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[00:00.000 --> 00:09.140]  10pm here in Moscow this New Year's Day, a warm welcome to you if you've just joined
[00:09.140 --> 00:10.140]  us.
[00:10.140 --> 00:11.140]  My name is Kevin Owen.
[00:11.140 --> 00:12.140]  This is RT.
[00:12.140 --> 00:17.180]  And our top story, U.S. President Barack Obama welcomed in the New Year by signing in a tough
[00:17.180 --> 00:20.540]  new law about a set of sanctions for Iran.
[00:20.540 --> 00:24.620]  Anyone doing business with Tehran's central bank will now face punishment thanks to the
[00:24.620 --> 00:28.020]  new measures directly targeting the financial sector.
[00:28.020 --> 00:32.360]  This move comes at a time of heightened tension over Iran's nuclear program, and the threat
[00:32.360 --> 00:38.280]  of sanctions has already seen Tehran threaten to block off a key oil export route in response.
[00:38.280 --> 00:42.920]  Well adding to the situation as well is Iran's plan to test long-range missiles during naval
[00:42.920 --> 00:43.920]  drills in the Gulf.
[00:43.920 --> 00:46.600]  That's led to U.S. warships being sent to the area.
[00:46.600 --> 00:51.160]  A researcher at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, Shirin Shafey,
[00:51.160 --> 00:55.800]  told us America's playing a dangerous game right now.
[00:55.800 --> 01:03.040]  Iran said that if an oil embargo is imposed against Iran and Iranian livelihood, its economy,
[01:03.040 --> 01:10.560]  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 --> 01:44.320]  To Syria now, with violence that began in March has spilled over into the new year.
[01:44.320 --> 01:47.840]  Arab League observers on a mission to the country have warned Damascus against cracking
[01:47.840 --> 01:48.840]  down on protesters.
[01:48.840 --> 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 --> 01:59.320]  An advisory group linked to the Arab League has now called for observers to pull out,
[01:59.320 --> 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 Ratanzi 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 --> 02:24.820]  It seems that any mobile footage is now accepted as a source.
[02:24.820 --> 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 --> 02:35.120]  But this isn't a Libya.
[02:35.120 --> 02:40.120]  Syria is a linchpin of the Middle East, and the United States and other countries, some
[02:40.120 --> 02:44.780]  of their more intelligent people, realize that there will be turmoil right across the
[02:44.780 --> 02:50.560]  Middle East if anything happens to destabilize the Assad government from outside forces.
[02:50.560 --> 02:55.280]  But certainly the Syrian government itself has to step up the pace, because it's certainly
[02:55.280 --> 02:58.040]  losing the propaganda battle.
[02:58.040 --> 03:02.400]  The Syrian regime claims it's fighting an armed insurgency funded from abroad.
[03:02.400 --> 03:06.160]  That's yet to be independently confirmed, but what is fact is that rebel fighters who
[03:06.160 --> 03:10.480]  helped overthrow Colonel Gaddafi in Libya are now eager to take the revolution to President
[03:10.480 --> 03:12.520]  Assad's door, too.
[03:12.520 --> 03:17.000]  Hundreds of Libyan mercenaries are reportedly already gunning for regime change in Syria.
[03:17.000 --> 03:20.720]  Ateez Oksana Boyko reported from Tripoli in the week.
[03:20.720 --> 03:24.120]  A butcher or dead meat.
[03:24.120 --> 03:28.880]  The owner of this kebab shop in Tripoli still undecided what's the most fitting term for
[03:28.880 --> 03:29.880]  Syria's Bashar al-Assad.
[03:29.880 --> 03:36.520]  Bashar al-Assad is the biggest criminal in the world, not in Syria.
[03:36.520 --> 03:37.520]  Not in Syria.
[03:37.520 --> 03:43.440]  And he killed our people in Syria.
