Ex-MI6 agent: How the Iran-China deal changes everything (E1002)
On this episode of Going Underground, we speak to former MI6 agent Alastair Crooke. He discusses the alleged Israeli Mossad attack on the Natanz nuclear facility, the division among Israel’s politicians about whether to continue pursuing Netanyahu’s maximum containment policy, the landmark strategic deal signed between Iran and China and how it changes the game in the Middle East, the war in Syria and how the UK, US and other Western allies are preventing reconstruction efforts, Western support for Islamists in Syria and much more!
FOLLOW
Going Underground https://www.youtube.com/user/GoingUndergroundRT
Going Underground on Twitter http://twitter.com/Underground_RT
Afshin Rattansi on Twitter http://twitter.com/AfshinRattansi
PODCAST
https://soundcloud.com/rttv/sets/going-underground-new
STATEMENT ADDITION:
Statement from the EU:
It is not true that the EU has sanctioned any efforts to reconstruct Syria. In fact, it is the Assad regime who is the biggest obstacle to a proper rebuilding of Syria and for a better future of its citizens. While the regime has been, over the last 10 years - killing, torturing, kidnapping and harassing their own people, destroying their houses, hospitals, markets, livelihoods, olive groves, the EU spent almost 25 billion of euros to help cover basic needs of millions of ordinary citizens who were made refugees and fled abroad or were internally displaced within Syria. We also organise for 5 years in a row big international conference in support of the Syrian people. You can find more details here: link.
"The EU is the main contributor to the budget and activities of the UN agencies which provide necessary assistance (humanitarian, emergency, development) to Syrian people also in government controlled territories.
"But the EU said very clearly that we will not finance the post-war reconstruction of Syria without a genuine political transformation which should bring and guarantee rights of all Syrians. Otherwise there is the risk that any donated money and help would be misused by the regime for its own purposes and for its supporters.
"In response to the bloodshed and brutal repression from the side of the Assad regime against its own people the EU has introduced sanctions, but these sanctions are not directed against Syrian people, these are targeted sanctions against members of the regime, military or their supporters who committed crimes against civilian population and who are profiting from the war economy. It is indeed the war economy and deeply rooted corruption that deprives the country of its resources and contributes to preventing a proper reconstruction of the country."