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[00:00.000 --> 00:09.080]  10 p.m. here in Moscow this New Year's Day, a warm welcome to you if you've just joined
[00:09.080 --> 00:10.080]  us.
[00:10.080 --> 00:11.080]  My name is Kevin Owen.
[00:11.080 --> 00:12.080]  This is RT.
[00:12.080 --> 00:17.200]  And our top story, U.S. President Barack Obama welcomed in the new year by signing in a tough
[00:17.200 --> 00:20.560]  new law but a set of sanctions for Iran.
[00:20.560 --> 00:24.640]  Anyone doing business with Tehran's central bank will now face punishment thanks to the
[00:24.640 --> 00:28.040]  new measures directly targeting the financial sector.
[00:28.040 --> 00:32.360]  This move comes at a time of heightened tension over Iran's nuclear program and the threat
[00:32.360 --> 00:37.720]  of sanctions has already seen Tehran threaten to block off a key oil export route in response.
[00:37.720 --> 00:42.920]  Well, adding to the situation as well is Iran's plan to test long range missiles during naval
[00:42.920 --> 00:46.640]  drills in the Gulf that's led to U.S. warships being sent to the area.
[00:46.640 --> 00:52.200]  A researcher at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London told us America
[00:52.200 --> 00:55.800]  is playing a dangerous game right now.
[00:55.800 --> 01:01.360]  Iran said that if an oil embargo is imposed against Iran and the Iranian livelihood, its
[01:01.360 --> 01:10.560]  economy is threatened, then Iran would take considerable measures to respond to that.
[01:10.560 --> 01:12.720]  So that is not a provocation.
[01:12.720 --> 01:19.240]  But in terms of real provocation, I think that what is provocative is the United States
[01:19.240 --> 01:24.960]  sending its warships thousands of miles away from its homeland into the Persian Gulf and
[01:24.960 --> 01:31.400]  also waging wars surrounding Iran with wars in Iraq, in Afghanistan, military bases all
[01:31.400 --> 01:32.720]  around Iran.
[01:32.720 --> 01:33.720]  That is provocative.
[01:33.720 --> 01:40.480]  And Iran is trying to defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
[01:40.480 --> 01:44.280]  To Syria now, where violence that began in March has spilled over into the new year.
[01:44.280 --> 01:47.860]  Arab League observers on a mission to the country have warned Damascus against cracking
[01:47.860 --> 01:48.860]  down on protesters.
[01:48.860 --> 01:53.880]  At least 13 were reportedly killed in the past day, despite efforts to oversee the implementation
[01:53.880 --> 01:55.320]  of a peace plan.
[01:55.320 --> 01:59.360]  An advisory group linked to the Arab League has now called for observers to pull out,
[01:59.360 --> 02:03.640]  claiming the mission is distracting attention from the ongoing crackdown.
[02:03.640 --> 02:08.320]  The advice is non-binding, with the observers due to stay in Syria for three more weeks.
[02:08.320 --> 02:12.520]  Journalist Ashin Rotanzi says the conflict is a powder keg that could ignite the entire
[02:12.520 --> 02:13.520]  region.
[02:13.520 --> 02:20.680]  It is certainly the Western media's viewpoint that we must believe opposition groups.
[02:20.680 --> 02:24.800]  It seems that any mobile footage is now accepted as a source.
[02:24.800 --> 02:31.320]  What is in no doubt is that thousands of Syrian soldiers are dying, and they haven't died
[02:31.320 --> 02:32.720]  because of peaceful protests.
[02:32.720 --> 02:35.080]  But this isn't a Libya.
[02:35.080 --> 02:40.120]  Syria is a linchpin of the Middle East, and the United States and other countries, some
[02:40.120 --> 02:44.760]  of their more intelligent people, realize that there will be turmoil right across the
[02:44.760 --> 02:50.520]  Middle East if anything happens to destabilize the Assad government from outside forces.
[02:50.520 --> 02:54.960]  But certainly Syria, the Syrian government itself, has to step up the pace because it's
[02:54.960 --> 02:58.000]  certainly losing the propaganda battle.
[02:58.000 --> 03:02.360]  The Syrian regime claims it's fighting an armed insurgency funded from abroad.
[03:02.360 --> 03:06.120]  That's yet to be independently confirmed, but what is fact is that rebel fighters who
[03:06.120 --> 03:10.440]  helped overthrow Colonel Gaddafi in Libya are now eager to take the revolution to President
[03:10.440 --> 03:11.960]  Assad's door, too.
[03:11.960 --> 03:17.200]  Hundreds of Libyan mercenaries are reportedly already gunning for regime change in Syria.
[03:17.200 --> 03:21.680]  But here's Oksana Boyko reported from Tripoli in the week.
[03:21.680 --> 03:24.080]  A butcher or dead meat?
[03:24.080 --> 03:28.840]  The owner of this kebab shop in Tripoli still undecided what's the most fitting term for
[03:28.840 --> 03:29.840]  Syria's Bashar al-Assad.
