1 00:00:01,960 --> 00:00:06,290 [Music] 2 00:00:12,320 --> 00:00:17,440 okay three I 3 00:00:35,719 --> 00:00:40,840 welcome to Sputnik orbiting the world 4 00:00:37,960 --> 00:00:42,960 with me George Galloway and me gatri if 5 00:00:40,840 --> 00:00:45,640 our forthcoming film the killings of 6 00:00:42,960 --> 00:00:48,480 Tony Blair is as good as The Sensational 7 00:00:45,640 --> 00:00:51,320 new book Blair Inc The Man Behind the 8 00:00:48,480 --> 00:00:53,559 Mask I'll be happy the book tours the 9 00:00:51,320 --> 00:00:55,680 horizont of Britain's most controversial 10 00:00:53,559 --> 00:00:58,199 prime minister who took over the labor 11 00:00:55,680 --> 00:01:00,039 party which he then renamed new labor 12 00:00:58,199 --> 00:01:02,039 before launching invasions in 13 00:01:00,039 --> 00:01:04,720 occupations and the main topic of the 14 00:01:02,039 --> 00:01:07,560 book The Everest of money still piling 15 00:01:04,720 --> 00:01:09,920 up as we speak some say that there's no 16 00:01:07,560 --> 00:01:12,759 regime with dungeons so dark or Gallow 17 00:01:09,920 --> 00:01:15,159 so Grim that Tony Blair and his cery of 18 00:01:12,759 --> 00:01:17,479 family and friends won't work for them 19 00:01:15,159 --> 00:01:20,439 as long as the Price Is Right Francis 20 00:01:17,479 --> 00:01:22,560 Becket is a labor man but he co-authored 21 00:01:20,439 --> 00:01:25,640 Blair Inc and is one of the country's 22 00:01:22,560 --> 00:01:28,040 leading Blair lists he joins us now 23 00:01:25,640 --> 00:01:30,079 Francis uh I don't know I've lost count 24 00:01:28,040 --> 00:01:32,759 of how many of your books I've got on my 25 00:01:30,079 --> 00:01:36,079 shelves you are indeed prolific is this 26 00:01:32,759 --> 00:01:39,240 is 17th 18th 18th your 18th book and 27 00:01:36,079 --> 00:01:42,000 surely your finest it is a brilliant 28 00:01:39,240 --> 00:01:45,000 lavish uh production thank you uh and I 29 00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:47,320 congratulate you on it but my first 30 00:01:45,000 --> 00:01:50,439 question is about the timing you're a 31 00:01:47,320 --> 00:01:52,119 labor man so am I essentially uh we both 32 00:01:50,439 --> 00:01:54,159 want labor to win the forthcoming 33 00:01:52,119 --> 00:01:57,079 general election why bring out a boot 34 00:01:54,159 --> 00:02:00,000 now that is potentially surely damaging 35 00:01:57,079 --> 00:02:02,880 to labor well if we both want want labor 36 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:04,479 to win the next general election then I 37 00:02:02,880 --> 00:02:06,159 think that places us in a different 38 00:02:04,479 --> 00:02:09,599 category from Tony Blair I don't think 39 00:02:06,159 --> 00:02:12,440 Tony Blair wants that at all the whole 40 00:02:09,599 --> 00:02:14,920 every statement every everything that he 41 00:02:12,440 --> 00:02:17,480 has done in the past six months or so 42 00:02:14,920 --> 00:02:20,040 seems designed in a subtle and Insidious 43 00:02:17,480 --> 00:02:22,879 way to undermine the Ed miliband 44 00:02:20,040 --> 00:02:24,440 leadership now I personally we we may 45 00:02:22,879 --> 00:02:26,040 differ on this I personally I'm a great 46 00:02:24,440 --> 00:02:29,519 admirer of Ed miliband I think he's a 47 00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:32,120 climat figure what Blair seems to What 48 00:02:29,519 --> 00:02:34,560 could seems to concern Blair is that 49 00:02:32,120 --> 00:02:37,519 anybody else other than him or another 50 00:02:34,560 --> 00:02:40,560 convinced blairite another Blair acolyte 51 00:02:37,519 --> 00:02:43,159 can possibly lead a labor to Victory so 52 00:02:40,560 --> 00:02:45,080 he makes all sorts of statements that 53 00:02:43,159 --> 00:02:47,959 quite intentionally are designed to 54 00:02:45,080 --> 00:02:51,280 undermine Ed miliband to say that the 55 00:02:47,959 --> 00:02:54,200 public have a a problem with Ed miliband 56 00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:55,959 and he uses his tame campaign group 57 00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:59,800 within the labor party which is called 58 00:02:55,959 --> 00:03:03,040 progress to try to fill the next par 59 00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:05,720 parament with as many tame blairite MPS 60 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:07,640 as he can manage if Ed miliband wins the 61 00:03:05,720 --> 00:03:10,680 next general election it will be overt 62 00:03:07,640 --> 00:03:13,519 turny Blair's dead body uh which Segways 63 00:03:10,680 --> 00:03:15,080 neatly into the money because one of the 64 00:03:13,519 --> 00:03:17,760 most controversial things one of the 65 00:03:15,080 --> 00:03:20,120 most undermining things in my view that 66 