1 00:00:33,079 --> 00:00:38,179 welcome to Sputnik orbiting the world 2 00:00:35,480 --> 00:00:40,699 with me George Galloway and me gayatri 3 00:00:38,179 --> 00:00:43,039 30 years ago the Battle of our grief 4 00:00:40,699 --> 00:00:45,890 took place in South Yorkshire in 5 00:00:43,039 --> 00:00:48,320 England's green and pleasant land it was 6 00:00:45,890 --> 00:00:51,109 not a war though it looked and felt like 7 00:00:48,320 --> 00:00:53,210 one instead it represented the 8 00:00:51,109 --> 00:00:56,030 abandonment by the British state of 9 00:00:53,210 --> 00:00:58,519 social peace the militarization of the 10 00:00:56,030 --> 00:01:01,129 police in a trades dispute and the 11 00:00:58,519 --> 00:01:03,829 dereliction of journalistic duty by the 12 00:01:01,129 --> 00:01:06,440 broadcast media with which we have sadly 13 00:01:03,829 --> 00:01:08,690 become all too familiar the police 14 00:01:06,440 --> 00:01:11,360 attacked the miners the footage however 15 00:01:08,690 --> 00:01:14,420 was reversed to show the opposite heads 16 00:01:11,360 --> 00:01:16,549 and hearts were broken society was split 17 00:01:14,420 --> 00:01:18,590 down the middle something in Britain 18 00:01:16,549 --> 00:01:20,509 died that day the miners were defeated 19 00:01:18,590 --> 00:01:23,990 and a slow descent of working-class 20 00:01:20,509 --> 00:01:26,509 power to resist begin result is all 21 00:01:23,990 --> 00:01:28,729 around us the minors including those 22 00:01:26,509 --> 00:01:31,100 bludgeon that or grief have never 23 00:01:28,729 --> 00:01:32,920 received justice the now discredited 24 00:01:31,100 --> 00:01:35,390 leadership of the South Yorkshire 25 00:01:32,920 --> 00:01:38,209 Constabulary has never been held to 26 00:01:35,390 --> 00:01:40,129 account but the campaign continues and 27 00:01:38,209 --> 00:01:42,500 for the miners of our grief that 28 00:01:40,129 --> 00:01:45,530 campaign is led by Barbara Jackson of 29 00:01:42,500 --> 00:01:48,560 the or grief truth and justice campaign 30 00:01:45,530 --> 00:01:51,050 she joins us now thanks for doing so 31 00:01:48,560 --> 00:01:54,019 Barbara just tell the viewers because it 32 00:01:51,050 --> 00:01:56,720 was 30 years ago what happened at or 33 00:01:54,019 --> 00:01:58,970 grief specifically the 18th of june 34 00:01:56,720 --> 00:02:01,610 nineteen eighty-four was when there was 35 00:01:58,970 --> 00:02:04,610 a mass picket of the old grieve coking 36 00:02:01,610 --> 00:02:08,269 plant 10,000 miners were there with 37 00:02:04,610 --> 00:02:12,620 5,000 police and the police were there 38 00:02:08,269 --> 00:02:14,959 in riot gear with dogs and horses them 39 00:02:12,620 --> 00:02:18,319 it was a lovely summer's day the miners 40 00:02:14,959 --> 00:02:22,159 were in trainers jeans and t-shirts and 41 00:02:18,319 --> 00:02:25,069 at the end of that day 95 miners had 42 00:02:22,159 --> 00:02:28,129 been arrested and charged with riot and 43 00:02:25,069 --> 00:02:30,980 unlawful assembly charges that at the 44 00:02:28,129 --> 00:02:34,159 time carried a life sentence and many 45 00:02:30,980 --> 00:02:37,220 broken heads also and many many broken 46 00:02:34,159 --> 00:02:39,140 heads in fact some people didn't go to 47 00:02:37,220 --> 00:02:41,420 the hospital because they knew the 48 00:02:39,140 --> 00:02:44,240 police would follow them there and try 49 00:02:41,420 --> 00:02:47,540 to arrest them and when Gareth pierced 50 00:02:44,240 --> 00:02:49,879 the solicitor at the time came up to in 51 00:02:47,540 --> 00:02:52,909 to view the men in the cells she was 52 00:02:49,879 --> 00:02:55,909 horrified by what she found she said 53 00:02:52,909 --> 00:02:59,569 that the needed doctors and nurses not a 54 00:02:55,909 --> 00:03:01,670 solicitor and the police's duty of care 55 00:02:59,569 --> 00:03:05,540 to people who are arrested and 56 00:03:01,670 --> 00:03:07,579 completely in every way broken down that 57 00:03:05,540 --> 00:03:10,459 day of course it had been a slow burn 58 00:03:07,579 --> 00:03:14,209 the police were increasingly militarized 59 00:03:10,459 --> 00:03:16,220 throughout the dispute police forces 60 00:03:14,209 --> 00:03:18,769 were switched around so that local 61 00:03:16,220 --> 00:03:21,439 police were not policing local 62 00:03:18,769 --> 00:03:24,250 situations which was a new thing the 63 00:03:21,439 --> 00:03:27,409 police were acting as a national force 64 00:03:24,250 --> 00:03:32,180 for the first time people were stopped 65 00:03:27,409 --> 00:03:35,540 in buses on their way to pick it in 66 00:03:32,180 --> 00:03:39,169 different coalfields turn back again a 67 00:03:35,540 --> 00:03:41,030 new thing but somehow our grief felt 68 00:03:39,169 --> 00:03:44,569 like a bit of a turning point at least 69 00:03:41,030 --> 00:03:46,639 do me did it do you I don't know whether 70 00:03:44,569 --> 00:03:49,519 it felt like a turning point but it's 71 00:03:46,639 --> 00:03:52,220 that part of the strike that most people 72 00:03:49,519 --> 00:03:54,680 remember you don't have to go into great 73 00:03:52,220 --> 00:03:57,560 detail most people are familiar with the 74 00:03:54,680 --> 00:03:59,659 name of all grieve but we're quite clear 75 00:03:57,560 --> 00:04:02,060 as the campaign