[03:29.840 --> 03:34.840]  Bashar al-Assad is the biggest criminal in the world, not in Syria, not in Syria.
[03:34.840 --> 03:43.400]  And he killed, he killed our people in Syria.
[03:43.400 --> 03:47.880]  Out of solidarity with their Arab brothers, the owners of the shop have even put on display
[03:47.880 --> 03:53.600]  the Syrian rebels' tricolor, but they are very firm on where the revolutionary support
[03:53.600 --> 03:54.600]  should end.
[03:54.600 --> 03:57.160]  We don't want in Syria any soldiers.
[03:57.160 --> 04:04.520]  We have enough people and soldiers in Syria, free soldiers, only free soldiers.
[04:04.520 --> 04:05.520]  We have only.
[04:05.520 --> 04:06.520]  We have enough.
[04:06.520 --> 04:10.640]  But I think we want weapons.
[04:10.640 --> 04:15.920]  In less than three months, Libyan rebels have gone from being celebrated as liberators to
[04:15.920 --> 04:18.400]  being called occupiers.
[04:18.400 --> 04:23.800]  Tripoli residents rally almost every week, calling on the armed militia to leave.
[04:23.800 --> 04:28.000]  And for some of these young men, hooked on adrenaline and unwilling to part with their
[04:28.000 --> 04:34.080]  rifles, Syria seems like the next logical destination.
[04:34.080 --> 04:38.120]  We're all ready to join the Syrian revolution, and with the help of Allah, we will make sure
[04:38.120 --> 04:43.400]  that what happened in Libya will repeat itself in Syria.
[04:43.400 --> 04:48.360]  The portraits of Che Guevara are now ubiquitous on the streets of Tripoli, with some rebels
[04:48.360 --> 04:53.880]  even styling themselves to resemble the famous revolutionary.
[04:53.880 --> 04:58.280]  With the help of Allah, we can all be like Che Guevara, fighting for peace and freedom
[04:58.280 --> 05:01.760]  around the world.
[05:01.760 --> 05:07.000]  And it seems that Che Guevara's idea of exporting revolutions have gotten a second birth in
[05:07.000 --> 05:08.760]  the Middle East.
[05:08.760 --> 05:13.640]  The Arab Spring has created a buoyant marketplace for soldiers of fortune.
[05:13.640 --> 05:19.520]  They move from one revolution to another, some motivated by personal gain, some by conviction,
[05:19.520 --> 05:20.520]  others by adventure.
[05:20.520 --> 05:26.360]  They fight for their own vision of freedom, and for now, at least, it's the freedom to
[05:26.360 --> 05:28.880]  live by the gun.
[05:28.880 --> 05:33.840]  As romantic and spontaneous as it may appear, aiding the Syrian uprising with mercenaries
[05:33.840 --> 05:36.600]  may not be such a genuine move.
[05:36.600 --> 05:42.160]  Videos of women and children in Syria gunned down by snipers are abound on YouTube, while
[05:42.160 --> 05:45.920]  it's still unclear who is pulling the trigger.
[05:45.920 --> 05:51.120]  There are terrorist snipers who are shooting at civilians, men, women and children, blind
[05:51.120 --> 05:57.360]  terrorism, random killing, simply for the purpose of destabilizing the country.
[05:57.360 --> 06:02.520]  They're from Libya, they're from Afghanistan or Pakistan.
[06:02.520 --> 06:08.720]  One fighter has been brought in here by the CIA and the other Western services.
[06:08.720 --> 06:12.720]  One man's terrorist could easily be another man's freedom fighter, but for the United
[06:12.720 --> 06:15.640]  States, it's now two in one.
[06:15.640 --> 06:20.920]  Abdel Hakim Belhadj, one of the leaders of the Tripoli militia, was once on the CIA most
[06:20.920 --> 06:21.920]  wanted list.
[06:21.920 --> 06:27.760]  Today, he's a face of the democratic Libya, who, according to RT sources, led a group
[06:27.760 --> 06:32.920]  of several hundred Libyan rebels to Syria just last month.
[06:32.920 --> 06:37.320]  We can't do any help to support the Syrian people because we are, they are facing the
[06:37.320 --> 06:39.920]  same situation as we faced before.
[06:39.920 --> 06:44.720]  And we appreciate the help that comes to Libyan people, and if we could provide the Syrian
[06:44.720 --> 06:49.080]  people with any help to get their freedom, I think we should do it.
[06:49.080 --> 06:53.240]  The use of soldiers of fortune is hardly new in this troubled region.
[06:53.240 --> 06:58.640]  Middle Eastern rulers hired them for centuries as safeguards against their own populations.
[06:58.640 --> 07:03.840]  And it now looks like the history of mercenaries in the Middle East has got to its new and
[07:03.840 --> 07:05.640]  no less bloody chapter.
[07:05.640 --> 07:09.480]  Akhsana Boyko, RT, Tripoli.
[07:09.480 --> 07:13.080]  Still ahead for you this hour, the year in brief, we take a look back at just a few of
[07:13.080 --> 07:19.640]  the momentous stories that made the headlines in 2011 around the world.
