1 00:00:00,380 --> 00:00:07,870 [Music] 2 00:00:10,759 --> 00:00:16,040 Okay, thank you. I need 3 00:00:34,079 --> 00:00:39,280 Welcome to Sputnik orbiting the world 4 00:00:36,239 --> 00:00:41,280 with me George Galloway and me Gayatri. 5 00:00:39,280 --> 00:00:44,000 It isn't every day we have the privilege 6 00:00:41,280 --> 00:00:46,239 of a president on the show. This is no 7 00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:48,719 ordinary president, but the president of 8 00:00:46,239 --> 00:00:51,200 a land whose people have been ethnically 9 00:00:48,719 --> 00:00:53,680 cleansed from their homeland to make way 10 00:00:51,200 --> 00:00:55,600 for a US war base and on which the 11 00:00:53,680 --> 00:00:58,239 torture of kidnapped people from around 12 00:00:55,600 --> 00:01:01,199 the world appears to have taken place 13 00:00:58,239 --> 00:01:04,320 and a base given to the US military by 14 00:01:01,199 --> 00:01:06,400 us, the British. It is of course Diego 15 00:01:04,320 --> 00:01:08,240 Garcia, part of the Teos Islands, 16 00:01:06,400 --> 00:01:10,720 highlighted on the show when we 17 00:01:08,240 --> 00:01:12,720 interviewed British TV host and human 18 00:01:10,720 --> 00:01:15,040 rights campaigner Ben Fergle in a 19 00:01:12,720 --> 00:01:17,840 landmark interview. Today we can go one 20 00:01:15,040 --> 00:01:20,240 better and welcome onto the Sputnik the 21 00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:22,720 man chosen by the Chugosians to 22 00:01:20,240 --> 00:01:24,759 represent them on the world stage their 23 00:01:22,720 --> 00:01:27,360 president Alan 24 00:01:24,759 --> 00:01:31,040 Vincatasen. President, thank you for 25 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:35,439 joining us. I'm struck by the British 26 00:01:31,040 --> 00:01:37,840 Union flag on your lapel. Uh you live of 27 00:01:35,439 --> 00:01:40,840 course in Sussex like thousands of 28 00:01:37,840 --> 00:01:43,119 others of your exiled 29 00:01:40,840 --> 00:01:44,880 compatriots. Don't you feel a little bit 30 00:01:43,119 --> 00:01:46,880 bitter about the British? Why are you 31 00:01:44,880 --> 00:01:49,439 flying their flag? 32 00:01:46,880 --> 00:01:52,479 Well, uh, Garcia, my homeland is 33 00:01:49,439 --> 00:01:56,240 still a British overseas territory and, 34 00:01:52,479 --> 00:02:00,320 uh, I wanted to remain such for more 35 00:01:56,240 --> 00:02:01,560 years. Uh, because, uh, we were exiled 36 00:02:00,320 --> 00:02:03,320 between 37 00:02:01,560 --> 00:02:06,640 1965 38 00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:08,200 1973. Uh, we wanted to remain a a 39 00:02:06,640 --> 00:02:11,000 British overseas 40 00:02:08,200 --> 00:02:13,599 territory because the UK has got 41 00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:16,640 responsibility to resettle us on our 42 00:02:13,599 --> 00:02:19,760 homeland. Indeed, they do. So this crime 43 00:02:16,640 --> 00:02:22,720 took place mainly under a Labor 44 00:02:19,760 --> 00:02:25,040 government in the 1960s. How do you 45 00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:29,040 think today's Conservative prime 46 00:02:25,040 --> 00:02:31,360 minister views your flight? Uh we 47 00:02:29,040 --> 00:02:33,680 submitted a memorandum to the prime 48 00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:37,519 minister before the general election 49 00:02:33,680 --> 00:02:41,519 asking him to uh give us our right to 50 00:02:37,519 --> 00:02:43,760 return in a pilot resettlement. Erh the 51 00:02:41,519 --> 00:02:47,200 problems that we have had is that there 52 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:49,920 was no uh clear indication about the 53 00:02:47,200 --> 00:02:53,200 demand on the number of chagosians 54 00:02:49,920 --> 00:02:56,319 wanted to return. Certainly uh the cost 55 00:02:53,200 --> 00:02:59,519 is a bit uncertain. Uh the government 56 00:02:56,319 --> 00:03:02,400 has replied that they will need uh to do 57 00:02:59,519 --> 00:03:04,720 more works so that a final decision can 58 00:03:02,400 --> 00:03:08,000 be made. Now you've produced this uh 59 00:03:04,720 --> 00:03:11,280 book the flight to freedom. Tell us 60 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:15,360 what's in it. The book uh the flight to 61 00:03:11,280 --> 00:03:18,080 freedom is about the story when I came 62 00:03:15,360 --> 00:03:21,080 for the first time with the first group 63 00:03:18,080 --> 00:03:25,040 in the UK uh for a better life, a new 64 00:03:21,080 --> 00:03:26,040 life running away from poverty uh which 65 00:03:25,040 --> 00:03:30,159 we 66 00:03:26,040 --> 00:03:32,640 were made to suffer in Mauritius uh by 67 00:03:30,159 --> 00:03:35,840 the UK uh government. So the book 68 00:03:32,640 --> 00:03:38,319 relates how I orchestrated the coming 69 00:03:35,840 --> 00:03:41,519 the migration of our people in the 70 00:03:38,319 --> 00:03:43,519 United Kingdom. You had uh the right to 71 00:03:41,519 --> 00:03:46,720 do so of course at the time not a right 72 00:03:43,519 --> 00:03:49,120 that many people would uh would have 73 00:03:46,720 --> 00:03:51,519 today. What's