00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:23,519 Blair has done in the last few months is 67 00:03:20,120 --> 00:03:26,159 to hand the labor party £ 68 00:03:23,519 --> 00:03:28,879 105,000 which many would think uh was 69 00:03:26,159 --> 00:03:32,879 blood money in one way or another and 70 00:03:28,879 --> 00:03:35,120 he's given it to a hapless 105 Labor 71 00:03:32,879 --> 00:03:37,360 candidates who must now in their 72 00:03:35,120 --> 00:03:39,680 campaigns defend the fact that they're 73 00:03:37,360 --> 00:03:41,920 using Tony Blair's money to fight their 74 00:03:39,680 --> 00:03:43,760 campaign election I'm not sure I 75 00:03:41,920 --> 00:03:45,480 necessarily agree with you about that I 76 00:03:43,760 --> 00:03:47,200 think that the I think that the amount 77 00:03:45,480 --> 00:03:47,920 of money that each one of them has had 78 00:03:47,200 --> 00:03:50,920 about 79 00:03:47,920 --> 00:03:53,480 ,000 uh certainly may not necessarily 80 00:03:50,920 --> 00:03:57,040 have liked the way Tony Blair earns it 81 00:03:53,480 --> 00:03:59,879 from uh all sorts of dictators all over 82 00:03:57,040 --> 00:04:01,720 all over the world but um there are 83 00:03:59,879 --> 00:04:03,760 sorts of far less Pleasant sources of 84 00:04:01,720 --> 00:04:06,720 money as you know but not everyone 85 00:04:03,760 --> 00:04:09,920 watching this will know the quotation I 86 00:04:06,720 --> 00:04:13,519 used of uh of gallows grim and dungeons 87 00:04:09,920 --> 00:04:17,199 dark come straight from the labor Anthem 88 00:04:13,519 --> 00:04:20,359 uh the red flag uh it is true isn't it 89 00:04:17,199 --> 00:04:24,919 that there appear to be no limits to the 90 00:04:20,359 --> 00:04:27,400 venality of any tyranny that Tony Blair 91 00:04:24,919 --> 00:04:30,160 and family and friends will work for I'm 92 00:04:27,400 --> 00:04:32,759 afraid that is true yes there is no the 93 00:04:30,160 --> 00:04:35,400 the uh the the dictator of Kazakhstan 94 00:04:32,759 --> 00:04:38,240 naab bayf uh is an extraordinarily good 95 00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:40,560 example the uh he he was reelected 96 00:04:38,240 --> 00:04:43,680 unopposed last time with I think it was 97 00:04:40,560 --> 00:04:47,199 92.5% of the vote but it is amazing to 98 00:04:43,680 --> 00:04:49,919 see a labor prime minister and his 99 00:04:47,199 --> 00:04:52,880 right-and man the spin doctor Alistair 100 00:04:49,919 --> 00:04:55,639 Campbell their empire stretches far and 101 00:04:52,880 --> 00:05:00,240 wide they're working for the kuwaitis 102 00:04:55,639 --> 00:05:03,199 they're working for uh the UAE for for a 103 00:05:00,240 --> 00:05:06,840 Saudi oil company and so on all the 104 00:05:03,199 --> 00:05:09,759 while Mr Blair continued to hold down 105 00:05:06,840 --> 00:05:12,199 for seven long years almost eight the 106 00:05:09,759 --> 00:05:14,160 position of Middle East peace Envoy 107 00:05:12,199 --> 00:05:17,000 nobody see a conflict of interest in all 108 00:05:14,160 --> 00:05:18,639 that well of course if it had been a 109 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:20,680 proper government appointment it would 110 00:05:18,639 --> 00:05:22,560 have been illegal for him to do all of 111 00:05:20,680 --> 00:05:25,039 those things if he'd been a member of 112 00:05:22,560 --> 00:05:28,000 parliament for example then the the 113 00:05:25,039 --> 00:05:29,479 rules the Nolan rules quite properly 114 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:31,360 would have prevented him would have said 115 00:05:29,479 --> 00:05:33,680 no this is a conflict of interest you 116 00:05:31,360 --> 00:05:36,400 can't do it he was only able to do it 117 00:05:33,680 --> 00:05:38,120 because of the kind of informality with 118 00:05:36,400 --> 00:05:40,520 which he was appointed as Middle East 119 00:05:38,120 --> 00:05:43,720 peace Envoy um 120 00:05:40,520 --> 00:05:46,400 and one of the very first things he did 121 00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:49,960 as Middle East peace Envoy was to go and 122 00:05:46,400 --> 00:05:53,360 visit the Amir of Kuwait uh now he's got 123 00:05:49,960 --> 00:05:55,560 a very well staffed office the as 124 00:05:53,360 --> 00:05:57,120 middleast peace Envoy the envoy office 125 00:05:55,560 --> 00:05:59,759 he didn't take one single member of 126 00:05:57,120 --> 00:06:01,680 staff from that office instead he took 127 00:05:59,759 --> 00:06:03,840 Jonathan Powell who was a senior 128 00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:05,000 consultant with Tony Blair Associates 129 00:06:03,840 --> 00:06:06,400 whether anything came out and who was 130 00:06:05,000 --> 00:06:07,479 with him in Downing Street before was 131 00:06:06,400 --> 00:06:09,120 with