[03:43.440 --> 03:47.960]  Out of solidarity with their Arab brothers, the owners of the shop have even put on display
[03:47.960 --> 03:53.680]  the Syrian rebels' tricolour, but they are very firm on where the revolutionary support
[03:53.680 --> 03:54.680]  should end.
[03:54.680 --> 03:57.240]  We don't want in Syria any soldiers.
[03:57.240 --> 04:04.600]  We have enough people and soldiers in Syria, free soldiers, only free soldiers.
[04:04.600 --> 04:05.600]  We have only.
[04:05.600 --> 04:06.600]  We have enough.
[04:06.600 --> 04:10.740]  But I think we want weapons.
[04:10.740 --> 04:16.000]  In less than three months, Libyan rebels have gone from being celebrated as liberators to
[04:16.000 --> 04:18.480]  being called occupiers.
[04:18.480 --> 04:23.880]  Tripoli residents rally almost every week, calling on the armed militia to leave.
[04:23.880 --> 04:28.560]  And for some of these young men hooked on adrenaline and unwilling to part with their
[04:28.560 --> 04:34.160]  rifles, Syria seems like the next logical destination.
[04:34.160 --> 04:36.400]  We're all ready to join the Syrian revolution.
[04:36.400 --> 04:40.280]  And with the help of Allah, we will make sure that what happened in Libya will repeat itself
[04:40.280 --> 04:43.480]  in Syria.
[04:43.480 --> 04:48.440]  The portraits of Sheikh Guevara are now ubiquitous on the streets of Tripoli, with some rebels
[04:48.440 --> 04:53.980]  even styling themselves to resemble the famous revolutionary.
[04:53.980 --> 04:58.360]  With the help of Allah, we can all be like Che Guevara, fighting for peace and freedom
[04:58.360 --> 05:01.840]  around the world.
[05:01.840 --> 05:07.120]  And it seems that Che Guevara's idea of exporting revolutions have gotten a second birth in
[05:07.120 --> 05:08.120]  the Middle East.
[05:08.120 --> 05:13.720]  The Arab Spring has created a buoyant marketplace for soldiers of fortune.
[05:13.720 --> 05:19.840]  They move from one revolution to another, some motivated by personal gain, some by conviction,
[05:19.840 --> 05:20.840]  others by adventure.
[05:20.840 --> 05:23.960]  They fight for their own vision of freedom.
[05:23.960 --> 05:28.940]  And for now, at least, it's the freedom to live by the gun.
[05:28.940 --> 05:33.880]  As romantic and spontaneous as it may appear, aiding the Syrian uprising with mercenaries
[05:33.880 --> 05:36.400]  may not be such a genuine move.
[05:36.400 --> 05:42.200]  Videos of women and children in Syria gunned down by snipers are abound on YouTube, while
[05:42.200 --> 05:45.960]  it's still unclear who is pulling the trigger.
[05:45.960 --> 05:51.240]  There are terrorist snipers who are shooting at civilians, men, women and children, blind
[05:51.240 --> 05:57.400]  terrorism, random killing, simply for the purpose of destabilizing the country.
[05:57.400 --> 06:02.560]  They're from Libya, they're from Afghanistan or Pakistan.
[06:02.560 --> 06:08.760]  Human fighters have been brought in here by the CIA and the other Western services.
[06:08.760 --> 06:12.760]  One man's terrorist could easily be another man's freedom fighter, but for the United
[06:12.760 --> 06:15.640]  States, it's now two in one.
[06:15.640 --> 06:20.960]  Abdel-Hakim Belhaj, one of the leaders of Tripoli militia, was once on the CIA most
[06:20.960 --> 06:22.120]  wanted list.
[06:22.120 --> 06:27.780]  Today, he's a face of the democratic Libya, who, according to artist sources, led a group
[06:27.780 --> 06:49.080]  of several hundred Libyan rebels to Syria just last month.
[06:49.080 --> 06:53.400]  The use of soldiers of fortune is hardly new in this troubled region.
[06:53.400 --> 06:58.680]  Middle Eastern rulers hired them for centuries as safeguards against their own populations.