that there were many or 76 00:03:59,659 --> 00:04:04,940 grieves going on all around the coal 77 00:04:02,060 --> 00:04:07,699 fields during that strike but all grief 78 00:04:04,940 --> 00:04:10,519 was the big set piece with mass numbers 79 00:04:07,699 --> 00:04:14,359 of pickets and mass numbers of police 80 00:04:10,519 --> 00:04:17,690 and the resulting of the media 81 00:04:14,359 --> 00:04:21,139 information that day showing the police 82 00:04:17,690 --> 00:04:24,620 the miners charging not the police 83 00:04:21,139 --> 00:04:26,900 charging set the tone for how that day a 84 00:04:24,620 --> 00:04:29,990 tour group was received by the general 85 00:04:26,900 --> 00:04:32,750 public it was the case of who gets their 86 00:04:29,990 --> 00:04:36,169 version out first tends to be believed 87 00:04:32,750 --> 00:04:39,229 there are horses of course yeah yeah it 88 00:04:36,169 --> 00:04:41,360 was really a cavalry charge it was a 89 00:04:39,229 --> 00:04:44,060 cavalry charge and like one of the 90 00:04:41,360 --> 00:04:47,030 miners said at the time if you've got a 91 00:04:44,060 --> 00:04:49,310 40 ton horse charging towards you you 92 00:04:47,030 --> 00:04:52,190 don't stop to ask what this is all about 93 00:04:49,310 --> 00:04:54,500 and most of the injuries that the miners 94 00:04:52,190 --> 00:04:56,779 received where to the back of the head 95 00:04:54,500 --> 00:04:58,969 the back and the shoulders because they 96 00:04:56,779 --> 00:05:01,370 were just running away they didn't know 97 00:04:58,969 --> 00:05:03,410 what was happening and the 90 98 00:05:01,370 --> 00:05:06,260 five who were picked up and arrested 99 00:05:03,410 --> 00:05:09,050 were people who were just there not 100 00:05:06,260 --> 00:05:11,630 doing anything of any consequence there 101 00:05:09,050 --> 00:05:15,400 weren't officials in the end um they 102 00:05:11,630 --> 00:05:18,680 held in the main no branch you know 103 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:20,930 authority a little level they were just 104 00:05:18,680 --> 00:05:23,960 people who were easy targets pictou 105 00:05:20,930 --> 00:05:26,449 confused and easy for the police to deal 106 00:05:23,960 --> 00:05:30,110 with do you recall what the media 107 00:05:26,449 --> 00:05:32,660 treatment of the Orgreave battle was 108 00:05:30,110 --> 00:05:34,910 like it was quite shocking one of the 109 00:05:32,660 --> 00:05:37,520 miners who were there it was there that 110 00:05:34,910 --> 00:05:40,190 day when he got home his parents had 111 00:05:37,520 --> 00:05:43,039 already seen the footage and his mother 112 00:05:40,190 --> 00:05:46,280 said to an lad what on earth have you 113 00:05:43,039 --> 00:05:48,940 been doing out there even she from a 114 00:05:46,280 --> 00:05:52,639 mining family and a mining background 115 00:05:48,940 --> 00:05:55,610 accepted the bbc's footage that day that 116 00:05:52,639 --> 00:05:58,190 showed the miners charging and not the 117 00:05:55,610 --> 00:06:01,100 police and that set the tone for the 118 00:05:58,190 --> 00:06:04,010 rest of the media to follow as the 119 00:06:01,100 --> 00:06:07,690 accepted truth of that day and it was 120 00:06:04,010 --> 00:06:11,090 years and years later that the BBC 121 00:06:07,690 --> 00:06:14,690 finally apologized or gave some sort of 122 00:06:11,090 --> 00:06:17,419 apology and put it down to a technical 123 00:06:14,690 --> 00:06:20,360 issue that they were using some new film 124 00:06:17,419 --> 00:06:22,070 and quite a low level technician didn't 125 00:06:20,360 --> 00:06:25,820 really know what he was doing with that 126 00:06:22,070 --> 00:06:28,849 film but the media you're a band bling 127 00:06:25,820 --> 00:06:31,550 we believe it if you like a violin but 128 00:06:28,849 --> 00:06:34,430 the media jus as the dispute settled 129 00:06:31,550 --> 00:06:38,660 down into its longevity and intensity 130 00:06:34,430 --> 00:06:41,060 the media gradually gradually shifted to 131 00:06:38,660 --> 00:06:44,030 accepting the government's version of 132 00:06:41,060 --> 00:06:46,550 what was happening and the media played 133 00:06:44,030 --> 00:06:49,190 a quite shocking and disgraceful role 134 00:06:46,550 --> 00:06:52,250 especially in the return to work 135 00:06:49,190 --> 00:06:54,560 scenario where they just accepted the 136 00:06:52,250 --> 00:06:57,380 Coal Board figures about the number of 137 00:06:54,560 --> 00:07:00,620 men who'd return to work and entered 138 00:06:57,380 --> 00:07:03,349 into a description of it's a drip it's a 139 00:07:00,620 --> 00:07:07,039 trickle it's a torrent it's a rush and 140 00:07:03,349 --> 00:07:10,010 really really played you know on that 141 00:07:07,039 --> 00:07:12,650 sort of imagery and virtually did the 142 00:07:10,010 --> 00:07:15,350 government's job the leadership of the 143 00:07:12,650 --> 00:07:17,500 South Yorkshire police 144 00:07:15,350 --> 00:07:20,870 has since been comprehensively 145 00:07:17,500 --> 00:07:24,950 discredited not for this but for other 146 00:07:20,870 --> 00:07:28,160 crimes and misdemeanors how much of a 147 00:07:24,950 --> 00:07:31,190 role do you think they played in this or 148 00:07:28,160 --> 00:07:34,850 was this just the zeitgeist the time had 149 