him in Downing Street before that 132 00:06:07,479 --> 00:06:10,880 now whether anything came out of that by 133 00:06:09,120 --> 00:06:12,880 way of Middle East peace we really have 134 00:06:10,880 --> 00:06:14,919 no idea we have no way of finding out 135 00:06:12,880 --> 00:06:17,120 what we do know is that there was a 27 136 00:06:14,919 --> 00:06:21,800 million pound consultancy contract with 137 00:06:17,120 --> 00:06:24,319 the Emir of kuwa and the perception 138 00:06:21,800 --> 00:06:27,840 persists that that job as Middle East 139 00:06:24,319 --> 00:06:30,280 Envoy to Tony Blair seemed to be being 140 00:06:27,840 --> 00:06:32,680 used as a calling card all over the 141 00:06:30,280 --> 00:06:34,560 Middle East now the fact is his his 142 00:06:32,680 --> 00:06:36,479 predecessor in the job James Wolfson had 143 00:06:34,560 --> 00:06:39,400 worked the former president of the World 144 00:06:36,479 --> 00:06:41,639 Bank had worked very very hard on Middle 145 00:06:39,400 --> 00:06:43,479 East peace work enormously hard so hard 146 00:06:41,639 --> 00:06:45,680 he made himself he made himself ill he 147 00:06:43,479 --> 00:06:47,880 earned the respect of the Palestinians I 148 00:06:45,680 --> 00:06:49,840 was told by Dr Hannah nashra the 149 00:06:47,880 --> 00:06:52,000 Palestinian negotiator that she had an 150 00:06:49,840 --> 00:06:55,440 enormous admiration for what James 151 00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:57,639 wolson had had tried to do that Tony 152 00:06:55,440 --> 00:07:00,599 Blair announced that he would spend one 153 00:06:57,639 --> 00:07:03,199 week a month in the region on on the job 154 00:07:00,599 --> 00:07:04,840 and actually the best information I can 155 00:07:03,199 --> 00:07:07,960 get is that was about two and a half 156 00:07:04,840 --> 00:07:11,840 days a month on that 157 00:07:07,960 --> 00:07:14,240 job I don't think anybody would ever 158 00:07:11,840 --> 00:07:16,479 have blamed Tony Blair for failing to 159 00:07:14,240 --> 00:07:18,520 bring about peace in the Middle East an 160 00:07:16,479 --> 00:07:21,639 awful lot of people have tried and it's 161 00:07:18,520 --> 00:07:23,160 uh a pretty intractable sort of problem 162 00:07:21,639 --> 00:07:25,400 but I think what they're going to blame 163 00:07:23,160 --> 00:07:27,560 him for and should blame him for is that 164 00:07:25,400 --> 00:07:30,080 he doesn't appear even to have tried 165 00:07:27,560 --> 00:07:32,120 he's sat on the job which somebody else 166 00:07:30,080 --> 00:07:33,919 might have been doing and and and might 167 00:07:32,120 --> 00:07:36,120 have wanted to put their heart and soul 168 00:07:33,919 --> 00:07:40,120 into it and this seems to me to be it's 169 00:07:36,120 --> 00:07:42,479 not only unforgivable but extraordinary 170 00:07:40,120 --> 00:07:44,360 because the chance to make a 171 00:07:42,479 --> 00:07:47,840 contribution towards peace in the Middle 172 00:07:44,360 --> 00:07:49,440 East seems to me to to to fulfill the 173 00:07:47,840 --> 00:07:52,919 ambition of the most ambitious 174 00:07:49,440 --> 00:07:56,479 politician I can't imagine any any 175 00:07:52,919 --> 00:08:00,120 politician given that chance not saying 176 00:07:56,479 --> 00:08:03,639 oh yes oh my I'll give it my 177 00:08:00,120 --> 00:08:06,680 it's been seven years seven lean years 178 00:08:03,639 --> 00:08:09,400 to get all biblical uh seven lean years 179 00:08:06,680 --> 00:08:12,440 for the Palestinians seven fat years 180 00:08:09,400 --> 00:08:17,080 though for uh for the Blair and uh for 181 00:08:12,440 --> 00:08:19,960 Blair Inc will self in our film uh uses 182 00:08:17,080 --> 00:08:23,479 the phrase uh that he was 183 00:08:19,960 --> 00:08:27,960 astounded by the avarice uh of Tony 184 00:08:23,479 --> 00:08:30,440 Blair were you yes I I had I had some I 185 00:08:27,960 --> 00:08:32,800 wasn't perhaps IM immediately astounded 186 00:08:30,440 --> 00:08:37,200 because I had some idea before I started 187 00:08:32,800 --> 00:08:39,560 work but I am astounded at at how how 188 00:08:37,200 --> 00:08:43,760 desperately he seems to how much he's 189 00:08:39,560 --> 00:08:47,240 prepared to abase himself for money um I 190 00:08:43,760 --> 00:08:50,200 listened with horror to an 191 00:08:47,240 --> 00:08:51,959 extraordinary video that he contributed 192 00:08:50,200 --> 00:08:54,160 to that was telling the world what a 193 00:08:51,959 --> 00:08:56,040 fine chap nazab F was I'm going to cut 194 00:08:54,160 --> 00:08:59,480 you short just because there's only time 195 00:08:56,040 --> 00:09:02,320 for me to ask you this it's of no great 196 00:08:59,480 --> 00:09:04,800 Import in the big picture but what have 197 00:09:02,320 --> 00:09:08,279 you got in the book on Wendy Deng and 198 