[07:19.640 --> 07:24.120]  In Egypt, pro-democracy protesters held a candlelight vigil in Cairo's Tahrir Square
[07:24.120 --> 07:28.360]  on New Year's Eve in memory of those killed during the uprising that ousted Hosni Mubarak.
[07:28.360 --> 07:33.400]  Meanwhile, the U.S. says Egypt's current leaders have agreed to halt raids on pro-democracy
[07:33.400 --> 07:34.400]  rights groups.
[07:34.400 --> 07:38.320]  Earlier this week, soldiers and police stormed offices of non-governmental organizations,
[07:38.320 --> 07:40.840]  including some funded by Washington.
[07:40.840 --> 07:44.840]  Documents and computers were seized as part of investigations into the foreign funding
[07:44.840 --> 07:46.400]  of organizations.
[07:46.400 --> 07:49.920]  The groups accused the ruling military of using the same tactics of repression as the
[07:49.920 --> 07:51.680]  Mubarak regime.
[07:51.680 --> 07:55.120]  Foreign policy analyst Dr. Adil Shamu told me he thinks the generals want to make sure
[07:55.120 --> 08:00.960]  they hold on to power, but that the people won't stop until they oust them.
[08:00.960 --> 08:07.280]  This is part of the military, the SCAF, the Supreme Council of Armed Forces, way of making
[08:07.280 --> 08:15.880]  sure that the revolution basically is molded to the type of government they want, because
[08:15.880 --> 08:23.200]  that's—those are the same generals, by the way, who worked for Mubarak, the dictator.
[08:23.200 --> 08:26.000]  So that's really basically is part of that struggle.
[08:26.000 --> 08:31.920]  Is the revolution going to go forward, or is the revolution going to be molded and subdued
[08:31.920 --> 08:35.160]  into submissive role to the military?
[08:35.160 --> 08:41.360]  But really, the military has to step aside and let the civilian government come to power
[08:41.360 --> 08:46.120]  once the election are held, and the election should be held as soon as possible.
[08:46.120 --> 08:51.800]  They will not give up the power that easily, but I think the Egyptian people and the Arabs
[08:51.800 --> 08:58.760]  in general have lost their fear from corrupt government, and they have restored their dignity,
[08:58.760 --> 09:02.920]  and they will not tolerate another military dictatorship in their country.
[09:02.920 --> 09:07.840]  I think all the evidence indicate that, despite the sacrifices they have given.
[09:07.840 --> 09:11.480]  World News in brief this Saturday, Nigeria first.
[09:11.480 --> 09:15.600]  The country's leaders declared a state of emergency in areas hit by a wave of Islamist
[09:15.600 --> 09:16.600]  attacks.
[09:16.600 --> 09:20.520]  President Goodluck Jonathan shut borders with neighboring countries after a string of Christmas
[09:20.520 --> 09:23.080]  Day blasts, which killed over 40.
[09:23.080 --> 09:27.360]  He's vowed to crush Boko Haram militants who claimed responsibility.
[09:27.360 --> 09:30.720]  Violence has continued since churches throughout the country were first attacked a week ago
[09:30.720 --> 09:31.720]  now.
[09:31.720 --> 09:36.520]  Tens of thousands have fled their homes, fearing further conflict.
[09:36.520 --> 09:40.800]  The Sudan's government is sending army and police to an area at the center of a violent
[09:40.800 --> 09:42.080]  tribal conflict.
[09:42.080 --> 09:46.120]  The town of Pibor was attacked by thousands of fighters from a rival tribe who torched
[09:46.120 --> 09:49.640]  buildings, stole livestock, and forced scores to flee.
[09:49.640 --> 09:53.120]  U.N. troops deployed in the region were unable to enforce security.
[09:53.120 --> 09:57.920]  In recent months, ethnic infighting caused by cattle rustling has left around 1,000 people
[09:57.920 --> 09:58.920]  dead.
[09:58.920 --> 10:05.560]  A former member of the Japanese cult behind an attack on the Tokyo subway in 1995 turned
[10:05.560 --> 10:09.320]  himself in to police just before midnight last night, New Year's Eve.
[10:09.320 --> 10:14.080]  He'd been in hiding for 17 years since the group released sarin gas on the underground
[10:14.080 --> 10:16.120]  system at the time, killing 13.
[10:16.120 --> 10:20.800]  Aung Shin Reku started as a spiritual movement, mixing Hindu and Buddhist beliefs, but then
[10:20.800 --> 10:25.840]  developed into a doomsday cult obsessed with Armageddon.
[10:25.840 --> 10:30.280]  U.S. President Barack Obama signed into effect a law which means that any person can be detained
[10:30.280 --> 10:32.680]  indefinitely without charge.
[10:32.680 --> 10:36.040]  The major defense bill is aimed at dealing with terror suspects, and it comes with a
[10:36.040 --> 10:39.840]  massive $662 billion price tag, too.
[10:39.840 --> 10:43.880]  But critics say the military will now have more authority to interrogate people, denying
[10:43.880 --> 10:47.960]  them their basic constitutional rights.