[06:58.680 --> 07:03.880]  And it now looks like the history of mercenaries in the Middle East has got to its new and
[07:03.880 --> 07:09.520]  no less bloody chapter, Aksandar Boyko RT Tripoli.
[07:09.520 --> 07:13.120]  Still ahead for you this hour, the year in brief, we take a look back at just a few of
[07:13.120 --> 07:19.680]  the momentous stories that made the headlines in 2011 around the world.
[07:19.680 --> 07:24.160]  In Egypt, pro-democracy protesters held a candlelight vigil in Cairo's Tahrir Square
[07:24.160 --> 07:28.400]  on New Year's Eve in memory of those killed during the uprising that ousted Hosni Mubarak.
[07:28.400 --> 07:33.440]  Meanwhile, the US says Egypt's current leaders have agreed to halt raids on pro-democracy
[07:33.440 --> 07:34.440]  rights groups.
[07:34.440 --> 07:38.360]  Earlier this week, soldiers and police stormed offices of non-governmental organizations,
[07:38.360 --> 07:40.840]  including some funded by Washington.
[07:40.840 --> 07:44.880]  Documents and computers were seized as part of investigations into the foreign funding
[07:44.880 --> 07:46.440]  of organizations.
[07:46.440 --> 07:49.960]  The groups accused the ruling military of using the same tactics of repression as the
[07:49.960 --> 07:51.740]  Mubarak regime.
[07:51.740 --> 07:55.200]  Foreign policy analyst Dr. Adil Shamu told me he thinks the generals want to make sure
[07:55.200 --> 08:01.000]  they hold onto power, but that the people won't stop until they oust them.
[08:01.000 --> 08:07.320]  This is part of the military, the SCAV, the Supreme Council of Armed Forces, way of making
[08:07.320 --> 08:15.920]  sure that the revolution basically is molded to the type of government they want because
[08:15.920 --> 08:23.240]  that's—those are the same generals, by the way, who worked for Mubarak, the dictator.
[08:23.240 --> 08:28.320]  So that's really basically, as part of that struggle, is the revolution going to go forward
[08:28.320 --> 08:35.200]  or is the revolution going to be molded and subdued into submissive role to the military?
[08:35.200 --> 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 --> 08:58.720]  in general have lost their fear from corrupt government, and they have restored their dignity,
[08:58.720 --> 09:02.880]  and they will not tolerate another military dictatorship in their country.
[09:02.880 --> 09:07.840]  I think all the evidence indicate that, despite the sacrifices they have given.
[09:07.840 --> 09:12.760]  World News and Brief this hour in Nigeria First, the country's leaders declared a state
[09:12.760 --> 09:16.680]  of emergency in areas hit by a wave of Islamist attacks.
[09:16.680 --> 09:20.520]  President Goodluck Jonathan shut borders with neighboring countries after a string of Christmas
[09:20.520 --> 09:23.120]  Day blasts, which killed over 40.
[09:23.120 --> 09:27.360]  He's vowed to crush Boko Haram militants who claimed responsibility.
[09:27.360 --> 09:30.920]  Violence has continued since churches throughout the country were first attacked a week ago
[09:30.920 --> 09:31.920]  now.
[09:31.920 --> 09:36.520]  Tens of thousands have fled their homes, fearing further conflict.
[09:36.520 --> 09:40.760]  South Sudan's government is sending army and police to an area at the center of a violent
[09:40.760 --> 09:42.080]  tribal conflict.
[09:42.080 --> 09:46.240]  The town of Pibor was attacked by thousands of fighters from a rival tribe who torched
[09:46.240 --> 09:49.680]  buildings, stole livestock and forced scores to flee.
[09:49.680 --> 09:53.120]  UN troops deployed in the region were unable to enforce security.
[09:53.120 --> 09:57.640]  In recent months, ethnic infighting caused by cattle rustling has left around a thousand
[09:57.640 --> 09:58.640]  people dead.