happened to your people 74 00:03:49,120 --> 00:03:54,480 since they were turfed out to make way 75 00:03:51,519 --> 00:03:58,239 for this American war base? 76 00:03:54,480 --> 00:04:01,360 We were forced in a abject poverty in 77 00:03:58,239 --> 00:04:05,040 Maitius. We we were considered as 78 00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:08,480 secondclass citizen there. The state of 79 00:04:05,040 --> 00:04:10,400 Mauritius is having an issue with 80 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:12,720 regards to sovereignty over our 81 00:04:10,400 --> 00:04:16,799 homeland. They want sovereignty from the 82 00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:19,280 UK. Uh and that's why I'm here to fight 83 00:04:16,799 --> 00:04:21,759 for the cause of my people because I 84 00:04:19,280 --> 00:04:24,800 believe uh this is our country. It 85 00:04:21,759 --> 00:04:28,479 should remain uh a a UK overseas 86 00:04:24,800 --> 00:04:32,320 territory and we as UK overseas uh 87 00:04:28,479 --> 00:04:35,280 territory uh citizens we need to be able 88 00:04:32,320 --> 00:04:38,639 uh to return uh as such a citizen in our 89 00:04:35,280 --> 00:04:40,400 homeland and why can't you return? Are 90 00:04:38,639 --> 00:04:43,040 you physically barred? Does your 91 00:04:40,400 --> 00:04:46,560 passport preclude you? How do they 92 00:04:43,040 --> 00:04:50,000 actually bar you? We are British 93 00:04:46,560 --> 00:04:52,160 citizens with a British passport. But uh 94 00:04:50,000 --> 00:04:55,360 because of the military base, the US 95 00:04:52,160 --> 00:04:57,600 military base uh uh in our homeland, it 96 00:04:55,360 --> 00:05:00,560 makes it impossible for us to return. 97 00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:03,840 There are uh several orders in council 98 00:05:00,560 --> 00:05:06,240 that have been uh done in this country 99 00:05:03,840 --> 00:05:08,280 uh to prevent us from returning and 100 00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:12,800 there is still another 101 00:05:08,280 --> 00:05:16,800 one. But uh we continue to campaign uh 102 00:05:12,800 --> 00:05:18,720 on our rights of return. So uh recently 103 00:05:16,800 --> 00:05:21,600 uh the conservative government uh 104 00:05:18,720 --> 00:05:25,680 appointed the firm KPMG to do a 105 00:05:21,600 --> 00:05:27,919 feasibility uh study on return. The 106 00:05:25,680 --> 00:05:30,880 feasibility study shows clearly that 107 00:05:27,919 --> 00:05:32,720 there is no legal barrier to our return 108 00:05:30,880 --> 00:05:34,960 except that the government must invest 109 00:05:32,720 --> 00:05:38,320 the money that is needed for a pilot 110 00:05:34,960 --> 00:05:40,800 resettlement. And uh I think that's a 111 00:05:38,320 --> 00:05:44,320 way forward. That's a moral way forward 112 00:05:40,800 --> 00:05:47,440 for the UK otherwise we we cannot stay 113 00:05:44,320 --> 00:05:50,400 uh continuously in exile from our 114 00:05:47,440 --> 00:05:52,880 homeland. The lease for the US air base 115 00:05:50,400 --> 00:05:56,560 uh on the islands is about to expire 116 00:05:52,880 --> 00:05:58,560 next year. Is this somehow stopping or 117 00:05:56,560 --> 00:06:00,320 bringing you more hope to return to the 118 00:05:58,560 --> 00:06:03,520 islands? 119 00:06:00,320 --> 00:06:06,880 Uh the the lease uh will uh will 120 00:06:03,520 --> 00:06:11,120 continue for another 25 years. It will 121 00:06:06,880 --> 00:06:14,039 not stop uh next year. Uh if the UK or 122 00:06:11,120 --> 00:06:16,400 the US want to stop uh this 123 00:06:14,039 --> 00:06:18,400 agreement then they will have to 124 00:06:16,400 --> 00:06:21,840 renegotiate it or it will come to an 125 00:06:18,400 --> 00:06:24,319 end. Whereas if both parties uh want to 126 00:06:21,840 --> 00:06:28,240 continue there there will be uh no 127 00:06:24,319 --> 00:06:31,680 negotiation. Yeah. And I believe uh this 128 00:06:28,240 --> 00:06:34,880 is the right time for the UK government 129 00:06:31,680 --> 00:06:37,360 to uh do the necessary to allow us back 130 00:06:34,880 --> 00:06:39,919 and certainly to invest uh the money 131 00:06:37,360 --> 00:06:42,880 that is needed for a pilot resettlement. 132 00:06:39,919 --> 00:06:47,039 uh which is uh a the capital cost is 133 00:06:42,880 --> 00:06:49,759 below 60 million and uh I believe also 134 00:06:47,039 --> 00:06:53,280 that the the the Americans got a moral 135 00:06:49,759 --> 00:06:56,000 duty also uh to chip in some money uh 136 00:06:53,280 --> 00:06:58,000 for a pilot resettlement on Jgo Garcia. 