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:10,240 the extraordinary uh friendship between 199 00:09:08,279 --> 00:09:12,800 our former prime minister and the former 200 00:09:10,240 --> 00:09:15,839 wife of Rupert Murdoch who helped to put 201 00:09:12,800 --> 00:09:19,079 him there well the lawyers got most of 202 00:09:15,839 --> 00:09:21,600 it I'm afraid um but don't take any 203 00:09:19,079 --> 00:09:24,320 risks on our team I I no I I'll be very 204 00:09:21,600 --> 00:09:26,880 careful here um what what we can tell 205 00:09:24,320 --> 00:09:29,600 you is I cannot tell you whether Tony 206 00:09:26,880 --> 00:09:32,000 Blair and Wendy Bing Wendy ding were at 207 00:09:29,600 --> 00:09:34,360 it uh what I can tell you is that Rupert 208 00:09:32,000 --> 00:09:37,120 Murdoch is certain that they were and 209 00:09:34,360 --> 00:09:39,079 this is doing Blair enormous damage in 210 00:09:37,120 --> 00:09:41,800 the one place that matters to him now 211 00:09:39,079 --> 00:09:43,240 which is the United States of America uh 212 00:09:41,800 --> 00:09:44,720 what and and and there's a wrenching 213 00:09:43,240 --> 00:09:47,200 iron in all this because you all 214 00:09:44,720 --> 00:09:49,000 remember back in 1994 when he came in 215 00:09:47,200 --> 00:09:50,680 and said no no the labor party is quite 216 00:09:49,000 --> 00:09:52,360 wrong to think that Rupert Murdock's an 217 00:09:50,680 --> 00:09:54,320 enemy we've got to make a friend of him 218 00:09:52,360 --> 00:09:57,360 we've got to embrace him he went all 219 00:09:54,320 --> 00:10:00,519 over the world to to pay court Godfather 220 00:09:57,360 --> 00:10:02,399 to one of their children and yet now 221 00:10:00,519 --> 00:10:05,000 quite suddenly all that has fallen apart 222 00:10:02,399 --> 00:10:07,200 and now he's saying I can't get a a 223 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:09,880 decent showing in the press the murdocks 224 00:10:07,200 --> 00:10:11,720 the the Press Barons are against me and 225 00:10:09,880 --> 00:10:14,720 I I feel there's a wrenching R in all 226 00:10:11,720 --> 00:10:17,279 that if if the Press Bar if I suppose if 227 00:10:14,720 --> 00:10:18,519 it's Tony Blair versus rert Murdoch 228 00:10:17,279 --> 00:10:20,640 you've got to say what a shame 229 00:10:18,519 --> 00:10:24,399 somebody's got to 230 00:10:20,640 --> 00:10:27,320 win as HRI Kissinger almost said it's a 231 00:10:24,399 --> 00:10:29,320 fantastic book Blair Inc The Man Behind 232 00:10:27,320 --> 00:10:31,600 the Mask Francis Becket the cour 233 00:10:29,320 --> 00:10:34,360 coauthor thanks for joining us the 234 00:10:31,600 --> 00:10:36,279 Sputnik coming up after the break in the 235 00:10:34,360 --> 00:10:39,000 middle of the Malcolm X Festival he's 236 00:10:36,279 --> 00:10:42,440 organizing sukant chandan on what 237 00:10:39,000 --> 00:10:46,399 Malcolm X means or should mean to us on 238 00:10:42,440 --> 00:10:46,399 the 50th anniversary of his 239 00:10:47,950 --> 00:10:52,720 [Music] 240 00:10:49,399 --> 00:10:55,160 murder welcome back to Sputnik 50 years 241 00:10:52,720 --> 00:10:57,000 ago in the Yorn Ballroom in New York the 242 00:10:55,160 --> 00:10:58,800 greatest black leader in America was 243 00:10:57,000 --> 00:11:01,320 gunned down in the most mysterious 244 00:10:58,800 --> 00:11:04,120 circumstance ances his murder came less 245 00:11:01,320 --> 00:11:06,480 than 2 years after the assassination of 246 00:11:04,120 --> 00:11:09,360 President John F Kennedy and 3 years 247 00:11:06,480 --> 00:11:10,959 before that of Dr Martin Luther King 248 00:11:09,360 --> 00:11:13,000 which in turn was followed two months 249 00:11:10,959 --> 00:11:15,480 later by the equally mysterious 250 00:11:13,000 --> 00:11:18,839 assassination of presidential hopeful 251 00:11:15,480 --> 00:11:20,920 Robert F Kennedy four dead leaders in 252 00:11:18,839 --> 00:11:23,480 five years must have been a turbulent 253 00:11:20,920 --> 00:11:25,720 time our next guest has organized a 254 00:11:23,480 --> 00:11:28,639 wonderful program to Mark the 50th 255 00:11:25,720 --> 00:11:31,000 Anniversary he's so Chandon and he joins 256 00:11:28,639 --> 00:11:33,440 us now can thanks for coming on board 257 00:11:31,000 --> 00:11:36,320 the Sputnik tell us about the festival 258 00:11:33,440 --> 00:11:38,320 and how people can get involved in it 259 00:11:36,320 --> 00:11:40,720 well the first annual Malcolm X Film 260 00:11:38,320 --> 00:11:43,160 Festival is initiative of the Malcolm X 261 00:11:40,720 --> 00:11:44,959 movement which is launching this August 262 00:11:43,160 --> 00:11:47,839 and what we're intending to do on this 263 00:11:44,959 --> 00:11:49,600 very important uh anniversary and we we 264 00:11:47,839 --> 00:11:52,760 planned this three years in