[09:58.640 --> 10:05.560]  A former member of the Japanese cult behind an attack on the Tokyo subway in 1995 turned
[10:05.560 --> 10:09.000]  himself into police just before midnight last night, New Year's Eve.
[10:09.000 --> 10:14.080]  He'd been in hiding for 17 years since the group released sarin gas on the underground
[10:14.080 --> 10:16.280]  system at the time, killing 13.
[10:16.280 --> 10:20.800]  Aung Shinreku 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 --> 10:35.960]  The major defense bill is aimed at dealing with terrorist suspects, and it comes with
[10:35.960 --> 10:41.680]  a massive $662 billion price tag, too, but critics say the military will now have more
[10:41.680 --> 10:47.920]  authority to interrogate people denying them their basic constitutional rights.
[10:47.920 --> 10:52.320]  This is RT Live from Moscow, still ahead in the program with me, Kevin Owen, down with
[10:52.320 --> 10:53.320]  knowledge.
[10:53.320 --> 10:56.320]  What's the capital of Iran?
[10:56.320 --> 10:57.320]  Who cares?
[10:57.320 --> 10:58.320]  Do you know what the president of Iran is?
[10:58.320 --> 10:59.320]  No.
[10:59.320 --> 11:00.320]  All right.
[11:00.320 --> 11:01.320]  Do you know his name?
[11:01.320 --> 11:02.880]  I don't know.
[11:02.880 --> 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 --> 11:27.240]  German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that Europe was facing its most severe test in
[11:27.240 --> 11:31.360]  decades, while French President Sarkozy has warned that the debt crisis blanketing the
[11:31.360 --> 11:33.600]  continent was far from over.
[11:33.600 --> 11:36.920]  Many governments have been forced to slash their spending to meet debt obligations as
[11:36.920 --> 11:39.880]  economic growth in Europe has been at a standstill.
[11:39.880 --> 11:43.520]  Some analysts believe that the EU leaders' attempts at keeping the eurozone together
[11:43.520 --> 11:47.000]  is only deepening the crisis.
[11:47.000 --> 11:52.880]  European leaders are trying to shore up the eurozone by having greater degrees of centralization
[11:52.880 --> 11:58.400]  and having countries like France and Germany have the final say, in a sense, over the budgets
[11:58.400 --> 12:03.120]  of those EU member states that have excessive budget deficits.
[12:03.120 --> 12:05.920]  But that really isn't the answer to the problems.
[12:05.920 --> 12:11.240]  What's really needed is either a massive injection of cash into countries like Greece and Italy
[12:11.240 --> 12:12.440]  to shore up their economies.
[12:12.440 --> 12:16.320]  Of course, another option would, of course, to recognize that the single currency has
[12:16.320 --> 12:20.600]  hurt competitiveness in many rim nations of the eurozone.
[12:20.600 --> 12:25.120]  So really there's a number of options, either to transfer funds from the north to the struggling
[12:25.120 --> 12:28.560]  south or, of course, have an orderly breakup of the eurozone.
[12:28.560 --> 12:33.320]  The Israeli military has 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's 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 --> 12:52.600]  that they have to start what they call a, quote, war of necessity.
[12:52.600 --> 12:57.000]  Attempts at brokering a peace deal have so far proven fruitless, but Israeli columnist
[12:57.000 --> 12:58.400]  Gideon Navy spoke to us.
[12:58.400 --> 13:03.840]  He thinks Tel Aviv isn't really trying to avoid a conflict.
[13:03.840 --> 13:08.080]  Three years ago, Israel had a carte blanche, and not only a carte blanche, the West had
[13:08.080 --> 13:15.720]  plowded Israel and didn't say a word against this attack, but this time we are facing a
[13:15.720 --> 13:17.160]  new Egypt.
[13:17.160 --> 13:23.080]  And Gaza is in the backyard of Egypt, and I'm not sure that Egypt will remain indifferent
[13:23.080 --> 13:25.160]  vis-a-vis another attack.