00:07:31,190 --> 00:07:37,460 come to attack a huge body of the 150 00:07:34,850 --> 00:07:40,310 British working class well the time had 151 00:07:37,460 --> 00:07:43,010 come to attack a major trade union it 152 00:07:40,310 --> 00:07:46,010 was already there in they Ridley plan 153 00:07:43,010 --> 00:07:48,710 that was out like Nicholas Ridley the 154 00:07:46,010 --> 00:07:51,740 thatcherite Trade Minister Industry 155 00:07:48,710 --> 00:07:55,940 Minister yeah back in the seventies he 156 00:07:51,740 --> 00:07:58,490 laid a list of things out there a tory 157 00:07:55,940 --> 00:08:01,340 government should try to achieve when 158 00:07:58,490 --> 00:08:04,640 they came to power and taking on a major 159 00:08:01,340 --> 00:08:07,460 trade union was one of them but what the 160 00:08:04,640 --> 00:08:10,670 country didn't allow for was that the 161 00:08:07,460 --> 00:08:13,250 police horses all over the country would 162 00:08:10,670 --> 00:08:15,980 come together almost as the national 163 00:08:13,250 --> 00:08:18,700 police force run out of the national 164 00:08:15,980 --> 00:08:21,170 reporting century New Scotland Yard and 165 00:08:18,700 --> 00:08:24,710 guided through that year of the strike 166 00:08:21,170 --> 00:08:27,140 by different chief constables and the 167 00:08:24,710 --> 00:08:31,370 police had got a reciprocal arrangement 168 00:08:27,140 --> 00:08:33,950 to exchange PSU you units police support 169 00:08:31,370 --> 00:08:37,640 units if one police was needed help 170 00:08:33,950 --> 00:08:41,660 eunuchs were brought in and exchanged 171 00:08:37,640 --> 00:08:44,180 and in general it doesn't appear that 172 00:08:41,660 --> 00:08:46,220 the south yorkshire police were there or 173 00:08:44,180 --> 00:08:48,830 grieve if you look at the police 174 00:08:46,220 --> 00:08:51,820 statements from the time it was police 175 00:08:48,830 --> 00:08:54,800 from Bedford sure and merseyside and 176 00:08:51,820 --> 00:08:57,140 Manchester that were largely arresting 177 00:08:54,800 --> 00:08:59,450 people that day the south yorkshire 178 00:08:57,140 --> 00:09:02,210 police seemed to be completely out of 179 00:08:59,450 --> 00:09:05,630 the picture and we feel that that was 180 00:09:02,210 --> 00:09:07,400 the decision taken with foresight that 181 00:09:05,630 --> 00:09:10,280 the south yorkshire police would have to 182 00:09:07,400 --> 00:09:13,100 police those communities in the future 183 00:09:10,280 --> 00:09:16,130 when the strike was over so they were 184 00:09:13,100 --> 00:09:19,640 deliberately held back or grieve and 185 00:09:16,130 --> 00:09:22,970 didn't appear to take part in it last 186 00:09:19,640 --> 00:09:24,980 year nearly 30 years on Ed Miliband the 187 00:09:22,970 --> 00:09:26,960 Labour leader calls for an official 188 00:09:24,980 --> 00:09:29,300 inquiry how has that received by your 189 00:09:26,960 --> 00:09:34,250 campaign and moreover the communities 190 00:09:29,300 --> 00:09:38,330 it's been received a fairly positive 191 00:09:34,250 --> 00:09:40,580 late but with hesitations I mean I 192 00:09:38,330 --> 00:09:43,700 shared a public platform at Hatfield 193 00:09:40,580 --> 00:09:47,600 mean no pic club in doncaster last me 194 00:09:43,700 --> 00:09:51,459 with EDD Miliband and at that private 195 00:09:47,600 --> 00:09:54,200 meeting he made a commitment to an 196 00:09:51,459 --> 00:09:57,490 investigation into the injustice of all 197 00:09:54,200 --> 00:10:01,070 grieve and he then reiterated that on 198 00:09:57,490 --> 00:10:04,160 local TV so it became a public 199 00:10:01,070 --> 00:10:06,860 commitment but an investigation can mean 200 00:10:04,160 --> 00:10:09,790 anything that you want it to mean we as 201 00:10:06,860 --> 00:10:12,230 the campaign want a full public inquiry 202 00:10:09,790 --> 00:10:15,529 looking at the policing of the whole 203 00:10:12,230 --> 00:10:18,950 strike and the political interference by 204 00:10:15,529 --> 00:10:22,130 the tory government of the day but that 205 00:10:18,950 --> 00:10:24,950 gives us a start if we get a Labour 206 00:10:22,130 --> 00:10:28,700 government in May to put pressure on 207 00:10:24,950 --> 00:10:32,209 that commitment to an investigation to 208 00:10:28,700 --> 00:10:35,390 become a reality and it means that we as 209 00:10:32,209 --> 00:10:37,490 campaign can play a part in that because 210 00:10:35,390 --> 00:10:39,470 who's going to lead an investigation 211 00:10:37,490 --> 00:10:42,850 what their de terms of reference going 212 00:10:39,470 --> 00:10:45,940 to be and we would want to pay a part in 213 00:10:42,850 --> 00:10:50,750 Europe you late in that yeah last year 214 00:10:45,940 --> 00:10:53,360 for the show we Vox popped people going 215 00:10:50,750 --> 00:10:56,270 in and out of the tu SI headquarters in 216 00:10:53,360 --> 00:10:58,459 London in great Russell Street that was 217 00:10:56,270 --> 00:11:01,279 until a security man was sent out to 218 00:10:58,459 --> 00:11:04,910 tell us to go away and an official of 219 00:11:01,279 --> 00:11:07,610 educ said and I quote the minor strike 220 00:11:04,910 --> 00:11:10,579 has nothing to do with us and of course 221 00:11:07,610 --> 00:11:13,940 that's the problem isn't it because the 222 00:11:10,579 --> 00:11:16,520 miners were defeated because a 223 00:11:13,940 --> 00:11:19,190 working-class movement that ought to 224 00:11:16,520 --> 00:11:22,070 have known that they would be next did 225 00:11:19,190 --> 00:11:24,230 not come to their side when it counted 226 00:11:22,070 --> 00:11:27,940 how do you feel about that now after all 227 00:11:24,230 --> 00:11:31,430 these years well we still feel and 228 00:11:27,940 --> 00:11:34,779 bitter that the tu SI and other major 229 00:11:31,430 --> 00:11:37,850 unions weren't able to deliver 230 00:11:34,779 --> 00:11:40,339 industrial muscle to help us during that 231 00:11:37,850 --> 00:11:42,350 strike and I'm quite shocked to hear 232 00:11:40,339 --> 00:11:42,980 what you've just said about the magma 233 00:11:42,350 --> 00:11:45,230 sure 234 00:11:42,980 --> 00:11:48,050 yes in anything to do with us because 235 00:11:45,230 --> 00:11:50,839 the there has always been some people 236 00:11:48,050 --> 00:11:53,899 who wanted to disown the strike during 237 00:11:50,839 --> 00:11:56,329 the strike and afterwards they feel 238 00:11:53,899 --> 00:11:59,449 embarrassed by what took place in the 239 00:11:56,329 --> 00:12:02,660 strike and the outcome of the strike and 240 00:11:59,449 --> 00:12:06,620 there's always been this thing in unions 241 00:12:02,660 --> 00:12:09,560 about do we go for collective action or 242 00:12:06,620 --> 00:12:12,620 do we keep quiet and just be a service 243 00:12:09,560 --> 00:12:15,440 union so a lot of those conflicts played 244 00:12:12,620 --> 00:12:18,230 themselves out well you must all hang 245 00:12:15,440 --> 00:12:20,510 together or you surely will hang 246 00:12:18,230 --> 00:12:22,760 separately together Yarbrough jackson of 247 00:12:20,510 --> 00:12:25,519 the or grief truth and justice campaign 248 00:12:22,760 --> 00:12:28,940 the very best of luck thank the next 249 00:12:25,519 --> 00:12:30,800 stage yeah the battle thank you coming 250 00:12:28,940 --> 00:12:32,420 up after the break another hero of the 251 00:12:30,800 --> 00:12:34,310 British Mineworkers but this time 252 00:12:32,420 --> 00:12:36,529 speaking about all things Russian 253 00:12:34,310 --> 00:12:39,760 associate editor of The Guardian Sheamus 254 00:12:36,529 --> 00:12:39,760 mill we'll be right back 255 00:12:41,810 --> 00:12:43,870 you 256 00:12:49,780 --> 00:12:55,550 welcome back to Sputnik bombers in the 257 00:12:52,850 --> 00:12:58,850 channel warships off the coast Britain's 258 00:12:55,550 --> 00:13:00,830 front line being redrawn in Latvia if 259 00:12:58,850 --> 00:13:02,960 you believe the British media and some 260 00:13:00,830 --> 00:13:05,420 government ministers it is only a matter 261 00:13:02,960 --> 00:13:07,670 of time before the Red Army complete 262 00:13:05,420 --> 00:13:10,820 with snow on their boots turn up on a 263 00:13:07,670 --> 00:13:13,310 high street near you how hot is the new 264 00:13:10,820 --> 00:13:15,740 cold war going to get that is the 265 00:13:13,310 --> 00:13:18,380 question helping us answer it is the 266 00:13:15,740 --> 00:13:21,440 Guardians associate editor Sheamus Milne 267 00:13:18,380 --> 00:13:24,350 Sheamus thanks for joining us NATO are 268 00:13:21,440 --> 00:13:27,860 not very happy with you for pointing out 269 00:13:24,350 --> 00:13:29,840 a contrary view to this dominant 270 00:13:27,860 --> 00:13:31,670 narrative which we now have in this 271 00:13:29,840 --> 00:13:34,280 country which seems to be reaching 272 00:13:31,670 --> 00:13:35,930 almost hysterical levels that the 273 00:13:34,280 --> 00:13:38,150 Russians are coming I think in the last 274 00:13:35,930 --> 00:13:40,070 few weeks and months it has reached a 275 00:13:38,150 --> 00:13:42,590 fever pitch I mean we've got the level 276 00:13:40,070 --> 00:13:44,510 of media coverage now of this crisis in 277 00:13:42,590 --> 00:13:46,880 the Ukraine and Russia's role in it and 278 00:13:44,510 --> 00:13:49,600 Russia's role in Europe and Putin in 279 00:13:46,880 --> 00:13:52,760 particular has become hysterical and 280 00:13:49,600 --> 00:13:55,040 completely unrelated to reality and I 281 00:13:52,760 --> 00:13:57,260 think it is quite dangerous I think you 282 00:13:55,040 --> 00:13:59,510 they're whipping up a kind of war fever 283 00:13:57,260 --> 00:14:01,400 and preparing people for a level of 284 00:13:59,510 --> 00:14:02,600 intervention that you know British 285 00:14:01,400 --> 00:14:04,310 people people in this part of the world 286 00:14:02,600 --> 00:14:05,840 in Western Europe are actually not 287 00:14:04,310 --> 00:14:08,360 committed to at all nor in the United 288 00:14:05,840 --> 00:14:11,180 States they're trying to lay the ground 289 00:14:08,360 --> 00:14:13,570 for a level of of action in relation to 290 00:14:11,180 --> 00:14:16,370 Russia and the Ukraine that I think is a 291 00:14:13,570 --> 00:14:17,990 unjustified and be not at all supported 292 00:14:16,370 --> 00:14:20,450 by public opinion but these things have 293 00:14:17,990 --> 00:14:23,420 the momentum of their own and you know 294 00:14:20,450 --> 00:14:26,450 the last few weeks we've seen decisions 295 00:14:23,420 --> 00:14:27,800 to send American and British troops and 296 00:14:26,450 --> 00:14:30,920 relatively