advance 265 00:11:49,600 --> 00:11:54,079 because we knew in 2012 that 2015 was 266 00:11:52,760 --> 00:11:56,639 going to be a big anniversary in our 267 00:11:54,079 --> 00:11:58,839 political lives the 50th martydom 268 00:11:56,639 --> 00:12:01,320 anniversary of Malcolm X who's a 269 00:11:58,839 --> 00:12:02,600 towering and primary figure in the 270 00:12:01,320 --> 00:12:05,160 struggle against colonialism and 271 00:12:02,600 --> 00:12:07,000 neocolonialism and white supremacy Etc 272 00:12:05,160 --> 00:12:08,560 so we wanted to put together a series of 273 00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:11,600 events and that's what we are delivering 274 00:12:08,560 --> 00:12:14,399 now uh it's seven Film Festival events 275 00:12:11,600 --> 00:12:16,680 in six cities across this island also 276 00:12:14,399 --> 00:12:19,240 one and the first of which which was in 277 00:12:16,680 --> 00:12:21,680 West Belfast and that was not out of 278 00:12:19,240 --> 00:12:24,320 coincidence that was out of design to 279 00:12:21,680 --> 00:12:26,839 salute the Irish Freedom struggle in 280 00:12:24,320 --> 00:12:28,720 their contribution in fighting one of 281 00:12:26,839 --> 00:12:30,920 the greatest bloodiest genocidal 282 00:12:28,720 --> 00:12:32,560 entities known to humanity which is the 283 00:12:30,920 --> 00:12:34,800 British state which is an International 284 00:12:32,560 --> 00:12:36,720 System of colonialism and 285 00:12:34,800 --> 00:12:39,240 neocolonialism it was a very successful 286 00:12:36,720 --> 00:12:41,279 event in West Belfast at which Bernadet 287 00:12:39,240 --> 00:12:43,839 meski the Irish revolutionary at the 288 00:12:41,279 --> 00:12:47,399 Battle of the bogside spoke at and Jerry 289 00:12:43,839 --> 00:12:49,480 mcklin a former Irish Republican Army 290 00:12:47,399 --> 00:12:51,519 prisoner of war and shenan member spoke 291 00:12:49,480 --> 00:12:53,160 at as well and they as I said in my 292 00:12:51,519 --> 00:12:55,959 report from that event translated 293 00:12:53,160 --> 00:12:57,760 Malcolm X for our Irish audience so we 294 00:12:55,959 --> 00:13:00,680 we continue now we've had it in West 295 00:12:57,760 --> 00:13:02,760 Belfast Oxford and Birmingham and we 296 00:13:00,680 --> 00:13:05,160 continue this weekend in Brighton and 297 00:13:02,760 --> 00:13:07,360 then on to Bristol and two events in 298 00:13:05,160 --> 00:13:09,519 London and people can find out about 299 00:13:07,360 --> 00:13:12,560 this if they search on Facebook the 300 00:13:09,519 --> 00:13:13,959 first annual Malcolm X Film Festival who 301 00:13:12,560 --> 00:13:17,519 killed Malcolm 302 00:13:13,959 --> 00:13:19,920 X the well when I understand situations 303 00:13:17,519 --> 00:13:23,560 like this I I think there's two things 304 00:13:19,920 --> 00:13:25,639 that you have to consider one which 305 00:13:23,560 --> 00:13:28,639 which groups are the most powerful 306 00:13:25,639 --> 00:13:30,240 involved in this and who does it benefit 307 00:13:28,639 --> 00:13:32,120 the most these are the two questions I 308 00:13:30,240 --> 00:13:34,000 think that are fundamental to unlocking 309 00:13:32,120 --> 00:13:37,760 the key to these 310 00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:40,040 Mysteries and it was I think it was 311 00:13:37,760 --> 00:13:43,199 because Malcolm X much like Dr King 312 00:13:40,040 --> 00:13:45,720 actually but much more profoundly and 313 00:13:43,199 --> 00:13:47,920 concretely Malcolm X was the bridge 314 00:13:45,720 --> 00:13:49,560 between the Black Liberation struggle in 315 00:13:47,920 --> 00:13:51,759 the United States and as Malcolm's 316 00:13:49,560 --> 00:13:54,120 daughter said elasa shabar at the Oxford 317 00:13:51,759 --> 00:13:55,959 Film Festival malx came from a very 318 00:13:54,120 --> 00:13:57,920 political family whose family was 319 00:13:55,959 --> 00:13:59,720 involved in the garite uh Black 320 00:13:57,920 --> 00:14:01,399 Liberation movement 321 00:13:59,720 --> 00:14:03,199 and so the Black Liberation movement is 322 00:14:01,399 --> 00:14:05,120 connected to the global South but what 323 00:14:03,199 --> 00:14:07,720 Malcolm did which was very alarming for 324 00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:10,639 the powers that be in the United States 325 00:14:07,720 --> 00:14:12,399 he was directly linking that struggle 326 00:14:10,639 --> 00:14:15,120 and actually saying no we actually under 327 00:14:12,399 --> 00:14:16,880 the leadership of the actual existing 328 00:14:15,120 --> 00:14:20,000 struggle and he was inspired by the 329 00:14:16,880 --> 00:14:22,399 bandong non- Align movement strategy and 330 00:14:20,000 --> 00:14:24,040 Mar his 60th anniversary this year yes 331 00:14:22,399 --> 00:14:25,600 the Indonesian