[10:47.960 --> 10:52.400]  This is RT Live from Moscow, still ahead in the program with me, Kevin Owen, down with
[10:52.400 --> 10:53.400]  knowledge.
[10:53.400 --> 10:54.400]  What's the capital of Iran?
[10:54.400 --> 10:55.400]  Who cares?
[10:55.400 --> 10:56.400]  Do you know who the president of Iran is?
[10:56.400 --> 10:57.400]  No.
[10:57.400 --> 10:58.400]  All right.
[10:58.400 --> 10:59.400]  Do you know his name?
[10:59.400 --> 11:00.400]  Medvedev or something.
[11:00.400 --> 11:06.440]  Well, we set out for the streets of New York to discover what Americans know about their
[11:06.440 --> 11:12.440]  country's policy at home and across the globe.
[11:12.440 --> 11:16.200]  There's not much New Year cheer from economists predicting a return to recession in Europe
[11:16.200 --> 11:17.200]  for 2012.
[11:17.200 --> 11:22.240]  In fact, leaders used New Year messages to warn of hard times ahead in their respective
[11:22.240 --> 11:23.240]  countries.
[11:23.240 --> 11:28.200]  German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Europe was facing its most severe test in decades,
[11:28.200 --> 11:31.840]  while French President Sarkozy has warned that the debt crisis blanketing the continent
[11:31.840 --> 11:33.640]  was far from over.
[11:33.640 --> 11:36.960]  Many governments have been forced to slash their spending to meet debt obligations as
[11:36.960 --> 11:39.920]  economic growth in Europe has been at a standstill.
[11:39.920 --> 11:43.540]  Some analysts believe that the EU leaders' attempts at keeping the Eurozone together
[11:43.540 --> 11:46.720]  is only deepening the crisis.
[11:46.720 --> 11:52.960]  European leaders are trying to shore up the Eurozone by having greater degrees of centralization
[11:52.960 --> 11:58.440]  and not having countries like France and Germany have the final say, in a sense, over the budgets
[11:58.440 --> 12:03.160]  of those EU member states that have excessive budget deficits.
[12:03.160 --> 12:05.960]  But that really isn't the answer to the problems.
[12:05.960 --> 12:11.280]  What's really needed is either a massive injection of cash into countries like Greece and Italy
[12:11.280 --> 12:12.520]  to shore up their economies.
[12:12.520 --> 12:16.360]  Of course, another option would, of course, to recognize that the single currency has
[12:16.360 --> 12:20.640]  hurt competitiveness in many rim nations of the Eurozone.
[12:20.640 --> 12:25.120]  So really, there's a number of options, either to transfer funds from the north to the struggling
[12:25.120 --> 12:29.760]  south or, of course, have an orderly breakup of the Eurozone.
[12:29.760 --> 12:33.320]  Israeli militaries confirmed it carried out an airstrike on Gaza on Friday.
[12:33.320 --> 12:37.080]  One Palestinian was killed in the attack, which Tel Aviv claims was aimed at preventing
[12:37.080 --> 12:39.720]  militants from firing rockets into Israel.
[12:39.720 --> 12:44.000]  The country has been stepping up its airstrikes in recent months, leaving dozens dead.
[12:44.000 --> 12:48.120]  Three years after the Jewish state briefly invaded Gaza, military officials are now saying
[12:48.120 --> 12:52.640]  that they have to start what they call a, quote, war of necessity.
[12:52.640 --> 12:55.640]  Attempts at brokering a peace deal have so far proven fruitless.
[12:55.640 --> 12:58.400]  But Israeli columnist Gideon Levi spoke to us.
[12:58.400 --> 13:03.800]  He thinks Tel Aviv isn't really trying to avoid a conflict.
[13:03.800 --> 13:07.160]  Three years ago, Israel had a carte blanche, and not only a carte blanche.
[13:07.160 --> 13:14.280]  The West had plauded Israel and didn't say a word against this attack.
[13:14.280 --> 13:17.120]  But this time, we are facing a new Egypt.
[13:17.120 --> 13:19.840]  And Gaza is in the backyard of Egypt.
[13:19.840 --> 13:25.120]  And I'm not sure that Egypt will remain indifferent vis-à-vis another attack.
[13:25.120 --> 13:31.240]  But having said this, I'm not sure that this is enough to prevent an attack, because, unfortunately,
[13:31.240 --> 13:37.520]  Israeli politicians and generals not always react in the most rational and logical way.
[13:37.520 --> 13:44.760]  The current government of Israel has no serious intention about a serious dialogue with the
[13:44.760 --> 13:45.760]  Palestinians.
[13:45.760 --> 13:49.000]  No opportunities, but nothing more than this.
[13:49.000 --> 13:55.280]  And the PA, the Palestinian Authority, had just launched another proposal for Israel
[13:55.280 --> 13:58.400]  to get back to the negotiation table.
[13:58.400 --> 14:05.040]  They even gave up the precondition of freezing the settlements, which is a minimum condition.