[13:25.160 --> 13:31.280]  But having said this, I'm not sure that this is enough to prevent an attack, because, unfortunately,
[13:31.280 --> 13:37.560]  Israeli politicians and generals not always react in the most rational and logical way.
[13:37.560 --> 13:44.800]  The current government of Israel has no serious intention about a serious dialogue with the
[13:44.800 --> 13:48.960]  Palestinians, maybe some photo opportunities, but nothing more than this.
[13:48.960 --> 13:55.240]  And the PA, the Palestinian Authority, had just launched another proposal for Israel
[13:55.240 --> 13:58.360]  to get back to the negotiation table.
[13:58.360 --> 14:05.020]  They even gave up the precondition of freezing the settlements, which is a minimum condition.
[14:05.020 --> 14:12.480]  And they had suggested just a symbolic release of 100 Palestinian prisoners to get back to
[14:12.480 --> 14:14.160]  the negotiation table.
[14:14.160 --> 14:16.040]  And what did Israel say?
[14:16.040 --> 14:17.040]  No?
[14:17.040 --> 14:22.240]  OK, well, on a happy note, Russia welcomed 2012 in with a bang last night, being the
[14:22.240 --> 14:23.240]  world's biggest country.
[14:23.240 --> 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 --> 14:33.920]  All kickstarted off in the Far East and then swept through Russia's, to Russia's western-most
[14:33.920 --> 14:38.240]  point, the Baltic city of Kaliningrad, finishing off with some great fireworks there.
[14:38.240 --> 14:42.160]  While hundreds also gathered in Moscow's Red Square, of course, to toast in the New Year's
[14:42.160 --> 14:46.560]  great show from Moscow, and the whole rest of the world was treated in mass celebrations
[14:46.560 --> 14:47.560]  around the globe as well.
[14:47.560 --> 14:52.040]  That was the scene in New York, thousands packing Times Square for the ceremonial ball
[14:52.040 --> 14:53.560]  dropping at midnight.
[14:53.560 --> 14:56.600]  Australia, beautiful fireworks, it was an iconic sight from them.
[14:56.600 --> 15:00.280]  Among the first, of course, to open its doors to the New Year with glittering fireworks
[15:00.280 --> 15:02.240]  over Sydney Harbour.
[15:02.240 --> 15:06.300]  Great fireworks in Asia, too, picking at the bat, and a spectacular show is held across
[15:06.300 --> 15:07.300]  the region.
[15:07.300 --> 15:11.400]  And Dubai also putting on a spectacle, hundreds gathering at the world's tallest building
[15:11.400 --> 15:13.720]  to watch an amazing illumination there.
[15:13.720 --> 15:17.360]  And a super show from London, I don't know if you caught it or not, millions of revelers
[15:17.360 --> 15:22.880]  packing cities throughout Europe, but a particularly good show there from London last night.
[15:22.880 --> 15:25.680]  The London Eye and fireworks coming out from Big Ben as well.
[15:25.680 --> 15:32.600]  So a celebration sweeping the globe, Artisa Nisanoui looks back at what made 2011.
[15:32.600 --> 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 --> 15:57.840]  bombing and the death of North Korea's Kim Jong-il don't even begin to illustrate 2011.
[15:57.840 --> 16:00.880]  Time chose the protester as person of the year.
[16:00.880 --> 16:07.000]  And although there were different slogans, signs and demanded solutions, 2011 will ultimately
[16:07.000 --> 16:12.240]  be remembered as the year people came out 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 --> 16:26.840]  themes.
[16:26.840 --> 16:31.880]  But if one thing stood out in the Mideast and North Africa alone, it was protests that
[16:31.880 --> 16:34.680]  led down one road.
[16:34.680 --> 16:40.120]  Time change.
[16:40.120 --> 16:46.600]  Tunisia and Egypt got rid of their dictators without war, but Libya was not so lucky.