government is is is 332 00:14:24,040 --> 00:14:27,959 marking that anniversary I'm happy to 333 00:14:25,600 --> 00:14:29,720 hear as well so Malcolm was saying no 334 00:14:27,959 --> 00:14:31,720 actually it's the African Liberation 335 00:14:29,720 --> 00:14:33,079 movements who are showing us how we can 336 00:14:31,720 --> 00:14:34,680 win our freedom through their 337 00:14:33,079 --> 00:14:36,720 ideological Frameworks and their 338 00:14:34,680 --> 00:14:38,320 practical Frameworks he was asked do you 339 00:14:36,720 --> 00:14:40,120 think organization like the Mau should 340 00:14:38,320 --> 00:14:42,199 be formed the United States and he said 341 00:14:40,120 --> 00:14:43,839 yes I do actually so that was very 342 00:14:42,199 --> 00:14:45,279 alarming because it was the same time 343 00:14:43,839 --> 00:14:47,839 the alarms 344 00:14:45,279 --> 00:14:51,320 me may do as well but it was the same 345 00:14:47,839 --> 00:14:51,320 time that Malcolm said that 346 00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:03,440 dollarisation ization of African states 347 00:15:00,440 --> 00:15:06,120 which he did at the time advocating 348 00:15:03,440 --> 00:15:08,279 Justice and support for the global South 349 00:15:06,120 --> 00:15:10,680 African Liberation movement for uh the 350 00:15:08,279 --> 00:15:14,839 the justice for black people but the 351 00:15:10,680 --> 00:15:18,199 proximate uh cause are practitioners of 352 00:15:14,839 --> 00:15:21,000 his murder were uh people who were 353 00:15:18,199 --> 00:15:24,279 ostensibly moved by schismatic reasons 354 00:15:21,000 --> 00:15:27,440 within the Nation of Islam uh do people 355 00:15:24,279 --> 00:15:31,839 still believe that story or were these 356 00:15:27,440 --> 00:15:34,600 merely um PSIs for the power in the 357 00:15:31,839 --> 00:15:37,759 United States well exactly I think even 358 00:15:34,600 --> 00:15:40,720 the shabal family will say very clearly 359 00:15:37,759 --> 00:15:43,720 that the the the people who had the main 360 00:15:40,720 --> 00:15:46,959 dominant hand in the assassination of 361 00:15:43,720 --> 00:15:50,480 Malcolm X was the FBI CIA and the police 362 00:15:46,959 --> 00:15:52,440 department Etc um so but yes there were 363 00:15:50,480 --> 00:15:55,160 PES involved and yes there was a 364 00:15:52,440 --> 00:15:56,759 internal Division and and a schismatic 365 00:15:55,160 --> 00:15:58,959 division as you put it which 366 00:15:56,759 --> 00:16:00,920 unfortunately turned quite sour 367 00:15:58,959 --> 00:16:02,519 extremely sour and so yeah different 368 00:16:00,920 --> 00:16:05,360 parties are involved but at the end of 369 00:16:02,519 --> 00:16:07,680 the day I think even farak Khan has had 370 00:16:05,360 --> 00:16:10,600 a reproach M with the Shabah family when 371 00:16:07,680 --> 00:16:14,079 the FBI was trying to operate a sting on 372 00:16:10,600 --> 00:16:16,959 uh kah shabaz herself in in in falsely 373 00:16:14,079 --> 00:16:18,920 uh constructing a plot involving her in 374 00:16:16,959 --> 00:16:20,279 assassinating Louie farakhan the leader 375 00:16:18,920 --> 00:16:23,079 of the Nation of Islam so there's 376 00:16:20,279 --> 00:16:26,480 complex factors that work how great 377 00:16:23,079 --> 00:16:28,560 could Malcolm X have uh become because 378 00:16:26,480 --> 00:16:32,199 his development was quite spectacular 379 00:16:28,560 --> 00:16:35,360 over quite a short period of time uh his 380 00:16:32,199 --> 00:16:39,199 ideological political development but he 381 00:16:35,360 --> 00:16:42,000 had the the Charisma the leadership 382 00:16:39,199 --> 00:16:45,199 qualities uh he really could have been a 383 00:16:42,000 --> 00:16:48,639 contender uh in this most turbulent of 384 00:16:45,199 --> 00:16:52,199 times the Vietnam uh struggle which he 385 00:16:48,639 --> 00:16:54,720 was very clear about uh unlike uh others 386 00:16:52,199 --> 00:16:56,839 in the Democratic party who were indeed 387 00:16:54,720 --> 00:16:59,959 the they were doing the bombing I mean 388 00:16:56,839 --> 00:17:02,079 could he have been an Obama could he if 389 00:16:59,959 --> 00:17:05,720 that's not an insult could he have 390 00:17:02,079 --> 00:17:07,400 actually burst into elected politics for 391 00:17:05,720 --> 00:17:09,240 example well it's interesting you 392 00:17:07,400 --> 00:17:10,679 mention Obama because in the Malcolm X 393 00:17:09,240 --> 00:17:12,280 Movement Magazine we produced some 394 00:17:10,679 --> 00:17:14,799 articles critiquing Manning Manning 395 00:17:12,280 --> 00:17:16,919 Marble's book on Malcolm X off late 396 00:17:14,799 --> 00:17:19,280 which he basically says that Malcolm was 397 00:17:16,919 --> 00:17:21,079 orienting himself to a kind of Obama 398 00:17:19,280 --> 00:17:23,319 likee politics but