137 00:06:56,000 --> 00:06:59,599 The situation that we have is that we 138 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:01,199 have a government that needs to make 139 00:06:59,599 --> 00:07:03,840 decision and they need to make the 140 00:07:01,199 --> 00:07:06,560 decision quickly because our old people, 141 00:07:03,840 --> 00:07:09,599 the old natives are dying. Yeah. and uh 142 00:07:06,560 --> 00:07:14,720 I'm amongst the last generations uh of 143 00:07:09,599 --> 00:07:18,800 natives. So it is uh very important that 144 00:07:14,720 --> 00:07:21,199 uh we uh we be able to to return and and 145 00:07:18,800 --> 00:07:24,000 with the changes that this government is 146 00:07:21,199 --> 00:07:27,599 bringing certainly in giving more powers 147 00:07:24,000 --> 00:07:30,800 to Scotland and to uh Wales and all 148 00:07:27,599 --> 00:07:33,840 these changes that are being brought uh 149 00:07:30,800 --> 00:07:36,400 in this parliament. So I think it is it 150 00:07:33,840 --> 00:07:40,479 is a moral duty of this government to 151 00:07:36,400 --> 00:07:42,720 allow us uh to return. Uh when Ben Fogle 152 00:07:40,479 --> 00:07:47,199 was here, he painted this extraordinary 153 00:07:42,720 --> 00:07:50,880 picture of the houses that your people 154 00:07:47,199 --> 00:07:53,360 had been forced to leave now being 155 00:07:50,880 --> 00:07:57,759 inhabited by the kind of international 156 00:07:53,360 --> 00:08:00,639 jetet uh boat yacht owners stopping off, 157 00:07:57,759 --> 00:08:03,440 living in your houses for however long 158 00:08:00,639 --> 00:08:07,280 and then sailing on to their next 159 00:08:03,440 --> 00:08:09,280 destination. So there clearly is no as 160 00:08:07,280 --> 00:08:12,240 it were physical reason why people 161 00:08:09,280 --> 00:08:14,000 cannot live in these houses uh 162 00:08:12,240 --> 00:08:16,520 preferably the people whose houses they 163 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:19,599 are rather than international jet 164 00:08:16,520 --> 00:08:22,800 setters. What's to stop? Is there 165 00:08:19,599 --> 00:08:26,800 anything to stop a number of us just 166 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:31,759 going there? Uh me, you and a few 167 00:08:26,800 --> 00:08:34,159 hundred uh chosians from Cwley. Uh could 168 00:08:31,759 --> 00:08:37,760 they stop us if we did it? 169 00:08:34,159 --> 00:08:40,640 Yes. Uh the the the u there is a legal 170 00:08:37,760 --> 00:08:43,440 barrier uh now uh because of the uh 171 00:08:40,640 --> 00:08:46,160 orders in council. So if for example we 172 00:08:43,440 --> 00:08:48,560 take a boat uh or a plane you can't land 173 00:08:46,160 --> 00:08:50,200 there uh and a boat you can't you can't 174 00:08:48,560 --> 00:08:52,720 get there without the 175 00:08:50,200 --> 00:08:55,040 permission. This is which navy would 176 00:08:52,720 --> 00:08:58,240 intercept you the British or the US? 177 00:08:55,040 --> 00:09:00,640 That would be uh the uh British and the 178 00:08:58,240 --> 00:09:02,720 US. Both even though you're a British 179 00:09:00,640 --> 00:09:04,160 citizen effectually. Yes, we have. That 180 00:09:02,720 --> 00:09:06,240 would be very embarrassing for the prime 181 00:09:04,160 --> 00:09:07,839 minister, I must say. Yes, we we have. 182 00:09:06,240 --> 00:09:09,920 That makes it all the more attractive to 183 00:09:07,839 --> 00:09:12,000 me as an idea. 184 00:09:09,920 --> 00:09:14,720 Yes, I I I think this is this is 185 00:09:12,000 --> 00:09:18,320 something that uh if this government 186 00:09:14,720 --> 00:09:22,000 doesn't uh do uh their best to resettle 187 00:09:18,320 --> 00:09:24,800 s as uh quickly. I think that's the last 188 00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:26,640 resort that as as a people will have to 189 00:09:24,800 --> 00:09:29,920 will have to do. Yes. It' be a kind of 190 00:09:26,640 --> 00:09:32,880 reverse boat. people, people leaving 191 00:09:29,920 --> 00:09:36,320 Europe to go back to their homeland and 192 00:09:32,880 --> 00:09:38,320 the European Navy trying to stop them. 193 00:09:36,320 --> 00:09:41,200 That's that's what I am asking. I'm 194 00:09:38,320 --> 00:09:44,800 asking this government to allow us to 195 00:09:41,200 --> 00:09:47,279 let us return. Let us leave the UK for 196 00:09:44,800 --> 00:09:48,880 good to go in our country. There are 197 00:09:47,279 --> 00:09:50,320 many people coming to this country. We 198 00:09:48,880 --> 00:09:51,920 came to They're always complaining about 199 00:09:50,320 --> 00:09:54,320 it. They're always complaining about 200 00:09:51,920 --> 00:09:56,480 chaps your color coming here. Exactly. 201 00:09:54,320 --> 00:09:58,640 This would be a reverse. Yes. We want a 202 00:09:56,480 --> 00:10:01,360 law. We want a new orders in council 203 00:09:58,640 --> 00:10:02,880 allow us to return to our homeland. 204 00:10:01,360 --> 00:10:05,040 That's simple as that. But the 205 00:10:02,880 --> 00:10:08,480 government must foot the bill. Of 206 00:10:05,040 --> 00:10:12,080 course. Does anyone uh champion your 207 00:10:08,480 --> 00:10:14,480 cause? The government is one thing. Have 208 00:10:12,080 --> 00:10:16,640 you persuaded the opposition such as it 209 00:10:14,480 --> 00:10:18,399 is in the British Parliament to adopt 210 00:10:16,640 --> 00:10:22,000 your cause? 