small numbers we're talking 297 00:14:27,800 --> 00:14:32,570 hundreds but still troops to Ukraine 298 00:14:30,920 --> 00:14:36,020 which is the front line which is not a 299 00:14:32,570 --> 00:14:39,050 member of NATO to a own where there is 300 00:14:36,020 --> 00:14:42,230 conflict in which there's a civil war 301 00:14:39,050 --> 00:14:44,600 going on which Russia is supporting one 302 00:14:42,230 --> 00:14:46,730 side in that war and the United States 303 00:14:44,600 --> 00:14:47,840 Britain France and the other NATO powers 304 00:14:46,730 --> 00:14:49,880 are supporting the other side a 305 00:14:47,840 --> 00:14:51,200 government that came to power in an 306 00:14:49,880 --> 00:14:53,150 illegal overthrow of an elected 307 00:14:51,200 --> 00:14:54,710 government and this is a dangerous 308 00:14:53,150 --> 00:14:57,410 situation which can spin out of control 309 00:14:54,710 --> 00:14:59,089 so I think it's necessary for us in this 310 00:14:57,410 --> 00:15:01,009 part of the world to be 311 00:14:59,089 --> 00:15:03,529 actually much tougher with our own 312 00:15:01,009 --> 00:15:05,569 governments and our own military and our 313 00:15:03,529 --> 00:15:07,009 own media about the stories they're 314 00:15:05,569 --> 00:15:08,990 telling about this situation because 315 00:15:07,009 --> 00:15:11,839 it's something that can lead to disaster 316 00:15:08,990 --> 00:15:14,449 well 100 years ago it did we got into 317 00:15:11,839 --> 00:15:16,249 the First World War because if we didn't 318 00:15:14,449 --> 00:15:19,420 do this now we wouldn't be able to do it 319 00:15:16,249 --> 00:15:22,449 later and one it was like a train really 320 00:15:19,420 --> 00:15:25,699 the the war or card because of 321 00:15:22,449 --> 00:15:27,889 timetables railway timetables I spoke 322 00:15:25,699 --> 00:15:30,920 yesterday in Parliament to Colonel Bob 323 00:15:27,889 --> 00:15:34,370 Stewart former British military 324 00:15:30,920 --> 00:15:36,110 commander now a member of parliament and 325 00:15:34,370 --> 00:15:37,999 I pointed out to him the rather obvious 326 00:15:36,110 --> 00:15:40,939 point ought to be obvious to him more 327 00:15:37,999 --> 00:15:43,699 than anyone that this confrontation with 328 00:15:40,939 --> 00:15:46,309 Russia is well a trifle dangerous 329 00:15:43,699 --> 00:15:49,759 because if it gets hot that the shooting 330 00:15:46,309 --> 00:15:52,459 starts this is not Yugoslavia you're 331 00:15:49,759 --> 00:15:56,089 talking about neither is it Iraq Russia 332 00:15:52,459 --> 00:15:58,639 is a nuclear-armed superpower in which 333 00:15:56,089 --> 00:16:01,100 the vast majority of the people in the 334 00:15:58,639 --> 00:16:03,860 state are behind the government in the 335 00:16:01,100 --> 00:16:06,709 stand that they are taking is it really 336 00:16:03,860 --> 00:16:09,139 dangerous can it turn hot I don't think 337 00:16:06,709 --> 00:16:11,929 it's the intention of either the Western 338 00:16:09,139 --> 00:16:13,519 powers nor the Russian government for 339 00:16:11,929 --> 00:16:16,040 that to happen I don't think the West 340 00:16:13,519 --> 00:16:19,009 intends to fight in Ukraine although 341 00:16:16,040 --> 00:16:20,569 it's clearly drawn the line in the NATO 342 00:16:19,009 --> 00:16:21,860 states that it's set up in the former 343 00:16:20,569 --> 00:16:24,139 Soviet Union particularly the Baltic 344 00:16:21,860 --> 00:16:25,970 States but as with as we're talking 345 00:16:24,139 --> 00:16:27,499 about the you know these things have 346 00:16:25,970 --> 00:16:29,870 their own logic and they can lead to 347 00:16:27,499 --> 00:16:32,300 their own forms of escalation if for 348 00:16:29,870 --> 00:16:34,939 example as there is incredibly strong 349 00:16:32,300 --> 00:16:37,220 pressure in the u.s. from both main 350 00:16:34,939 --> 00:16:39,649 parties Republicans and Democrats to arm 351 00:16:37,220 --> 00:16:42,230 the Ukrainian government which has been 352 00:16:39,649 --> 00:16:45,019 resisted up to this point by France and 353 00:16:42,230 --> 00:16:47,420 Germany in particular if that takes 354 00:16:45,019 --> 00:16:49,879 place and they send heavy weapons to the 355 00:16:47,420 --> 00:16:52,790 Ukrainian forces by the way which 356 00:16:49,879 --> 00:16:54,829 include fascist militias fighting on the 357 00:16:52,790 --> 00:16:56,949 front line in eastern Ukraine with names 358 00:16:54,829 --> 00:16:59,600 like the Azov battalion where they have 359 00:16:56,949 --> 00:17:02,029 swastika like symbols on their arms and 360 00:16:59,600 --> 00:17:03,860 belief in racial superiority and white 361 00:17:02,029 --> 00:17:05,600 supremacy these are some of the forces 362 00:17:03,860 --> 00:17:06,980 that we're talking about arming and 363 00:17:05,600 --> 00:17:09,199 supporting that the West is supporting 364 00:17:06,980 --> 00:17:11,179 the moment if that happens and the 365 00:17:09,199 --> 00:17:12,419 Russians then increase the level of 366 00:17:11,179 --> 00:17:14,549 supplies 367 00:17:12,419 --> 00:17:17,009 with heavier weapons to the rebel camp 368 00:17:14,549 --> 00:17:18,720 in eastern Ukraine you know the 369 00:17:17,009 --> 00:17:20,819 potential for that conflict spinning out 370 00:17:18,720 --> 00:17:22,799 of