I don't think that 399 00:17:21,079 --> 00:17:25,280 really stands true because malol if 400 00:17:23,319 --> 00:17:27,439 anything he was entrenching himself more 401 00:17:25,280 --> 00:17:29,880 profoundly and deeper with actually The 402 00:17:27,439 --> 00:17:31,640 Liberation movements across the Planet 403 00:17:29,880 --> 00:17:34,640 which Obama has nothing to do actually 404 00:17:31,640 --> 00:17:36,919 Obama has been facilitating what's a 405 00:17:34,640 --> 00:17:39,400 veritable recolonization of Africa which 406 00:17:36,919 --> 00:17:42,559 was most uh traumatically expressed 407 00:17:39,400 --> 00:17:44,679 through the bombing of Libya in 2011 so 408 00:17:42,559 --> 00:17:47,760 I think Malcolm X and his martyrdom in a 409 00:17:44,679 --> 00:17:50,760 way really just universalized them even 410 00:17:47,760 --> 00:17:52,840 more more greater but I think Malcolm X 411 00:17:50,760 --> 00:17:56,440 and and very much so Ben Bella in 412 00:17:52,840 --> 00:17:58,000 Algeria uh in Kuma in in in Ghana were 413 00:17:56,440 --> 00:17:59,960 saying to Malcolm we know your life is 414 00:17:58,000 --> 00:18:02,000 under threat please come work with us 415 00:17:59,960 --> 00:18:04,679 for African Liberation and So-Cal third 416 00:18:02,000 --> 00:18:07,120 world Liberation Malcolm was committed 417 00:18:04,679 --> 00:18:08,440 to his project within the United States 418 00:18:07,120 --> 00:18:09,760 but although he spent most of the time 419 00:18:08,440 --> 00:18:11,720 in the Middle East and Africa in the 420 00:18:09,760 --> 00:18:13,559 last two years of his life so he was 421 00:18:11,720 --> 00:18:15,720 very much committed to that and facing 422 00:18:13,559 --> 00:18:18,120 whatever he needed to face and if that 423 00:18:15,720 --> 00:18:20,400 meant death he faced it and Standing 424 00:18:18,120 --> 00:18:22,640 Tall and proud and I think that's what's 425 00:18:20,400 --> 00:18:24,880 so inspiration inspirational and that's 426 00:18:22,640 --> 00:18:26,360 why we're holding this film festival 427 00:18:24,880 --> 00:18:28,400 with an incredible amount of speakers 428 00:18:26,360 --> 00:18:30,200 and supporting organizations including 429 00:18:28,400 --> 00:18:33,320 the PF LP including the Black Panther 430 00:18:30,200 --> 00:18:35,600 alumni including the Libyan resistance 431 00:18:33,320 --> 00:18:37,960 um and and and and and others that we're 432 00:18:35,600 --> 00:18:40,360 trying to develop a conversation and 433 00:18:37,960 --> 00:18:43,880 network building amongst the Grassroots 434 00:18:40,360 --> 00:18:45,960 in linking the Contin in relinking I 435 00:18:43,880 --> 00:18:48,200 should say ourselves the current 436 00:18:45,960 --> 00:18:49,880 generation to those who have come before 437 00:18:48,200 --> 00:18:51,400 in the black and Asian radical tradition 438 00:18:49,880 --> 00:18:54,039 let's talk about the current generation 439 00:18:51,400 --> 00:18:56,320 because something's clearly gone wrong 440 00:18:54,039 --> 00:18:59,200 uh in my introduction I I made the point 441 00:18:56,320 --> 00:19:02,520 that uh the United States with in 5 442 00:18:59,200 --> 00:19:05,400 years lost not one but two outstanding 443 00:19:02,520 --> 00:19:08,080 black political figures who were as you 444 00:19:05,400 --> 00:19:11,080 indicated in any case converging in 445 00:19:08,080 --> 00:19:14,520 their political line but the United 446 00:19:11,080 --> 00:19:19,400 States has no such black leaders today 447 00:19:14,520 --> 00:19:24,159 the the black Congress caucus 448 00:19:19,400 --> 00:19:26,400 is supporting Israel is uh endorsing uh 449 00:19:24,159 --> 00:19:30,080 the bombing of country after country and 450 00:19:26,400 --> 00:19:31,960 so on Obama's been such a g gigantic uh 451 00:19:30,080 --> 00:19:34,600 disappointment and I don't want I don't 452 00:19:31,960 --> 00:19:39,480 want to start on Britain I mean in the 453 00:19:34,600 --> 00:19:43,679 60s and the 70s from amongst the black 454 00:19:39,480 --> 00:19:46,600 uh population real radical action 455 00:19:43,679 --> 00:19:48,480 activity and Leadership was present 456 00:19:46,600 --> 00:19:51,240 what's happened today well the daughters 457 00:19:48,480 --> 00:19:53,120 and sons of Malcolm in the 60s and 458 00:19:51,240 --> 00:19:55,120 particularly the Black Panther Party who 459 00:19:53,120 --> 00:19:57,720 are supporting the film festival uh 460 00:19:55,120 --> 00:20:00,159 raised in a qualitative and quantitative 461 00:19:57,720 --> 00:20:02,080 level the anti-racist struggle in the 462 00:20:00,159 --> 00:20:03,880 United States and inspired the rest of 463 00:20:02,080 --> 00:20:05,520 the planet in so doing but you're 464 00:20:03,880 --> 00:20:07,520 absolutely right we are still living 465 00:20:05,520 --> 