211 00:10:18,399 --> 00:10:23,560 I I think the the difficulty which the 212 00:10:22,000 --> 00:10:27,600 opposition 213 00:10:23,560 --> 00:10:31,040 uh has has had in in uh in the past is 214 00:10:27,600 --> 00:10:35,120 that all happened under Howard Wilson 215 00:10:31,040 --> 00:10:38,640 and uh this government has done things 216 00:10:35,120 --> 00:10:40,480 right in 1982 when they paid peanut 217 00:10:38,640 --> 00:10:43,279 compensation but they tried to do 218 00:10:40,480 --> 00:10:46,320 something and it is this conservative 219 00:10:43,279 --> 00:10:49,279 government also that has appointed KPMG 220 00:10:46,320 --> 00:10:53,120 to do the visibility study and I think 221 00:10:49,279 --> 00:10:58,480 uh this government got the the the right 222 00:10:53,120 --> 00:11:02,240 uh timing and the the the right decision 223 00:10:58,480 --> 00:11:04,560 uh they they can do it well I must tell 224 00:11:02,240 --> 00:11:06,040 you if you're ever organizing an 225 00:11:04,560 --> 00:11:10,959 expedition to 226 00:11:06,040 --> 00:11:13,839 reclaim Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean 227 00:11:10,959 --> 00:11:17,279 I want to be on board I'll be one of 228 00:11:13,839 --> 00:11:20,640 your deck hands on the flagship ship as 229 00:11:17,279 --> 00:11:23,120 we go back. Guyatri too, she's from uh 230 00:11:20,640 --> 00:11:25,040 roughly very roughly that part of the 231 00:11:23,120 --> 00:11:28,240 world. That's going to be great because 232 00:11:25,040 --> 00:11:31,120 we are asking to return to our homeland 233 00:11:28,240 --> 00:11:32,560 in a very peaceful way and we want the 234 00:11:31,120 --> 00:11:34,640 government to do the right thing. We 235 00:11:32,560 --> 00:11:38,000 want everybody to do the right thing so 236 00:11:34,640 --> 00:11:39,920 that return is done smoothly. But if 237 00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:42,160 this government says that there will be 238 00:11:39,920 --> 00:11:44,720 no return, no pilot resettlement, 239 00:11:42,160 --> 00:11:47,120 nothing, I think that's the only 240 00:11:44,720 --> 00:11:49,040 alternative that we have uh into our own 241 00:11:47,120 --> 00:11:52,000 hands. How can people help you? How do 242 00:11:49,040 --> 00:11:54,880 they contact you? They can contact me uh 243 00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:59,279 on I'm on Twitter and I'm on Facebook. 244 00:11:54,880 --> 00:12:02,120 Uh they can contact me and uh certainly 245 00:11:59,279 --> 00:12:04,720 and there's a support 246 00:12:02,120 --> 00:12:06,560 group support group. They're doing a 247 00:12:04,720 --> 00:12:08,800 great job I must say. doing very very 248 00:12:06,560 --> 00:12:12,880 good job with the help of Benfogle and 249 00:12:08,800 --> 00:12:16,320 and Philip Agregori. So I think it's um 250 00:12:12,880 --> 00:12:19,200 I think we we we we got a chance here 251 00:12:16,320 --> 00:12:22,000 and uh I think the UK will need to do 252 00:12:19,200 --> 00:12:23,880 some moral thing. Thank you very much, 253 00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:26,720 Mr. President. You're 254 00:12:23,880 --> 00:12:28,639 welcome. After the break, the terrifying 255 00:12:26,720 --> 00:12:32,160 advance of the most savage and 256 00:12:28,639 --> 00:12:34,240 destructive army since Jeniskan, ISIS, 257 00:12:32,160 --> 00:12:36,240 now just 60 miles from Baghdad and 258 00:12:34,240 --> 00:12:38,720 steadily advancing on Damascus, 259 00:12:36,240 --> 00:12:42,639 controlling cities as far apart as Certe 260 00:12:38,720 --> 00:12:46,040 in Libya and Boro in northern Nigeria. 261 00:12:42,639 --> 00:12:46,040 Don't miss it. 262 00:12:48,639 --> 00:12:53,680 Welcome back to Sputnik. The ancient 263 00:12:51,360 --> 00:12:57,360 Roman amphitheater in which I have 264 00:12:53,680 --> 00:13:00,399 myself stood in Palmira in Syria became 265 00:12:57,360 --> 00:13:03,279 like some ancient Roman bloodbath, the 266 00:13:00,399 --> 00:13:06,160 site of mass executions last week when 267 00:13:03,279 --> 00:13:08,800 the ISIS Visigothths took control of the 268 00:13:06,160 --> 00:13:10,720 fortress town. ISIS now approaching the 269 00:13:08,800 --> 00:13:12,959 first anniversary of the declaration of 270 00:13:10,720 --> 00:13:15,360 their caliphate. Yes, it's only been 12 271 00:13:12,959 --> 00:13:17,680 months. celebrated in advance with the 272 00:13:15,360 --> 00:13:19,920 conquering of Ramadi, capital of Anbar 273 00:13:17,680 --> 00:13:23,120 province in Iraq, just 60 miles from 274 00:13:19,920 --> 00:13:24,560 Baghdad and in Palmira in Syria, home of 275 00:13:23,120 --> 00:13:26,880 one of the world's greatest 276 00:13:24,560 --> 00:13:28,720 archaeological treasures. They are 277 00:13:26,880 --> 00:13:31,200 beginning to look unstoppable in both 278 00:13:28,720 --> 00:13:34,000 countries and a growing menace elsewhere 279 00:13:31,200 --> 00:13:35,920 too. Certainly, if what has been fielded 280 00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:38,720 against them to date is the best there 281 00:13:35,920 --> 00:13:40,720 is, they are not going to be stopped. 