:17:03,679 yes it's an 400 00:17:01,240 --> 00:17:08,559 exclusivist extremist 401 00:17:03,679 --> 00:17:13,039 fanatic uh facade of an ongoing violence 402 00:17:08,559 --> 00:17:15,439 to destroy the Syrian State indeed and 403 00:17:13,039 --> 00:17:18,120 though Christians have always had this 404 00:17:15,439 --> 00:17:20,839 honored special place in Syrian 405 00:17:18,120 --> 00:17:24,240 Society now what do you think your 406 00:17:20,839 --> 00:17:27,400 Muslim neighbors imagine when they see 407 00:17:24,240 --> 00:17:31,080 statues of the Virgin being willfully 408 00:17:27,400 --> 00:17:34,039 smashed churches being sacked uh the 409 00:17:31,080 --> 00:17:38,400 black flag of al-Qaeda being placed in 410 00:17:34,039 --> 00:17:41,520 the uh in the place of the Cross do you 411 00:17:38,400 --> 00:17:45,480 feel a sense of solidarity from the 412 00:17:41,520 --> 00:17:49,960 Muslim neighbors of course uh our uh Co 413 00:17:45,480 --> 00:17:51,000 coexistence our conviviality with Islam 414 00:17:49,960 --> 00:17:54,320 uh is 415 00:17:51,000 --> 00:18:00,039 historical uh the Arabic Christian open 416 00:17:54,320 --> 00:18:02,360 their doors uh to uh the new uh Islamic 417 00:18:00,039 --> 00:18:05,480 Fighters coming from 418 00:18:02,360 --> 00:18:08,760 Arabia they opened their door because 419 00:18:05,480 --> 00:18:12,280 there was no difference on a cultural 420 00:18:08,760 --> 00:18:13,919 basis and they they took their distance 421 00:18:12,280 --> 00:18:19,159 from the Byzantine 422 00:18:13,919 --> 00:18:22,159 Empire then so we were living together 423 00:18:19,159 --> 00:18:25,840 with the same culture with the same 424 00:18:22,159 --> 00:18:29,120 values and uh if you put out the 425 00:18:25,840 --> 00:18:34,360 politics there is no problem between all 426 00:18:29,120 --> 00:18:37,840 the component of the very precious and 427 00:18:34,360 --> 00:18:42,880 diverse social tissue in Syria and in 428 00:18:37,840 --> 00:18:45,360 the Levant now the what is targeted is 429 00:18:42,880 --> 00:18:47,880 not only Christian it's the 430 00:18:45,360 --> 00:18:51,039 civilization and like this you have 431 00:18:47,880 --> 00:18:53,280 mosques that are destroyed you have drw 432 00:18:51,039 --> 00:18:55,720 shrines that are destroyed you have 433 00:18:53,280 --> 00:18:58,919 sufis shrines and you have synagogues 434 00:18:55,720 --> 00:19:01,280 that are destroyed among them the oldest 435 00:18:58,919 --> 00:19:04,400 one in the world the jobar synagogue 436 00:19:01,280 --> 00:19:08,039 that goes be that goes until the 437 00:19:04,400 --> 00:19:11,039 solomonian time so it is a threat again 438 00:19:08,039 --> 00:19:13,760 against civilization and we are back to 439 00:19:11,039 --> 00:19:16,880 the Barbarian era it has failed though 440 00:19:13,760 --> 00:19:19,880 hasn't it the just a few weeks ago in 441 00:19:16,880 --> 00:19:23,080 Parliament which is my other job yes uh 442 00:19:19,880 --> 00:19:26,360 was part of the decisive majority which 443 00:19:23,080 --> 00:19:28,200 stopped Britain actually attacking Syria 444 00:19:26,360 --> 00:19:30,480 in conjunction with the United States 445 00:19:28,200 --> 00:19:33,880 and by so doing stopped the United 446 00:19:30,480 --> 00:19:36,480 States from attacking and now as you saw 447 00:19:33,880 --> 00:19:40,360 on the Vox pops on the screen we're 448 00:19:36,480 --> 00:19:43,799 talking about talks now in January this 449 00:19:40,360 --> 00:19:47,480 is a transformation almost a miracle of 450 00:19:43,799 --> 00:19:50,679 the uh situation that existed only a few 451 00:19:47,480 --> 00:19:53,640 weeks ago couple of months ago at 452 00:19:50,679 --> 00:19:57,679 most this sense of failure is it likely 453 00:19:53,640 --> 00:20:00,679 to make these Fanatics more barbaric or 454 00:19:57,679 --> 00:20:03,799 will they begin now to withdraw from the 455 00:20:00,679 --> 00:20:05,799 country will they begin to seek some 456 00:20:03,799 --> 00:20:07,120 kind of accommodation with the 457 00:20:05,799 --> 00:20:10,240 government in the 458 00:20:07,120 --> 00:20:14,960 maskus I think first that I have to 459 00:20:10,240 --> 00:20:18,919 thank the British House of common for 460 00:20:14,960 --> 