00:20:09,600 through a period of defeat actually 466 00:20:07,520 --> 00:20:13,039 which in Britain probably started in the 467 00:20:09,600 --> 00:20:15,280 early 80s um so yes I mean you're 468 00:20:13,039 --> 00:20:17,400 absolutely absolutely right but I think 469 00:20:15,280 --> 00:20:19,400 again the Obama phenomenon is quite 470 00:20:17,400 --> 00:20:23,120 important in this regard because the 471 00:20:19,400 --> 00:20:25,000 neocolonial system in trying to elongate 472 00:20:23,120 --> 00:20:27,039 its attempts at hegemony across the 473 00:20:25,000 --> 00:20:30,480 planet it's trying to blackface it's 474 00:20:27,039 --> 00:20:32,720 adopting black and as faces to its 475 00:20:30,480 --> 00:20:35,360 system to try and make its system more 476 00:20:32,720 --> 00:20:37,080 amable and acceptable to the people of 477 00:20:35,360 --> 00:20:38,760 the global South so that's a great 478 00:20:37,080 --> 00:20:40,760 challenge that we have and as elasa 479 00:20:38,760 --> 00:20:43,919 shabbar said in her uh opinion piece in 480 00:20:40,760 --> 00:20:46,559 the Washington Post recently that often 481 00:20:43,919 --> 00:20:49,720 we somehow the whole um hands up don't 482 00:20:46,559 --> 00:20:52,320 shoot slogan is a defeatist one it's one 483 00:20:49,720 --> 00:20:54,720 that Revels in oppression whereas we're 484 00:20:52,320 --> 00:20:56,280 in the politics of Liberation so again 485 00:20:54,720 --> 00:20:57,799 it's to reconnect to that black radical 486 00:20:56,280 --> 00:20:59,760 tradition within the west and to 487 00:20:57,799 --> 00:21:01,600 reconnect to the existing Global South 488 00:20:59,760 --> 00:21:04,400 struggle today uh how do you connect 489 00:21:01,600 --> 00:21:06,360 that with the Ferguson uh developments 490 00:21:04,400 --> 00:21:08,000 which Obama has I mean the the black 491 00:21:06,360 --> 00:21:10,200 people are being gunned down almost 492 00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:11,440 daily in the United States and the black 493 00:21:10,200 --> 00:21:14,760 president of the United States is 494 00:21:11,440 --> 00:21:17,240 backing the police exactly quite but but 495 00:21:14,760 --> 00:21:19,240 but also I mean that that's true but 496 00:21:17,240 --> 00:21:21,799 when we say black lives matter black 497 00:21:19,240 --> 00:21:23,720 lives should matter on a global scale 498 00:21:21,799 --> 00:21:26,000 not just in the United States and not 499 00:21:23,720 --> 00:21:29,400 just in Britain but I think often one of 500 00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:31,440 the problematics of uh the the Ferguson 501 00:21:29,400 --> 00:21:34,440 protest and it's been great relatively 502 00:21:31,440 --> 00:21:36,000 and historically it has seen upsurge of 503 00:21:34,440 --> 00:21:37,640 Youth taking to the streets against 504 00:21:36,000 --> 00:21:39,760 police brutality and against the system 505 00:21:37,640 --> 00:21:42,200 in general but one thing I don't think 506 00:21:39,760 --> 00:21:45,279 we've broken out of is that neocolonial 507 00:21:42,200 --> 00:21:47,640 shell which Malcolm totally shattered 508 00:21:45,279 --> 00:21:49,919 completely shattered and he said our 509 00:21:47,640 --> 00:21:52,240 Liberation is predicated on the 510 00:21:49,919 --> 00:21:54,520 liberation of the third world of Africa 511 00:21:52,240 --> 00:21:56,279 and Asia and that's what we're trying to 512 00:21:54,520 --> 00:21:59,720 reconstitute again and that's why we're 513 00:21:56,279 --> 00:22:01,840 having Dr mus ibraim Lea khed ASA shabaz 514 00:21:59,720 --> 00:22:03,679 Jerry MC cockling Bernadet meski and all 515 00:22:01,840 --> 00:22:06,720 these other revolutionaries and zanu PF 516 00:22:03,679 --> 00:22:09,000 as well in Zimbabwe engaging directly to 517 00:22:06,720 --> 00:22:12,440 young people at the film festival to 518 00:22:09,000 --> 00:22:14,320 rebuild that Unity that we lost well the 519 00:22:12,440 --> 00:22:16,260 best of luck with it thanks sukant 520 00:22:14,320 --> 00:22:18,360 chandan for 521 00:22:16,260 --> 00:22:20,480 [Music] 522 00:22:18,360 --> 00:22:22,640 that and that's all that you've got time 523 00:22:20,480 --> 00:22:24,159 for this week in fact for a few weeks 524 00:22:22,640 --> 00:22:25,960 because we're off for the general 525 00:22:24,159 --> 00:22:28,760 election when are we back that's right 526 00:22:25,960 --> 00:22:30,240 we'll be back Saturday 16 may but you 527 00:22:28,760 --> 00:22:32,960 can still stay in touch with us on 528 00:22:30,240 --> 00:22:35,240 Twitter rtor Sputnik and on Facebook you 529 00:22:32,960 --> 00:22:37,279 can like us on Sputnik on Russia today 530 00:22:35,240 --> 00:22:41,919 it's goodbye from me gri and from me 531 00:22:37,279 --> 00:22:41,919 George Galloway it's been marvelous