282 00:13:38,720 --> 00:13:43,680 And a growing question is does the West 283 00:13:40,720 --> 00:13:46,399 and Israel actually want to stop them? 284 00:13:43,680 --> 00:13:49,200 And if not, why not? Joining us to 285 00:13:46,399 --> 00:13:52,000 discuss the threat is the brightest Arab 286 00:13:49,200 --> 00:13:54,959 woman analyst of them all, Hafsa Ka 287 00:13:52,000 --> 00:13:57,199 Mustafa. Hafsa, thanks for coming back 288 00:13:54,959 --> 00:14:00,000 on board the Sputnik. The last time we 289 00:13:57,199 --> 00:14:03,120 spoke, uh, this was a threat, but a far 290 00:14:00,000 --> 00:14:06,880 distant one. Now, it's a clear and 291 00:14:03,120 --> 00:14:10,079 present danger that certainly in Syria, 292 00:14:06,880 --> 00:14:14,399 it may now be winning the war and in 293 00:14:10,079 --> 00:14:17,519 Iraq, it may now be uh unvanquishable in 294 00:14:14,399 --> 00:14:20,800 the areas it now holds. Is that how you 295 00:14:17,519 --> 00:14:22,800 see it? Sadly, it is. Uh it's been a 296 00:14:20,800 --> 00:14:25,680 pattern uh it's been an ongoing pattern 297 00:14:22,800 --> 00:14:27,279 since the US have set foot in Iraq. You 298 00:14:25,680 --> 00:14:30,320 know, if you look at it in a scientific 299 00:14:27,279 --> 00:14:33,360 way, wherever the US spread, ISIS, 300 00:14:30,320 --> 00:14:35,519 wherever US tread, ISIS has spread and 301 00:14:33,360 --> 00:14:38,240 they've increased in potency. They're 302 00:14:35,519 --> 00:14:40,000 they've taken over key strongholds. So, 303 00:14:38,240 --> 00:14:43,040 I think it is very look is very much 304 00:14:40,000 --> 00:14:44,480 looking as if ISIS is there to stay and 305 00:14:43,040 --> 00:14:46,880 it's very much a force to be reckoned 306 00:14:44,480 --> 00:14:48,560 with. So, while I was here last time, we 307 00:14:46,880 --> 00:14:51,279 were talking about a rag tag army that 308 00:14:48,560 --> 00:14:52,720 really didn't have much much focus. They 309 00:14:51,279 --> 00:14:55,600 were coming from all over the place. But 310 00:14:52,720 --> 00:14:58,000 now we're seeing a very strong military 311 00:14:55,600 --> 00:14:59,839 force that is making major gains in some 312 00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:02,000 of the most key places of the Middle 313 00:14:59,839 --> 00:15:03,680 East. So yes, they are very much a 314 00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:06,160 threat and they're looking as if they're 315 00:15:03,680 --> 00:15:09,360 here to stay. Let's take Syria first of 316 00:15:06,160 --> 00:15:12,959 all. Uh for a long time it looked like 317 00:15:09,360 --> 00:15:15,920 the Syrian regime and its army, which 318 00:15:12,959 --> 00:15:18,720 fought very heroically, sustained huge 319 00:15:15,920 --> 00:15:21,680 losses, remained loyal to the state, had 320 00:15:18,720 --> 00:15:24,160 the beating of ISIS. What's tipped the 321 00:15:21,680 --> 00:15:27,360 balance? Why are they now effectively in 322 00:15:24,160 --> 00:15:29,920 control of more of Syria than President 323 00:15:27,360 --> 00:15:31,199 Bashar is? Well, this is the very 324 00:15:29,920 --> 00:15:34,000 strange thing about what's been 325 00:15:31,199 --> 00:15:35,600 happening in the past 6 months alone. Uh 326 00:15:34,000 --> 00:15:37,120 up until four, you know, for the best 327 00:15:35,600 --> 00:15:39,120 part of four years, we've been hearing 328 00:15:37,120 --> 00:15:42,000 Assad is going. Assad has got only a 329 00:15:39,120 --> 00:15:43,920 month to go. Assad is is is on the ex is 330 00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:45,680 on the exit. And yet, he has remained 331 00:15:43,920 --> 00:15:48,079 and he has become even more popular 332 00:15:45,680 --> 00:15:50,000 amongst Syrians. And at this crucial 333 00:15:48,079 --> 00:15:53,720 time where he's actually inflicting huge 334 00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:56,639 losses on ISIS come a US-led coalition 335 00:15:53,720 --> 00:15:58,240 supposedly designed to weaken ISIS. And 336 00:15:56,639 --> 00:16:00,399 yet what have we seen in the past month 337 00:15:58,240 --> 00:16:02,560 alone? We've seen that a coalition of 338 00:16:00,399 --> 00:16:04,959 the most important and fearsome armies 339 00:16:02,560 --> 00:16:07,199 on the planet have actually strengthened 340 00:16:04,959 --> 00:16:09,360 ISIS. So what has what we've seen as a 341 00:16:07,199 --> 00:16:11,199 result is that Syria, the Syrian army, 342 00:16:09,360 --> 00:16:14,000 which as you say has fought heroically 343 00:16:11,199 --> 00:16:17,360 against ISIS forces, is actually losing 344 00:16:14,000 --> 00:16:19,680 the ground on many key places in part 345 00:16:17,360 --> 00:16:22,480 thanks to the coalition, which is really 346 00:16:19,680 --> 00:16:24,160 strengthening ISIS uh in in Syria. Well, 347 00:16:22,480 --> 00:16:26,040 the big question is whether that's 348 00:16:24,160 --> 00:16:28,800 deliberate or uh 349 00:16:26,040 --> 00:16:31,800 inadvertent. Uh I have resisted for 350 00:16:28,800 --> 00:16:34,959 obvious reasons for four long years the 351 00:16:31,800 --> 00:16:38,399 suspicion that this was a deliberate 352 00:16:34,959 --> 00:16:40,959 tactic on the part of the west but I'm 353 00:16:38,399 --> 00:16:44,839 bound to say I'm saying it here for the 354 00:16:40,959 --> 00:16:48,680 first time on television that I have now 355 00:16:44,839 --> 00:16:52,079 concluded that the coalition which was 356 00:16:48,680 --> 00:16:55,040 supposedly set up to end the threat of 357 00:16:52,079 --> 00:16:56,360 ISIS is in