00:20:22,280 its historical and prophetic vote uh 461 00:20:18,919 --> 00:20:27,360 that has made a turning point in the 462 00:20:22,280 --> 00:20:31,840 history uh toward peace and uh it uh it 463 00:20:27,360 --> 00:20:36,280 is expressing the position of the uh uh 464 00:20:31,840 --> 00:20:39,360 British public opinion second because of 465 00:20:36,280 --> 00:20:42,600 this vote as you said it's the it was 466 00:20:39,360 --> 00:20:45,440 the Congress who also adopted the same 467 00:20:42,600 --> 00:20:49,440 policy and we have a big door open 468 00:20:45,440 --> 00:20:52,320 toward a peaceful and a nonviolent uh 469 00:20:49,440 --> 00:20:55,960 settlement of the Syrian crisis today 470 00:20:52,320 --> 00:20:59,159 what we see in Syria is contrary is 471 00:20:55,960 --> 00:21:03,080 completely the contrary uh 472 00:20:59,159 --> 00:21:06,080 reaction they want to make points to 473 00:21:03,080 --> 00:21:10,039 register points and so there is a 474 00:21:06,080 --> 00:21:14,240 terrible uh recrudescence of violence 475 00:21:10,039 --> 00:21:17,960 everywhere you have heard about uh blind 476 00:21:14,240 --> 00:21:21,159 shelling on civilian populations on 477 00:21:17,960 --> 00:21:25,000 children on school bus schools on 478 00:21:21,159 --> 00:21:27,760 professors uh in Damascus in hes every 479 00:21:25,000 --> 00:21:32,559 day we have uh news about slaughtering 480 00:21:27,760 --> 00:21:36,320 people uh this blind violence uh seeks 481 00:21:32,559 --> 00:21:39,480 uh to register point for uh negotiation 482 00:21:36,320 --> 00:21:44,279 but they are really showing the real 483 00:21:39,480 --> 00:21:47,240 face uh of the ongoing uh violence and I 484 00:21:44,279 --> 00:21:50,320 really make here an appeal to all those 485 00:21:47,240 --> 00:21:54,120 who stand behind uh those foreign 486 00:21:50,320 --> 00:21:58,000 Fighters please for the sake of humanity 487 00:21:54,120 --> 00:22:01,120 stop the fueling of such means you will 488 00:21:58,000 --> 00:22:04,159 not gain anything you will uh uh at the 489 00:22:01,120 --> 00:22:06,720 end the history will judge you the 490 00:22:04,159 --> 00:22:09,480 response on the street was pretty 491 00:22:06,720 --> 00:22:11,440 overwhelming that we don't want war gri 492 00:22:09,480 --> 00:22:12,880 no they don't they're very tired of it 493 00:22:11,440 --> 00:22:15,200 they in the back of their mind they 494 00:22:12,880 --> 00:22:17,520 still have the Iraq and Afghani War yes 495 00:22:15,200 --> 00:22:20,159 so they're quite pronounced about the 496 00:22:17,520 --> 00:22:22,559 Syrian War don't want it you don't want 497 00:22:20,159 --> 00:22:25,960 well the last person I think from United 498 00:22:22,559 --> 00:22:28,760 State had another opinion I am I am 499 00:22:25,960 --> 00:22:32,520 happy that it's not the majority 500 00:22:28,760 --> 00:22:36,000 uh they seek war for power and it seems 501 00:22:32,520 --> 00:22:38,880 that war will give uh to United States 502 00:22:36,000 --> 00:22:42,360 its predominant role I think exactly the 503 00:22:38,880 --> 00:22:46,039 contrary uh it's sponsoring and being 504 00:22:42,360 --> 00:22:49,960 the mentor of peace talks that bring 505 00:22:46,039 --> 00:22:51,799 President Obama to a pre proeminent role 506 00:22:49,960 --> 00:22:54,919 in the 507 00:22:51,799 --> 00:22:56,799 uh International scene just briefly we 508 00:22:54,919 --> 00:22:59,799 only have a few seconds left are you 509 00:22:56,799 --> 00:23:03,320 optimistic about the neg Neo iations in 510 00:22:59,799 --> 00:23:05,039 January I will be optimistic if the 511 00:23:03,320 --> 00:23:08,360 people who will be there will be 512 00:23:05,039 --> 00:23:11,240 representative of the syan opposition uh 513 00:23:08,360 --> 00:23:13,840 what I see is that the Syrian opposition 514 00:23:11,240 --> 00:23:16,679 today you know that is fragmented so 515 00:23:13,840 --> 00:23:19,520 it's not representative moreover those 516 00:23:16,679 --> 00:23:22,480 who are presented as the sole 517 00:23:19,520 --> 00:23:24,679 representative of the Syrian people uh 518 00:23:22,480 --> 00:23:26,840 do not have any grass rooted 519 00:23:24,679 --> 00:23:30,039 representation they are out of Syria 520 