[14:05.040 --> 14:12.520]  And they had suggested just a symbolic release of 100 Palestinian prisoners to get back to
[14:12.520 --> 14:14.160]  the negotiation table.
[14:14.160 --> 14:15.960]  And what did Israel say?
[14:15.960 --> 14:16.960]  No?
[14:16.960 --> 14:17.960]  OK.
[14:17.960 --> 14:22.440]  Well, on a happy note, Russia welcomed 2012 in with a bang last night, being the world's
[14:22.440 --> 14:23.440]  biggest country.
[14:23.440 --> 14:26.800]  It celebrated New Year nine times, as you can see on the map there, thanks to its nine
[14:26.800 --> 14:27.880]  time zones.
[14:27.880 --> 14:34.360]  All kick-started off in the Far East and then swept through Russia's westernmost point,
[14:34.360 --> 14:38.240]  the Baltic city of Kaliningrad, finishing off with some great fireworks there, while
[14:38.240 --> 14:42.360]  hundreds also gathered in Moscow's Red Square, of course, to toast in the New Year's.
[14:42.360 --> 14:44.440]  Great show from Moscow.
[14:44.440 --> 14:47.600]  And the whole rest of the world was treated in mass celebrations around the globe as well.
[14:47.600 --> 14:51.760]  That was the scene in New York, thousands packing Times Square for the ceremonial ball
[14:51.760 --> 14:53.400]  dropping at midnight.
[14:53.400 --> 14:57.480]  Australia, beautiful fireworks, it was an iconic sight from them, among the first, of
[14:57.480 --> 15:02.320]  course, to open its doors to the New Year with glittering fireworks over Sydney Harbour.
[15:02.320 --> 15:07.000]  Great fireworks in Asia too, picking at the baton, spectacular shows held across the region,
[15:07.000 --> 15:11.460]  and Dubai also putting on a spectacle, hundreds gathering at the world's tallest building
[15:11.460 --> 15:15.720]  to watch an amazing illumination there, and a super show from London, don't know if you
[15:15.720 --> 15:20.800]  caught it or not, millions of revellers packing cities throughout Europe, but a particularly
[15:20.800 --> 15:24.680]  good show there from London last night, the London Iron Fireworks coming out from Big
[15:24.680 --> 15:25.680]  Ben as well.
[15:25.680 --> 15:32.400]  So a celebration sweeping the globe, our teaser this and now, it looks back at what made 2011.
[15:32.400 --> 15:39.120]  2011 could easily go down as the most eventful year in years.
[15:39.120 --> 15:44.760]  The killing of Bin Laden after a decade-long manhunt, Libya's Gaddafi after months of NATO
[15:44.760 --> 15:57.820]  bombing and the death of North Korea's Kim Jong-il don't even begin to illustrate 2011.
[15:57.820 --> 16:02.960]  Time chose the protester as person of the year, and although there were different slogans,
[16:02.960 --> 16:10.360]  signs and demanded solutions, 2011 will ultimately be remembered as the year people came out
[16:10.360 --> 16:12.240]  onto the streets.
[16:12.240 --> 16:18.440]  The Arab Spring bloomed into a European summer, which harvested an American autumn.
[16:18.440 --> 16:25.840]  From Cairo to California, Moscow to Madrid, Tahrir to Occupy, global rallies shared common
[16:25.840 --> 16:31.720]  themes, but if one thing stood out in the mid-east and North Africa alone, it was protests
[16:31.720 --> 16:40.080]  that led down one road, regime change.
[16:40.080 --> 16:46.760]  Tunisia and Egypt got rid of their dictators without war, but Libya was not so lucky.
[16:46.760 --> 16:51.320]  NATO and allies began a humanitarian mission with a fierce bombing campaign.
[16:51.320 --> 16:57.000]  The critics called it a mislabeled invasion to take down Gaddafi for benefits.
[16:57.000 --> 17:00.320]  The only reason they're interested with Libya is about the oil.
[17:00.320 --> 17:04.340]  You hear anybody screaming and yelling about all those people last week that were killed
[17:04.340 --> 17:07.080]  in the Ivory Coast or the Sudan?
[17:07.080 --> 17:13.120]  Gaddafi was brutally killed in October as the world watched the graphic video go viral.
[17:13.120 --> 17:19.200]  Thousands of civilians were killed over months of bombing, and as 2012 neared, Syria found
[17:19.200 --> 17:25.700]  itself in a similar setup for intervention, Russia and China fearing a repeat of the situation
[17:25.700 --> 17:29.240]  in Libya as civil war intensifies.
[17:29.240 --> 17:36.440]  This is a direct, in fact, a direct clash between the U.S. and NATO on one side and
[17:36.440 --> 17:41.360]  Russia and China on the other side, much more than it was in Libya.
[17:41.360 --> 17:51.200]  Protests continue in Egypt, Libya, Syria and many more Arab countries as the year ends.
[17:51.200 --> 17:56.960]  The battle to save the drowning single currency left boardrooms and banks in 2011 and flooded
[17:56.960 --> 18:01.720]  the streets of Europe, most commonly and violently in Athens.