fact facilitating it. I give 358 00:16:55,040 --> 00:16:59,360 you just one 359 00:16:56,360 --> 00:17:02,800 example. Given that ISIS, the heart 360 00:16:59,360 --> 00:17:05,439 eating, head chopping fanatics, now 361 00:17:02,800 --> 00:17:08,480 control more than half of Syria, which 362 00:17:05,439 --> 00:17:11,360 is next door to Israel, you would expect 363 00:17:08,480 --> 00:17:14,959 Israel to be jumping up and down uh in 364 00:17:11,360 --> 00:17:17,360 anguish at that prospect. Imagine ISIS, 365 00:17:14,959 --> 00:17:20,400 the califf, Baghdaddy installed in 366 00:17:17,360 --> 00:17:22,400 Damascus next door to them. A terrifying 367 00:17:20,400 --> 00:17:24,160 prospect you might have thought 368 00:17:22,400 --> 00:17:26,240 Netanyahu might have been expected at 369 00:17:24,160 --> 00:17:29,200 the United Nations holding up his 370 00:17:26,240 --> 00:17:32,559 diagrams pointing up the mortal threat 371 00:17:29,200 --> 00:17:35,600 to his state. But we don't have any of 372 00:17:32,559 --> 00:17:38,559 that. In fact, there's not a whisper out 373 00:17:35,600 --> 00:17:41,360 of Tel Aviv about the dangers of ISIS 374 00:17:38,559 --> 00:17:43,039 ruling the country next door to them. 375 00:17:41,360 --> 00:17:45,039 What could be the reasons for that? 376 00:17:43,039 --> 00:17:47,039 Well, clearly because ISIS are 377 00:17:45,039 --> 00:17:49,120 destroying the Middle East, weakening 378 00:17:47,039 --> 00:17:50,720 the surrounding countries, weakening the 379 00:17:49,120 --> 00:17:52,400 countries that pose the greatest threat 380 00:17:50,720 --> 00:17:54,880 to Israel, and therefore they're playing 381 00:17:52,400 --> 00:17:57,440 into Israel's game. Now, the one central 382 00:17:54,880 --> 00:17:59,360 thing that is really a major focus for 383 00:17:57,440 --> 00:18:00,960 the majority of Muslims across the world 384 00:17:59,360 --> 00:18:02,400 is the Palestinian cause and the 385 00:18:00,960 --> 00:18:04,400 suffering and the ongoing suffering of 386 00:18:02,400 --> 00:18:06,720 Palestinians. And when you see that the 387 00:18:04,400 --> 00:18:08,880 people of ISIS who are claiming in some 388 00:18:06,720 --> 00:18:11,200 bizarre way to somehow represent Islam 389 00:18:08,880 --> 00:18:13,039 or Islamic interests have not in any 390 00:18:11,200 --> 00:18:14,960 way, shape or form targeted Israel or 391 00:18:13,039 --> 00:18:16,559 any Israel interest. I think it really 392 00:18:14,960 --> 00:18:18,640 says a lot about the coalition between 393 00:18:16,559 --> 00:18:20,799 the two. And one major one thing that's 394 00:18:18,640 --> 00:18:23,280 been very very striking recently was 395 00:18:20,799 --> 00:18:25,600 that uh ISIS forces well not ISIS forces 396 00:18:23,280 --> 00:18:27,840 but the the opposition to Assad which 397 00:18:25,600 --> 00:18:30,720 are fighting alongside Jabet Nusra which 398 00:18:27,840 --> 00:18:33,120 is itself a ally to ISIS have actually 399 00:18:30,720 --> 00:18:35,120 congratulated Israel on its supposedly 400 00:18:33,120 --> 00:18:37,360 independence anniversary. Now that is 401 00:18:35,120 --> 00:18:39,600 utterly shameful. Wherever you stand as 402 00:18:37,360 --> 00:18:41,440 an Arab and as a Syrian and however much 403 00:18:39,600 --> 00:18:42,880 you oppose Assad, there isn't a 404 00:18:41,440 --> 00:18:45,120 self-respecting Syrian who could 405 00:18:42,880 --> 00:18:47,120 possibly congratulate Israel in any way, 406 00:18:45,120 --> 00:18:49,280 shape or form. And I think that really 407 00:18:47,120 --> 00:18:51,280 just that little information that is, 408 00:18:49,280 --> 00:18:53,120 you know, was swept under the carpet and 409 00:18:51,280 --> 00:18:54,960 wasn't making the headlines really says 410 00:18:53,120 --> 00:18:56,240 a lot about the alliance between ISIS, 411 00:18:54,960 --> 00:18:59,360 between these terrorists and the state 412 00:18:56,240 --> 00:19:01,919 of Israel. Well, we're now going to, 413 00:18:59,360 --> 00:19:04,320 unless there's some spectacular reverse 414 00:19:01,919 --> 00:19:07,280 on the battlefield, we're going to have 415 00:19:04,320 --> 00:19:10,960 the emergence of a new state in half of 416 00:19:07,280 --> 00:19:14,480 Syria and a third of Iraq, uh, with the 417 00:19:10,960 --> 00:19:20,440 border between the two obliterated. 418 00:19:14,480 --> 00:19:24,559 uh thus uh buffer state between Iran, 419 00:19:20,440 --> 00:19:28,240 Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine. That 420 00:19:24,559 --> 00:19:30,400 may be one clue uh to what the western 421 00:19:28,240 --> 00:19:34,880 countries uh are seeking to achieve 422 00:19:30,400 --> 00:19:37,600 here. This will break the arc or the the 423 00:19:34,880 --> 00:19:41,520 arc of resistance if you like uh by 424 00:19:37,600 --> 00:19:45,039 which from Iran to Lebanon and across 425 00:19:41,520 --> 00:19:48,480 the border into Palestine uh support for 426 00:19:45,039 --> 00:19:53,520 the Palestinian people was able to be uh 427 00:19:48,480 --> 00:19:56,720 conveyed. Um, it's clear though that 428 00:19:53,520 --> 00:20:00,520 whatever ISIS said or didn't say about 429 00:19:56,720 --> 00:20:04,640 the independence of Israel in their 430 00:20:00,520 --> 00:20:07,280 ranks, there are some very fanatically 431 00:20:04,640 --> 00:20:10,720 uh extreme people. 