[16:46.600 --> 16:52.000]  NATO and allies began a humanitarian mission with a fierce bombing campaign, but critics
[16:52.000 --> 16:57.040]  called it a mislabeled invasion to take down Gaddafi for benefits.
[16:57.040 --> 17:00.080]  The only reason they're interested with Libya is about the oil.
[17:00.080 --> 17:04.360]  You hear anybody screaming and yelling about all those people last week that were killed
[17:04.360 --> 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 --> 17:29.220]  in Libya as civil war intensifies.
[17:29.220 --> 17:38.200]  This is a direct clash between the U.S. and NATO on one side and Russia and China on the
[17:38.200 --> 17:41.320]  other side, much more than it was in Libya.
[17:41.320 --> 17:51.160]  Protests continue in Egypt, Libya, Syria and many more Arab countries as the year ends.
[17:51.160 --> 17:56.920]  The battle to save the drowning single currency left boardrooms and banks in 2011 and flooded
[17:56.920 --> 18:01.680]  the streets of Europe, most commonly and violently in Athens.
[18:01.680 --> 18:04.880]  Greek debt became the centerpiece of the euro crisis.
[18:04.880 --> 18:10.560]  Protests raged against desperate austerity cuts to qualify for IMF bailouts, while Germany
[18:10.560 --> 18:14.240]  and France vied for influence in the debt-ridden zone.
[18:14.240 --> 18:19.720]  I think we will see an exit of Greece given the situation in which the Greek economy finds
[18:19.720 --> 18:22.680]  itself that has become really unavoidable.
[18:22.680 --> 18:26.840]  Draining the economy of big euro brother Germany can't go on forever.
[18:26.840 --> 18:31.920]  Greece and Italy are now led by unelected Brussels-backed technocrat leaders who are
[18:31.920 --> 18:35.360]  trying to curb the crisis coming into a new year.
[18:35.360 --> 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 --> 18:56.280]  London burned for days in the summer of 2011, what began as a peaceful protest demanding
[18:56.280 --> 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 --> 19:04.840]  riots and left authorities helpless.
[19:04.840 --> 19:10.160]  Talks of possibly bringing out the military buzzed as shops were looted, cars set on fire
[19:10.160 --> 19:13.200]  and windows smashed across the UK.
[19:13.200 --> 19:19.040]  The police, the job center, the banks, everything that's happening, the recession, you know,
[19:19.040 --> 19:21.400]  there's a lot of anger about that.
[19:21.400 --> 19:27.640]  Political experts also threw a failed multi-culti program and racism into the mix.
[19:27.640 --> 19:33.480]  The abuse of stop and search and a sense that the police are certainly institutionally against
[19:33.480 --> 19:38.640]  young urban people and probably institutionally racist as well.
[19:38.640 --> 19:42.440]  The riots faded but the problems are still pressing.
[19:42.440 --> 19:50.360]  Some say only a spark is needed to set the public off again.
[19:50.360 --> 19:55.400]  Occupy Wall Street became a household name in the US and around the world but when the
[19:55.400 --> 19:59.000]  protest began in September, few were talking about it.
[19:59.000 --> 20:05.000]  The mainstream media stayed silent until 700 people were arrested on the Brooklyn Bridge
[20:05.000 --> 20:06.000]  and then...
[20:06.000 --> 20:10.280]  It's really based in the anarchist roots of American politics.
[20:10.280 --> 20:12.880]  The crowd is easy to mock.
[20:12.880 --> 20:13.880]  They are disorganized.
[20:13.880 --> 20:14.880]  They look funny.
[20:14.880 --> 20:17.160]  What are they protesting?
[20:17.160 --> 20:18.520]  Nobody seems to know.
[20:18.520 --> 20:25.080]  But negative coverage didn't stop OWS from spreading from small towns to huge ports.
[20:25.080 --> 20:27.640]  Occupy was not going anywhere.