[18:01.720 --> 18:05.280]  Greek debt became the centerpiece of the euro crisis.
[18:05.280 --> 18:10.600]  Protests raged against desperate austerity cuts to qualify for IMF bailouts, while Germany
[18:10.600 --> 18:14.200]  and France vied for influence in the debt-ridden zone.
[18:14.200 --> 18:19.760]  I think we will see an exit of Greece, given the situation in which the Greek economy finds
[18:19.760 --> 18:22.440]  itself that has become really unavoidable.
[18:22.440 --> 18:26.720]  Draining the economy of big euro brother Germany can't go on forever.
[18:26.720 --> 18:31.920]  Greece and Italy are now led by unelected Brussels-backed technocrat leaders who are
[18:31.920 --> 18:35.400]  trying to curb the crisis coming into a new year.
[18:35.400 --> 18:41.800]  Critics say 2011, bailouts or bust, was the beginning of the end for the single European
[18:41.800 --> 18:42.800]  currency.
[18:42.800 --> 18:50.400]  There's every chance the euro is going to crash and burn.
[18:50.400 --> 18:56.200]  London burned for days in the summer of 2011, what began as a peaceful protest demanding
[18:56.200 --> 19:01.640]  justice over the death of a 29-year-old man who was shot by police, turned into days of
[19:01.640 --> 19:04.880]  riots and left authorities helpless.
[19:04.880 --> 19:10.120]  Talks of possibly bringing out the military buzzed as shops were looted, cars set on fire
[19:10.120 --> 19:13.160]  and windows smashed across the UK.
[19:13.160 --> 19:19.000]  The police, the job center, the banks, everything that's happening, the recession, you know,
[19:19.000 --> 19:21.360]  there's a lot of anger about that.
[19:21.360 --> 19:27.600]  Social experts also threw a failed multi-culti program and racism into the mix.
[19:27.600 --> 19:32.880]  The overuse of stop and search and a sense that the police are certainly institutionally
[19:32.880 --> 19:38.600]  against young urban people and probably institutionally racist as well.
[19:38.600 --> 19:42.400]  The riots faded, but the problems are still pressing.
[19:42.400 --> 19:50.520]  Some say only a spark is needed to set the public off again.
[19:50.520 --> 19:55.360]  Street by Wall Street became a household name in the U.S. and around the world, but when
[19:55.360 --> 19:59.080]  the protests began in September, few were talking about it.
[19:59.080 --> 20:05.240]  The mainstream media stayed silent until 700 people were arrested on the Brooklyn Bridge.
[20:05.240 --> 20:06.240]  And then...
[20:06.240 --> 20:10.320]  It's really based in the anarchist roots of American politics.
[20:10.320 --> 20:12.920]  The crowd is easy to mock.
[20:12.920 --> 20:14.640]  They are disorganized.
[20:14.640 --> 20:15.640]  They look funny.
[20:15.640 --> 20:17.200]  What are they protesting?
[20:17.200 --> 20:18.560]  Nobody seems to know.
[20:18.560 --> 20:24.920]  But negative coverage didn't stop OWS from spreading from small towns to huge ports.
[20:24.920 --> 20:27.800]  Occupied was not going anywhere.
[20:27.800 --> 20:33.760]  Raids on camps, heavy-handed police and burning pepper spray only helped Occupy grow and spread
[20:33.760 --> 20:39.360]  their message of the need for economic equality and an end to corporate greed.
[20:39.360 --> 20:46.120]  Their slogan became, we are the 99 percent, and they, the rich, the 1 percent.
[20:46.120 --> 20:52.560]  From Oakland to Boston, the more people occupied, the more brutality became more evident.
[20:52.560 --> 21:06.600]  Our police forces have been militarized.
[21:06.600 --> 21:09.400]  They are working more in cooperation with the Pentagon.
[21:09.400 --> 21:15.840]  They're buying and being given military surplus equipment that has been kind of designed for
[21:15.840 --> 21:17.240]  use in war.
[21:17.240 --> 21:23.440]  And this is something that leads to treating the public as you would treat an enemy.
[21:23.440 --> 21:33.320]  A public that has promised to come out in full force in 2012.
[21:33.320 --> 21:37.520]  Parliamentary elections were the push behind tens of thousands of people coming out onto
[21:37.520 --> 21:45.160]  the streets of Moscow after allegations the December Duma vote was rigged.
[21:45.160 --> 21:50.640]  The protests, at least 50,000 strong, the largest in recent history, called for free
[21:50.640 --> 21:54.400]  and fair elections and remained peaceful.
[21:54.400 --> 21:58.960]  Ruling party United Russia lost popularity in the vote, with official results putting
[21:58.960 --> 22:01.920]  their numbers at almost 50 percent.
[22:01.920 --> 22:08.120]  But experts say a 16 percent drop from 2007 should be taken as a warning.
[22:08.120 --> 22:14.960]  I think a lot of people wanted to punish United Russia for having power for so long.
[22:14.960 --> 22:18.120]  And maybe not doing everything they could.