432 00:20:07,280 --> 00:20:13,520 Are they likely to be demobilized once 433 00:20:10,720 --> 00:20:15,600 the war, the current war is over, or 434 00:20:13,520 --> 00:20:18,000 will they want to go on and fight 435 00:20:15,600 --> 00:20:21,120 somewhere else? Is Saudi Arabia in 436 00:20:18,000 --> 00:20:23,039 danger? Is Israel in danger? I very much 437 00:20:21,120 --> 00:20:24,880 doubt that Saudi Arabia is in danger or 438 00:20:23,039 --> 00:20:27,360 Israel is in danger. For one thing, 439 00:20:24,880 --> 00:20:29,600 Saudi Arabia has been funding uh the 440 00:20:27,360 --> 00:20:31,679 other uh avatar if you want, which is 441 00:20:29,600 --> 00:20:33,600 Janus and all the other opposition 442 00:20:31,679 --> 00:20:35,200 parties in Syria. And as we've 443 00:20:33,600 --> 00:20:37,120 discussed, Israel is very much 444 00:20:35,200 --> 00:20:39,919 benefiting from the chaos that is 445 00:20:37,120 --> 00:20:42,320 brought upon by ISIS. Now the what we 446 00:20:39,919 --> 00:20:44,240 have to notice uh in the region the 447 00:20:42,320 --> 00:20:47,200 wider Middle East is that these groups 448 00:20:44,240 --> 00:20:49,520 and similar groups are acting simply uh 449 00:20:47,200 --> 00:20:52,240 in the interest of increasing chaos and 450 00:20:49,520 --> 00:20:53,840 warfare in the Muslim world. Now in that 451 00:20:52,240 --> 00:20:56,000 part of the world they're claiming that 452 00:20:53,840 --> 00:20:58,000 they're resisting Shia influence. That's 453 00:20:56,000 --> 00:20:59,600 their that's one of their arguments. But 454 00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:01,440 of course what is their argument when 455 00:20:59,600 --> 00:21:03,280 you have al-Qaeda in the Maghreb where 456 00:21:01,440 --> 00:21:04,799 there are no uh where are no Sharia 457 00:21:03,280 --> 00:21:07,440 populations in that part of the world. 458 00:21:04,799 --> 00:21:09,840 So really their aim is to just increase 459 00:21:07,440 --> 00:21:12,240 chaos, give Western countries in 460 00:21:09,840 --> 00:21:15,520 particular in the US the uh the reason 461 00:21:12,240 --> 00:21:18,080 and the excuse to come in to invade to 462 00:21:15,520 --> 00:21:20,000 send in forces to sell more weapons to 463 00:21:18,080 --> 00:21:22,080 Saudi Arabia. So what they're doing is 464 00:21:20,000 --> 00:21:24,080 really they're giving the opportunity 465 00:21:22,080 --> 00:21:26,480 for the Muslim world to collapse and to 466 00:21:24,080 --> 00:21:28,559 be destroyed. And every every single 467 00:21:26,480 --> 00:21:30,400 endeavor that they take is actually 468 00:21:28,559 --> 00:21:32,799 going towards that aim which is to 469 00:21:30,400 --> 00:21:34,799 fragment the region, leave it weakened 470 00:21:32,799 --> 00:21:36,400 and of course in a weakened wider 471 00:21:34,799 --> 00:21:40,159 weakened Middle East, you have a strong 472 00:21:36,400 --> 00:21:44,400 emerging Israel. What um one of the few 473 00:21:40,159 --> 00:21:46,960 um resisting groups fighting ISIS 474 00:21:44,400 --> 00:21:49,360 successfully are the Kurdish women. 475 00:21:46,960 --> 00:21:51,760 Yeah. But funny enough, they are being 476 00:21:49,360 --> 00:21:54,640 supported by the US as well. How do you 477 00:21:51,760 --> 00:21:56,799 read that movement? I mean the the role 478 00:21:54,640 --> 00:21:59,840 of of the Kurds in in the Arab world has 479 00:21:56,799 --> 00:22:02,480 been very ambiguous probably because um 480 00:21:59,840 --> 00:22:04,240 you know in in the fight in in Iraq it 481 00:22:02,480 --> 00:22:06,559 was they were used against Saddam 482 00:22:04,240 --> 00:22:08,960 Hussein. Uh in Turkey they've they've 483 00:22:06,559 --> 00:22:12,000 played again an ambiguous role. It's 484 00:22:08,960 --> 00:22:14,400 very difficult to to actually pinpoint 485 00:22:12,000 --> 00:22:16,559 how to you know how the Kurds are 486 00:22:14,400 --> 00:22:18,559 operating. they've been fed a sort of 487 00:22:16,559 --> 00:22:20,320 very anti-Arab propaganda and I think 488 00:22:18,559 --> 00:22:22,640 that's been very central to how they 489 00:22:20,320 --> 00:22:24,960 were strengthened and in with the fall 490 00:22:22,640 --> 00:22:28,159 of Saddam Hussein what happened is you 491 00:22:24,960 --> 00:22:30,000 had uh Israel quickly jumping and ally 492 00:22:28,159 --> 00:22:32,080 with many Kurdish leaders saying well 493 00:22:30,000 --> 00:22:34,480 actually you know whilst you were being 494 00:22:32,080 --> 00:22:36,240 gassed by Saddam Hussein by the Arabs 495 00:22:34,480 --> 00:22:37,919 you know we can come here and help you 496 00:22:36,240 --> 00:22:40,480 so there's been a sort of weird alliance 497 00:22:37,919 --> 00:22:42,640 between Kurdish forces and Israeli 498 00:22:40,480 --> 00:22:44,960 forces now with the case of ISIS they 499 00:22:42,640 --> 00:22:46,799 only came into fight because ISIS is 500 00:22:44,960 --> 00:22:49,280 threatened certain parts of of Kurd 501 00:22:46,799 --> 00:22:52,400 Kurdish. Well, the only serious effort 502 00:22:49,280 --> 00:22:54,960 the United States has made against ISIS 503 00:22:52,400 --> 00:22:58,360 is when there are Kurdish allies have 504 00:22:54,960 --> 00:23:00,280 been threatened in Kobani in uh in 505 00:22:58,360 --> 00:23:03,520 Erbil. 