control is very serious and in fact 371 00:17:20,819 --> 00:17:24,809 you know we've had British generals you 372 00:17:22,799 --> 00:17:26,309 know like the former British 373 00:17:24,809 --> 00:17:28,259 representative at NATO who's been 374 00:17:26,309 --> 00:17:29,789 speaking out in last week saying just 375 00:17:28,259 --> 00:17:32,820 this that the potential for what he 376 00:17:29,789 --> 00:17:34,799 called total war is there and his 377 00:17:32,820 --> 00:17:36,119 argument is you know that the British 378 00:17:34,799 --> 00:17:37,919 government NATO has take this more 379 00:17:36,119 --> 00:17:39,480 seriously that military spending must be 380 00:17:37,919 --> 00:17:43,109 increased a lot of people are using this 381 00:17:39,480 --> 00:17:45,570 conflict as a way to try and protect the 382 00:17:43,109 --> 00:17:50,580 Army and the armed forces from cuts and 383 00:17:45,570 --> 00:17:52,320 to you know spend more on weapons but 384 00:17:50,580 --> 00:17:53,940 you know even if people like that 385 00:17:52,320 --> 00:17:55,919 themselves are saying it I think we 386 00:17:53,940 --> 00:17:57,720 should take it seriously and wind down 387 00:17:55,919 --> 00:17:59,340 the config and raise the pressure in 388 00:17:57,720 --> 00:18:01,950 this country and other parts of the 389 00:17:59,340 --> 00:18:04,049 world to wind down this conflict to 390 00:18:01,950 --> 00:18:05,749 de-escalate the conflict we've gotta at 391 00:18:04,049 --> 00:18:07,950 the moment we've there's a ceasefire in 392 00:18:05,749 --> 00:18:09,179 eastern Ukraine which is more or less 393 00:18:07,950 --> 00:18:10,590 holding and then some of the heavy 394 00:18:09,179 --> 00:18:13,049 weapons have been pulled back from the 395 00:18:10,590 --> 00:18:15,200 front line as a result of this so-called 396 00:18:13,049 --> 00:18:19,200 Minsk agreement that was signed last 397 00:18:15,200 --> 00:18:21,509 month but the sending of troops by 398 00:18:19,200 --> 00:18:23,639 Britain and America to Ukraine to Kiev 399 00:18:21,509 --> 00:18:25,289 actually explicitly breaks that 400 00:18:23,639 --> 00:18:27,359 agreement that was signed the ceasefire 401 00:18:25,289 --> 00:18:29,399 agreement with article 10 in that 402 00:18:27,359 --> 00:18:31,590 ceasefire agreement the Minsk agreement 403 00:18:29,399 --> 00:18:33,809 stipulates withdrawal of all foreign 404 00:18:31,590 --> 00:18:35,399 forces from Ukraine and that is being 405 00:18:33,809 --> 00:18:37,950 breached by our own government by the 406 00:18:35,399 --> 00:18:40,529 United States government directly but 407 00:18:37,950 --> 00:18:42,149 you know that agreement is likely to 408 00:18:40,529 --> 00:18:44,009 break down again because it doesn't deal 409 00:18:42,149 --> 00:18:45,779 with the underlying lying causes and 410 00:18:44,009 --> 00:18:47,580 we're likely to see a new escalation in 411 00:18:45,779 --> 00:18:49,320 the months to come so we need to be 412 00:18:47,580 --> 00:18:51,419 promoting I think quite seriously and 413 00:18:49,320 --> 00:18:53,159 pressing for an alternative and an end 414 00:18:51,419 --> 00:18:55,559 to this ludicrous anti Russian 415 00:18:53,159 --> 00:18:56,999 propaganda which is blinding two people 416 00:18:55,559 --> 00:18:59,220 to the reality of what's going on and 417 00:18:56,999 --> 00:19:01,080 making a genuine debate and dialogue 418 00:18:59,220 --> 00:19:03,119 about what's taking place impossible 419 00:19:01,080 --> 00:19:04,739 because anything that contradicts the 420 00:19:03,119 --> 00:19:07,019 NATO line and the Western line which 421 00:19:04,739 --> 00:19:09,109 overwhelmingly dominates the Western 422 00:19:07,019 --> 00:19:12,299 media is immediately dismissed as 423 00:19:09,109 --> 00:19:14,489 Kremlin propaganda whatever the truth of 424 00:19:12,299 --> 00:19:16,769 it James Joyce's mentioned that the 425 00:19:14,489 --> 00:19:19,019 people of Russia support the leader in 426 00:19:16,769 --> 00:19:21,629 the current state of affairs it's at the 427 00:19:19,019 --> 00:19:25,710 case though how is the sphere in Russia 428 00:19:21,629 --> 00:19:26,460 post the murder of the opposition leader 429 00:19:25,710 --> 00:19:28,440 support 430 00:19:26,460 --> 00:19:33,540 it can mean different things I mean 431 00:19:28,440 --> 00:19:34,830 Putin is a authoritarian conservative in 432 00:19:33,540 --> 00:19:36,000 many ways and lots of people in Russia 433 00:19:34,830 --> 00:19:37,920 as well ofcourse in the rest of the 434 00:19:36,000 --> 00:19:41,480 world that don't buy into that at all 435 00:19:37,920 --> 00:19:45,120 but in terms of his defending Russia's 436 00:19:41,480 --> 00:19:47,400 security and standing up against 437 00:19:45,120 --> 00:19:49,290 American domination and NATO 438 00:19:47,400 --> 00:19:51,630 expansionism throughout Europe and 439 00:19:49,290 --> 00:19:53,520 beyond of course he has the overwhelming 440 00:19:51,630 --> 00:19:55,140 support of the Russian people and of 441 00:19:53,520 --> 00:19:56,850 course the sympathy of people throughout 442 00:19:55,140 --> 00:20:00,240 the world who want to see a more 443 00:19:56,850 --> 00:20:02,670 balanced global order yeah now actually 444 00:20:00,240 --> 00:20:05,250 in terms of what the stance that