[22:18.120 --> 22:23.520]  Protests organized by vast groups of opposition members are set to continue in 2012.
[22:23.520 --> 22:28.480]  Next year, Russia, along with the U.S. and France, hold presidential elections, which
[22:28.480 --> 22:34.760]  makes it a safe bet people will be out on the streets in 2012 in Europe, America and
[22:34.760 --> 22:36.360]  around the world.
[22:36.360 --> 23:00.760]  I'm Lisa Nauway, RT Moscow.
[23:00.760 --> 23:26.120]  Witnesses to history in the making.
[23:26.120 --> 23:36.760]  The men and women hoping to become the next president of the U.S. appear to spend as much
[23:36.760 --> 23:40.920]  time demonstrating their ignorance of the world as they do their political credentials.
[23:40.920 --> 23:48.080]  But as RT's Anastasia Churkin found out, that could just be a reflection of society.
[23:48.080 --> 23:53.320]  It's three agencies of government, when I get there, that are gone, commerce, education
[23:53.320 --> 23:56.280]  and the—what's the third one there?
[23:56.280 --> 23:57.280]  Let's see.
[23:57.280 --> 24:02.160]  He's looking to actually fire tens of thousands of federal workers and eliminate an entire
[24:02.160 --> 24:03.360]  cabinet-level position.
[24:03.360 --> 24:04.960]  He couldn't even remember its name.
[24:04.960 --> 24:07.000]  They ask me, who's the president of you?
[24:07.000 --> 24:08.800]  Becky, Becky, Becky, Becky, Stan, Stan.
[24:08.800 --> 24:10.760]  I'm going to say, you know, I don't know.
[24:10.760 --> 24:11.760]  Do you know?
[24:11.760 --> 24:13.320]  It's not the fact that he doesn't know.
[24:13.320 --> 24:16.360]  It's the fact that he doesn't think he should look it up.
[24:16.360 --> 24:21.760]  Do you agree with President Obama on Libya or not?
[24:21.760 --> 24:24.760]  OK, Libya.
[24:24.760 --> 24:32.000]  The basic knowledge of those attempting to spearhead a country can leave much to be desired.
[24:32.000 --> 24:36.120]  Where does this leave Americans choosing their politicians and their country's potential
[24:36.120 --> 24:37.120]  future?
[24:37.120 --> 24:38.120]  Let's find out.
[24:38.120 --> 24:43.920]  Uzbekistan, I've heard of it through Borat.
[24:43.920 --> 24:46.600]  For some reason, I don't know anything about Libya.
[24:46.600 --> 24:48.120]  Do you know what Uzbekistan is?
[24:48.120 --> 24:51.000]  No, I do not know what Uzbekistan is.
[24:51.000 --> 24:52.000]  Uzbekistan?
[24:52.000 --> 24:53.000]  No.
[24:53.000 --> 24:55.880]  Do you know the U.S. has an air base there?
[24:55.880 --> 24:56.880]  No idea.
[24:56.880 --> 24:59.400]  What do you know about Libya?
[24:59.400 --> 25:00.400]  Not much.
[25:00.400 --> 25:01.720]  Do you know how to spell Libya?
[25:01.720 --> 25:02.720]  Yes.
[25:02.720 --> 25:03.720]  Yes.
[25:03.720 --> 25:07.600]  Do you know the United States was involved in a war with Libya?
[25:07.600 --> 25:08.600]  OK.
[25:08.600 --> 25:11.760]  Do you know why?
[25:11.760 --> 25:12.760]  Nope.
[25:12.760 --> 25:15.440]  I know absolutely nothing about Libya, honestly.
[25:15.440 --> 25:16.720]  What about New Mexico?
[25:16.720 --> 25:18.200]  Is that a state or a country?
[25:18.200 --> 25:19.200]  Uh-oh, what is that?
[25:19.200 --> 25:23.000]  I think we should have been on TV because we're so dumb.
[25:23.000 --> 25:26.360]  Who's the vice president now?
[25:26.360 --> 25:27.360]  It's the old man.
[25:27.360 --> 25:28.360]  Under Bush?
[25:28.360 --> 25:29.360]  Wow.
[25:29.360 --> 25:30.360]  I actually...
[25:30.360 --> 25:31.360]  Come on.
[25:31.360 --> 25:32.360]  It was not that long ago.
[25:32.360 --> 25:33.360]  Oh, oh, oh.
[25:33.360 --> 25:34.360]  Cheney, yeah.
[25:34.360 --> 25:35.360]  Who is the vice president of the U.S.?
[25:35.360 --> 25:36.360]  You know, I have no idea.
[25:36.360 --> 25:37.360]  I know it's Barack Obama, but...
[25:37.360 --> 25:38.360]  The vice president?
[25:38.360 --> 25:39.360]  Cheney.
[25:39.360 --> 25:40.360]  So who is the secretary of state?
[25:40.360 --> 25:50.640]  Condoleezza Rice, they'll know.
[25:50.640 --> 25:55.440]  We would be fools and knaves to ignore their purpose and their plan.