506 00:23:00,280 --> 00:23:05,600 Uh you're an Arab woman. An Arab woman 507 00:23:03,520 --> 00:23:08,320 who thinks like you, talks like you, 508 00:23:05,600 --> 00:23:10,559 looks like you would have no future 509 00:23:08,320 --> 00:23:14,320 under ISIS. 510 00:23:10,559 --> 00:23:18,000 uh the horrific attitude that they have 511 00:23:14,320 --> 00:23:20,720 towards women, including justifying 512 00:23:18,000 --> 00:23:23,280 multiple rape of Yazidi girls, for 513 00:23:20,720 --> 00:23:25,760 example, written by one of their women 514 00:23:23,280 --> 00:23:27,440 in their own theoretical journal this 515 00:23:25,760 --> 00:23:31,080 month, saying that it was actually 516 00:23:27,440 --> 00:23:34,240 Islamic to seize these girls and 517 00:23:31,080 --> 00:23:36,640 multiply rape them and claiming that 518 00:23:34,240 --> 00:23:38,559 they celebrated when the first of the 519 00:23:36,640 --> 00:23:40,480 slave girls was brought into their 520 00:23:38,559 --> 00:23:43,280 homes. 521 00:23:40,480 --> 00:23:47,120 What a face this is for the Muslims. 522 00:23:43,280 --> 00:23:49,440 What a horrific image that's being given 523 00:23:47,120 --> 00:23:51,600 to Islam by these people. Well, I think 524 00:23:49,440 --> 00:23:53,679 this is this is exactly it. This is a 525 00:23:51,600 --> 00:23:55,840 caricature of evil. I mean, the the 526 00:23:53,679 --> 00:23:58,000 barbarity of ISIS is is unmatched. And 527 00:23:55,840 --> 00:24:00,000 they seem to take pleasure in exposing 528 00:23:58,000 --> 00:24:01,600 their depravity in a way that has never 529 00:24:00,000 --> 00:24:04,000 been seen before. You know, we know the 530 00:24:01,600 --> 00:24:05,600 armies raped. We know that war is a 531 00:24:04,000 --> 00:24:07,840 nasty thing. We know that horrific 532 00:24:05,600 --> 00:24:09,600 things happen on the battlefield. But 533 00:24:07,840 --> 00:24:11,919 what ISIS is doing is actually promoting 534 00:24:09,600 --> 00:24:13,760 it and showing it off as something to be 535 00:24:11,919 --> 00:24:15,520 proud of. And this is unheard of. I mean 536 00:24:13,760 --> 00:24:16,960 in in the annals of history, you know, 537 00:24:15,520 --> 00:24:19,039 people are ashamed of their the crimes 538 00:24:16,960 --> 00:24:22,640 that they commit. So I think ISIS is 539 00:24:19,039 --> 00:24:24,799 really contributing to this image that 540 00:24:22,640 --> 00:24:27,200 fuels Islamophobia and particularly in 541 00:24:24,799 --> 00:24:29,039 the West and allows countries such as 542 00:24:27,200 --> 00:24:30,559 Israel or the US say, "Well, look, this 543 00:24:29,039 --> 00:24:32,080 is pretty much what Islam is." Because 544 00:24:30,559 --> 00:24:34,640 of course, whether we like it or not, 545 00:24:32,080 --> 00:24:36,799 ISIS is claiming to be the Islamic 546 00:24:34,640 --> 00:24:39,039 State. The word Islam is intrinsically 547 00:24:36,799 --> 00:24:41,760 linked to ISIS and therefore it's linked 548 00:24:39,039 --> 00:24:44,240 to what it does and I think ISIS are 549 00:24:41,760 --> 00:24:46,480 playing a major role in actually fueling 550 00:24:44,240 --> 00:24:49,039 the image a bad image of Islam which in 551 00:24:46,480 --> 00:24:50,880 itself fuels Islamophobia. 552 00:24:49,039 --> 00:24:52,559 We're going to have to interview you 553 00:24:50,880 --> 00:24:55,200 again because there's so much we didn't 554 00:24:52,559 --> 00:24:59,080 have time to reach there. Hafsa, thank 555 00:24:55,200 --> 00:24:59,080 you very much indeed. 556 00:25:00,159 --> 00:25:04,080 And now it's your turn to tell us what 557 00:25:01,840 --> 00:25:07,200 you think through the portals of social 558 00:25:04,080 --> 00:25:09,679 media. What's rattling about the fate of 559 00:25:07,200 --> 00:25:11,679 the Chagosians? Uh, Stellarance says the 560 00:25:09,679 --> 00:25:13,520 following. Britain is such a free 561 00:25:11,679 --> 00:25:15,840 country, they can't leave it. What a 562 00:25:13,520 --> 00:25:18,240 truer test of freedom than that. On the 563 00:25:15,840 --> 00:25:21,360 possible working together of ISIS with 564 00:25:18,240 --> 00:25:23,039 the West, Paul Hoover says ISIS was 565 00:25:21,360 --> 00:25:24,880 created by the West, so of course 566 00:25:23,039 --> 00:25:26,880 they're hoping their investment pays 567 00:25:24,880 --> 00:25:29,200 off. Well, that's all that we've got for 568 00:25:26,880 --> 00:25:30,799 this week, which alas means that's the 569 00:25:29,200 --> 00:25:33,679 end of the show. You can stay in touch 570 00:25:30,799 --> 00:25:35,679 with us on Twitter at RT_Sputnik, and on 571 00:25:33,679 --> 00:25:37,840 Facebook, you can like us on Sputnik on 572 00:25:35,679 --> 00:25:39,679 Russia Today. Goodbye from me, Gayatri, 573 00:25:37,840 --> 00:25:42,679 and from me, George Galloway. It's been 574 00:25:39,679 --> 00:25:42,679 marvelous. 575 00:25:52,550 --> 00:25:55,619 [Music]