he's 445 00:20:02,670 --> 00:20:07,050 taken in relation to the Ukraine you 446 00:20:05,250 --> 00:20:09,000 know Putin is in many ways a sort of 447 00:20:07,050 --> 00:20:10,440 centrist figure balancing the factions 448 00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:12,360 on different sides and the pressures on 449 00:20:10,440 --> 00:20:13,650 different sides the majority of people 450 00:20:12,360 --> 00:20:14,760 in Russia I think not just from opinion 451 00:20:13,650 --> 00:20:17,010 polls but from all sorts of other 452 00:20:14,760 --> 00:20:19,860 evidence in many cases would would like 453 00:20:17,010 --> 00:20:20,970 a tougher position faint stronger 454 00:20:19,860 --> 00:20:23,460 support and of course the rebels 455 00:20:20,970 --> 00:20:25,020 themselves in eastern Ukraine many of 456 00:20:23,460 --> 00:20:27,450 them believe that Russia is not offering 457 00:20:25,020 --> 00:20:29,970 nearly enough support but I think that 458 00:20:27,450 --> 00:20:32,370 just reflects the fact that Russia has 459 00:20:29,970 --> 00:20:35,040 been pushed back and back and back in 460 00:20:32,370 --> 00:20:36,690 the past 25 years 20 years since they 461 00:20:35,040 --> 00:20:38,310 all end of the Cold War that commitments 462 00:20:36,690 --> 00:20:40,440 that were made and they were made of 463 00:20:38,310 --> 00:20:42,360 their records in the American archives 464 00:20:40,440 --> 00:20:44,490 show that that NATO would not be 465 00:20:42,360 --> 00:20:46,470 expanded to the east were broken and 466 00:20:44,490 --> 00:20:48,000 later was pushed right up against the 467 00:20:46,470 --> 00:20:50,940 Russian border into the former Soviet 468 00:20:48,000 --> 00:20:53,190 Union and in the end you know Putin has 469 00:20:50,940 --> 00:20:56,280 drawn a line on that and he drew it 470 00:20:53,190 --> 00:20:58,200 first in Georgia in 2008 and again in 471 00:20:56,280 --> 00:21:00,270 this conflict in Ukraine where the West 472 00:20:58,200 --> 00:21:02,310 intervened to support the overthrow the 473 00:21:00,270 --> 00:21:04,800 anti-constitutional overthrow of the 474 00:21:02,310 --> 00:21:06,600 elected government a year ago which 475 00:21:04,800 --> 00:21:08,730 created this crisis and triggered the 476 00:21:06,600 --> 00:21:11,070 rebellion in the in the east of the 477 00:21:08,730 --> 00:21:13,260 country and that's something which 478 00:21:11,070 --> 00:21:15,450 clearly has the support of the majority 479 00:21:13,260 --> 00:21:17,970 people in Russia and of course many 480 00:21:15,450 --> 00:21:21,560 people in the Ukraine this joker from 481 00:21:17,970 --> 00:21:24,080 NATO I debated him in the hay on wye 482 00:21:21,560 --> 00:21:26,610 festival the how the light gets in 483 00:21:24,080 --> 00:21:29,910 festival and he had only days before 484 00:21:26,610 --> 00:21:33,540 beam Britain's representative on the 485 00:21:29,910 --> 00:21:36,540 NATO military command and he explicitly 486 00:21:33,540 --> 00:21:38,970 said that British people have to get 487 00:21:36,540 --> 00:21:39,670 used to the fact that their sons may 488 00:21:38,970 --> 00:21:42,990 have to 489 00:21:39,670 --> 00:21:45,880 died in Latvia because that is now our 490 00:21:42,990 --> 00:21:47,740 frontline the audience was quite 491 00:21:45,880 --> 00:21:51,370 startled most of whom couldn't have 492 00:21:47,740 --> 00:21:54,730 placed Latvia anywhere on the map and 493 00:21:51,370 --> 00:21:58,240 yet in a way Britain is sleepwalking 494 00:21:54,730 --> 00:22:00,430 into this position shouldn't we should 495 00:21:58,240 --> 00:22:04,030 we start at no war with Russia campaign 496 00:22:00,430 --> 00:22:06,490 or stop the war coalition really take on 497 00:22:04,030 --> 00:22:10,360 this subject otherwise we might end up 498 00:22:06,490 --> 00:22:11,350 in the water the mother of all wars yeah 499 00:22:10,360 --> 00:22:14,470 I mean it's a very dangerous situation 500 00:22:11,350 --> 00:22:17,800 the Baltic states were incorporated into 501 00:22:14,470 --> 00:22:19,450 NATO and now it's said by defenders of 502 00:22:17,800 --> 00:22:22,180 NATO and NATO itself that they had every 503 00:22:19,450 --> 00:22:23,860 right to join whichever Alliance they 504 00:22:22,180 --> 00:22:26,800 wish to which of course that the 505 00:22:23,860 --> 00:22:28,330 technical level is true but that that 506 00:22:26,800 --> 00:22:30,010 alliance doesn't have to accept them as 507 00:22:28,330 --> 00:22:32,020 members and it has impact on other 508 00:22:30,010 --> 00:22:33,550 states in the in the region of woods of 509 00:22:32,020 --> 00:22:36,520 what of the Republic of Ireland had 510 00:22:33,550 --> 00:22:38,290 joined the Warsaw Pact exist I think 511 00:22:36,520 --> 00:22:41,410 you're right and so what's really needed 512 00:22:38,290 --> 00:22:43,000 in Europe is an overarching security 513 00:22:41,410 --> 00:22:45,550 system that includes everybody including 514 00:22:43,000 --> 00:22:48,040 Russia that doesn't exclude actually the 515 00:22:45,550 --> 00:22:50,620 biggest country in Europe Creek creates 516 00:22:48,040 --> 00:22:52,500 a genuine security system for everybody 517 00:22:50,620 --> 00:22:54,430 and winds down these conflict 518 00:22:52,500 --> 00:22:56,110 