[25:55.440 --> 26:00.120]  Some countries are at the top of politicians' list to attack verbally and literally.
[26:00.120 --> 26:03.360]  But how much do people really know about those faraway places?
[26:03.360 --> 26:04.360]  What's the capital of Iran?
[26:04.360 --> 26:05.360]  Give it to me.
[26:05.360 --> 26:06.360]  Tehran.
[26:06.360 --> 26:07.360]  Yeah, Tehran.
[26:07.360 --> 26:08.360]  Yeah.
[26:08.360 --> 26:09.360]  Who's the president?
[26:09.360 --> 26:10.360]  Who?
[26:10.360 --> 26:11.360]  Ahmadinejad.
[26:11.360 --> 26:12.360]  Do you know who the president of Iran is?
[26:12.360 --> 26:13.360]  No.
[26:13.360 --> 26:14.360]  The capital?
[26:14.360 --> 26:15.360]  Capital of Iran?
[26:15.360 --> 26:16.360]  No.
[26:16.360 --> 26:19.360]  Do you know the capital city of Iran?
[26:19.360 --> 26:20.360]  Negative.
[26:20.360 --> 26:22.360]  Do you guys know what Iran is?
[26:22.360 --> 26:23.360]  Of course, yes.
[26:23.360 --> 26:24.360]  What's the capital of Iran?
[26:24.360 --> 26:25.360]  Who cares?
[26:25.360 --> 26:26.360]  Who is the president?
[26:26.360 --> 26:27.360]  Who's president?
[26:27.360 --> 26:28.360]  He just died.
[26:28.360 --> 26:29.360]  What about the capital of Iran?
[26:29.360 --> 26:30.360]  The capital?
[26:30.360 --> 26:31.360]  Yes, I do.
[26:31.360 --> 26:32.360]  What is it?
[26:32.360 --> 26:39.360]  You're asking me?
[26:39.360 --> 26:42.360]  I can't tell you that either.
[26:42.360 --> 26:43.360]  Top secret.
[26:43.360 --> 26:44.360]  Come on.
[26:44.360 --> 26:45.360]  I don't know why it's bothering me.
[26:45.360 --> 26:46.360]  It's not Libya.
[26:46.360 --> 26:47.360]  It's Pakistan.
[26:47.360 --> 26:48.360]  Anything?
[26:48.360 --> 26:49.360]  Any guesses?
[26:49.360 --> 26:50.360]  No.
[26:50.360 --> 26:51.360]  You look like Osama.
[26:51.360 --> 26:52.360]  He's the president of Iraq.
[26:52.360 --> 26:53.360]  Iran.
[26:53.360 --> 26:54.360]  Iran, right.
[26:54.360 --> 26:55.360]  All right.
[26:55.360 --> 26:56.360]  Do you know his name?
[26:56.360 --> 26:57.360]  Medageta Jaff or something.
[26:57.360 --> 27:02.360]  When it comes to picking a future for the U.S., choosing what comes next may be tough
[27:02.360 --> 27:06.360]  without the knowledge of what has gone on in the past and even the very present.
[27:06.360 --> 27:09.360]  Anastasia Churkuna, RT, New York.
[27:09.360 --> 27:12.360]  I like that you can't tell your top secret response.
[27:12.360 --> 27:15.360]  Sport Live from Moscow a little bit later this hour.
[27:15.360 --> 27:19.360]  Union's got news of why English football team Manchester City's New Year celebrations are
[27:19.360 --> 27:20.360]  extra special today.
[27:20.360 --> 27:22.360]  But it's headlines next in just under two minutes.
[27:22.360 --> 27:25.360]  In fact, you're on RT with me.
[27:25.360 --> 27:27.360]  Kevin Owen.
[27:55.360 --> 28:08.360]  Thank you.
[28:08.360 --> 28:27.360]  Thank you.
[28:27.360 --> 28:46.360]  Thank you.
[28:46.360 --> 29:05.360]  Thank you.
[29:05.360 --> 29:27.360]  Thank you.
[29:27.360 --> 29:28.360]  Hello again.
[29:28.360 --> 29:30.360]  The headlines from RT Moscow at 10.30 p.m.
[29:30.360 --> 29:31.360]  New Year's Day.
[29:31.360 --> 29:35.360]  President Obama signed a bill which imposes new tough sanctions on Iran over its disputed
[29:35.360 --> 29:36.360]  nuclear program.
[29:36.360 --> 29:41.360]  That's despite Iran's threats to shut off a key oil supply route in the Gulf as tension
[29:41.360 --> 29:45.360]  between the two countries continues to build.
[29:45.360 --> 29:50.360]  The Syrian regime's crackdown on demonstrators carries on unabated, forcing Arab League observers
[29:50.360 --> 29:52.360]  to warn Damascus to rein in the violence.
[29:52.360 --> 29:56.360]  The monitors are overseeing the implementation of a peace plan that President Assad agreed
[29:56.360 --> 29:59.360]  to.
[29:59.360 --> 30:01.360]  And the world.