00:23:26,840 --> 00:23:32,960 since 30 years we want the internal 521 00:23:30,039 --> 00:23:36,120 opposition that is nonviolent and that 522 00:23:32,960 --> 00:23:39,000 is representative of the majority of the 523 00:23:36,120 --> 00:23:42,159 opposition in Syria to be represented 524 00:23:39,000 --> 00:23:44,200 mother Agnes we must all pray for that 525 00:23:42,159 --> 00:23:47,360 thank you very much indeed for joining 526 00:23:44,200 --> 00:23:47,360 us on 527 00:23:47,799 --> 00:23:53,240 sput now this is the part of the show 528 00:23:50,279 --> 00:23:56,440 where we listen to the world you through 529 00:23:53,240 --> 00:23:58,480 our Twitter portal gri how's Sputnik 530 00:23:56,440 --> 00:24:00,240 going down in the Twitter sphere well 531 00:23:58,480 --> 00:24:01,799 well unlike the positivity that I 532 00:24:00,240 --> 00:24:03,880 received on the streets about the peace 533 00:24:01,799 --> 00:24:06,080 talks the people on Twitter were a bit 534 00:24:03,880 --> 00:24:09,720 more skeptical about especially the Iran 535 00:24:06,080 --> 00:24:11,279 deal Lana Del was a grossly unfair deal 536 00:24:09,720 --> 00:24:13,760 but the only way they could ease 537 00:24:11,279 --> 00:24:16,159 sanctions Iran shouldn't have to plead 538 00:24:13,760 --> 00:24:19,080 to the US for basic rights I don't think 539 00:24:16,159 --> 00:24:22,279 Iran has been pleading for basic rights 540 00:24:19,080 --> 00:24:24,960 I think Iran has protected and defended 541 00:24:22,279 --> 00:24:28,480 its in alienable right to have a nuclear 542 00:24:24,960 --> 00:24:31,200 energy program uh it's expressed in a 543 00:24:28,480 --> 00:24:33,840 sweeter way through president Rohani who 544 00:24:31,200 --> 00:24:35,840 we now know has a Twitter account uh but 545 00:24:33,840 --> 00:24:37,640 I don't think that Iran has sacrificed 546 00:24:35,840 --> 00:24:39,200 its essential rights well I think I 547 00:24:37,640 --> 00:24:40,919 agree with you because on the street I 548 00:24:39,200 --> 00:24:42,760 was speaking to a number of Iranians and 549 00:24:40,919 --> 00:24:45,279 they all hold on to their dignity they 550 00:24:42,760 --> 00:24:47,520 all said yeah we the sanctions we have 551 00:24:45,279 --> 00:24:50,279 suffered under sanction but we still 552 00:24:47,520 --> 00:24:53,399 Prosper yeah in in our own way and we 553 00:24:50,279 --> 00:24:55,279 didn't go on our knees to to get the 554 00:24:53,399 --> 00:24:57,360 deal Iran hasn't surrendered it's the 555 00:24:55,279 --> 00:25:00,000 Western powers that have surrendered 556 00:24:57,360 --> 00:25:01,880 after all regime change in Iran was 557 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:04,760 their actual goal nothing to do with 558 00:25:01,880 --> 00:25:07,640 nuclear energy about Syria Tony Hugh 559 00:25:04,760 --> 00:25:10,880 says that the war in Syria will end when 560 00:25:07,640 --> 00:25:13,080 the takfir come and pay masters realize 561 00:25:10,880 --> 00:25:14,919 it's over for them they'll move out and 562 00:25:13,080 --> 00:25:17,480 I'm I'm concerned about legitimate 563 00:25:14,919 --> 00:25:20,039 protest offic yeah and of course some of 564 00:25:17,480 --> 00:25:23,559 them will come back to countries like 565 00:25:20,039 --> 00:25:26,679 ours and yours uh in the Netherlands uh 566 00:25:23,559 --> 00:25:28,799 and wreak havoc there if they can it's 567 00:25:26,679 --> 00:25:31,600 what happens when you when when Dr 568 00:25:28,799 --> 00:25:33,360 Frankenstein built a monster he didn't 569 00:25:31,600 --> 00:25:36,720 realize that it's called a monster for a 570 00:25:33,360 --> 00:25:38,360 reason it's soon out of control well 571 00:25:36,720 --> 00:25:40,960 unfortunately that's all we've got time 572 00:25:38,360 --> 00:25:43,159 for I hope you enjoyed Sputnik as much 573 00:25:40,960 --> 00:25:44,960 as we enjoyed making it please do keep 574 00:25:43,159 --> 00:25:48,200 supplying us with your tweets and your 575 00:25:44,960 --> 00:25:50,919 thoughts at rtor Sputnik that's it for 576 00:25:48,200 --> 00:25:54,240 me gatri and from me George Galloway 577 00:25:50,919 --> 00:25:54,240 it's been marvelous 578 00:25:55,320 --> 00:25:58,440 [Music] 579 00:25:58,480 --> 00:26:01,480 oh