confrontations rather than winding them 519 00:22:54,430 --> 00:22:57,610 up we don't want to be in a 520 00:22:56,110 --> 00:22:59,110 confrontation with Russia over the 521 00:22:57,610 --> 00:23:01,750 Baltic States and there's no need for 522 00:22:59,110 --> 00:23:04,450 that whatever it is NATO's existence 523 00:23:01,750 --> 00:23:07,810 which is creating these conflict and its 524 00:23:04,450 --> 00:23:09,130 and its expansion to the east so I think 525 00:23:07,810 --> 00:23:10,750 we need to ring the bell on this and 526 00:23:09,130 --> 00:23:12,670 sound the alarm because it is running 527 00:23:10,750 --> 00:23:14,710 out of control and it can go somewhere 528 00:23:12,670 --> 00:23:16,570 which nobody wants on either side of 529 00:23:14,710 --> 00:23:18,550 this confrontation very briefly then 530 00:23:16,570 --> 00:23:20,620 watch all about Russia is not a 531 00:23:18,550 --> 00:23:25,930 communist country Putin is not a 532 00:23:20,620 --> 00:23:30,460 communist Russia is a capitalist economy 533 00:23:25,930 --> 00:23:32,350 like all others in in Europe what's the 534 00:23:30,460 --> 00:23:34,990 real reason behind this belligerence 535 00:23:32,350 --> 00:23:37,980 towards Russia towards Putin well I 536 00:23:34,990 --> 00:23:40,360 think it does go does come down to this 537 00:23:37,980 --> 00:23:43,390 drive by the United States and its 538 00:23:40,360 --> 00:23:47,010 allies to use the collapse or so Union 539 00:23:43,390 --> 00:23:49,990 to take control of the continent to 540 00:23:47,010 --> 00:23:52,330 ensure that American power is embedded 541 00:23:49,990 --> 00:23:52,990 into the European system indefinitely 542 00:23:52,330 --> 00:23:54,760 and that was some 543 00:23:52,990 --> 00:23:56,530 thing that was specifically laid out by 544 00:23:54,760 --> 00:23:58,150 the United States government in the 545 00:23:56,530 --> 00:24:00,280 aftermath of the collapse of Soviet we 546 00:23:58,150 --> 00:24:02,290 got the documents showing that and it's 547 00:24:00,280 --> 00:24:04,330 also in the case of Ukraine it's been a 548 00:24:02,290 --> 00:24:07,360 prize as the Americans have said for 549 00:24:04,330 --> 00:24:10,570 decades to effectively get control of 550 00:24:07,360 --> 00:24:11,860 Ukraine because Ukraine is economically 551 00:24:10,570 --> 00:24:13,240 all there to basket case at the moment 552 00:24:11,860 --> 00:24:16,480 it has huge economic potential and 553 00:24:13,240 --> 00:24:19,990 always has had and allied with Russia or 554 00:24:16,480 --> 00:24:21,670 you know part of a wider block including 555 00:24:19,990 --> 00:24:23,290 Russia gives Russia more strength than 556 00:24:21,670 --> 00:24:26,230 the United States and its allies want to 557 00:24:23,290 --> 00:24:29,500 see it have in the end this is about the 558 00:24:26,230 --> 00:24:31,480 attempt to maintain a unipolar world or 559 00:24:29,500 --> 00:24:33,220 an American and Western dominated order 560 00:24:31,480 --> 00:24:35,010 which has broken down in the last few 561 00:24:33,220 --> 00:24:37,090 years and that's what's created I think 562 00:24:35,010 --> 00:24:38,770 some of this conflict but from the point 563 00:24:37,090 --> 00:24:40,330 of view of most people in the world they 564 00:24:38,770 --> 00:24:42,790 want to see a multipolar order they 565 00:24:40,330 --> 00:24:44,980 don't want to see a global system 566 00:24:42,790 --> 00:24:47,590 dominated by one power and its allies 567 00:24:44,980 --> 00:24:49,179 which overwhelmingly dominates the world 568 00:24:47,590 --> 00:24:51,580 militarily and that's something we're 569 00:24:49,179 --> 00:24:56,830 seeing played out in these conflicts so 570 00:24:51,580 --> 00:24:58,210 much man thank God for you I know it's 571 00:24:56,830 --> 00:25:00,280 your turn to tell us what you think 572 00:24:58,210 --> 00:25:02,950 through the portals of social media 573 00:25:00,280 --> 00:25:05,830 what's rattling gayatri I asked what's 574 00:25:02,950 --> 00:25:09,160 next for Russia's opposition love truth 575 00:25:05,830 --> 00:25:11,559 says the US will try to force many coups 576 00:25:09,160 --> 00:25:15,010 by paying communist and far-right 577 00:25:11,559 --> 00:25:19,120 nationalist well dont la might happen on 578 00:25:15,010 --> 00:25:21,610 the miners and lots of response on that 579 00:25:19,120 --> 00:25:25,780 shows you that it really still is all we 580 00:25:21,610 --> 00:25:27,640 still vivid again David Taylor says why 581 00:25:25,780 --> 00:25:29,830 did they lose because not enough of the 582 00:25:27,640 --> 00:25:32,050 working class supported them and divided 583 00:25:29,830 --> 00:25:34,270 before well that sums up couldn't put it 584 00:25:32,050 --> 00:25:36,070 better than that well that's all of you 585 00:25:34,270 --> 00:25:38,320 cut out for this week which alas means 586 00:25:36,070 --> 00:25:40,840 that's the end of the show stay in touch 587 00:25:38,320 --> 00:25:42,520 with us on twitter RT underscores put 588 00:25:40,840 --> 00:25:44,559 Nick in on facebook you can like us and 589 00:25:42,520 --> 00:25:46,450 Sputnik on Russia today goodbye from me 590 00:25:44,559 --> 00:25:49,500 Gayathri I'm from me George Galloway 591 00:25:46,450 --> 00:25:49,500 it's been marvelous