[20:27.640 --> 20:33.720]  Raids on camps, heavy-handed police and burning pepper spray only helped Occupy grow and spread
[20:33.720 --> 20:39.320]  their message of the need for economic equality and an end to corporate greed.
[20:39.320 --> 20:46.080]  Their slogan became, we are the 99% and they, the rich, the 1%.
[20:46.080 --> 21:03.600]  From Oakland to Boston, the more people occupied, the more brutality became more evident.
[21:03.600 --> 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 --> 21:22.600]  use in war and this is something that leads to treating the public as you would treat
[21:22.600 --> 21:23.600]  an enemy.
[21:23.600 --> 21:33.800]  A public that has promised to come out in full force in 2012.
[21:33.800 --> 21:37.520]  Parliamentary elections were the push behind tens of thousands of people coming out onto
[21:37.520 --> 21:45.180]  the streets of Moscow after allegations the December Duma vote was rigged.
[21:45.180 --> 21:51.280]  The protest, at least 50,000 strong, the largest in recent history, called for free and fair
[21:51.280 --> 21:54.680]  elections and remained peaceful.
[21:54.680 --> 21:59.000]  Ruling party United Russia lost popularity in the vote with official results putting
[21:59.000 --> 22:01.960]  their numbers at almost 50%.
[22:01.960 --> 22:08.160]  But experts say a 16% drop from 2007 should be taken as a warning.
[22:08.160 --> 22:15.160]  I think a lot of people wanted to punish United Russia for having power for so long and maybe
[22:15.160 --> 22:18.040]  not doing everything they could.
[22:18.040 --> 22:23.440]  Protests organized by vast groups of opposition members are set to continue in 2012.
[22:23.440 --> 22:28.400]  Next year Russia, along with the U.S. and France, hold presidential elections, which
[22:28.400 --> 22:34.720]  makes it a safe bet people will be out on the streets in 2012 in Europe, America, and
[22:34.720 --> 22:35.720]  around the world.
[22:35.720 --> 22:36.720]  In Isinaue, R.T., Moscow.
[22:36.720 --> 22:43.920]  Well, we've got more on all the events that shaped 2011 waiting on our website as well,
[22:43.920 --> 22:44.920]  rt.com.
[22:44.920 --> 22:45.920]  Thank you for that.
[22:45.920 --> 22:49.880]  If you see how the world celebrated the arrival of 2012, the next year you can find some spectacular
[22:49.880 --> 22:53.000]  footage of the New Year celebrations and fireworks around the globe.
[22:53.000 --> 22:55.640]  We've compiled them all for you there.
[22:55.640 --> 22:59.040]  Also the end of the year saw U.S. troops wave farewell to Iraq.
[22:59.040 --> 23:04.960]  rt.com explores the implications and consequences of nine years of conflict.
[23:04.960 --> 23:09.800]  And a look at the uprisings, the demos, the disasters indeed of 2011 are seen through
[23:09.800 --> 23:11.520]  the eyes of our correspondents.
[23:11.520 --> 23:14.960]  Everything seriously brought you last week, if you didn't catch it, it's online.
[23:14.960 --> 23:19.760]  You can hear their testimonies at rt.com.
[23:19.760 --> 23:25.720]  Witnesses to history in the making.
[23:25.720 --> 23:28.160]  Testimony.
[23:28.160 --> 23:33.040]  Ten stories that shaped 2011 on R.T.
[23:33.040 --> 23:36.800]  The men and women hoping to become the next president of the U.S. appear to spend as much
[23:36.800 --> 23:40.960]  time demonstrating their ignorance of the world as they do their political credentials.
[23:40.960 --> 23:42.960]  But as R.T.
[23:42.960 --> 23:48.120]  found out, that could just be a reflection of society.
[23:48.120 --> 23:53.800]  It's three agencies of government when I get there that are gone, commerce, education,
[23:53.800 --> 23:56.880]  and the, what's the third one there, let's see.
[23:56.880 --> 24:02.160]  He's looking to actually fire tens of thousands of federal workers and eliminate an entire
[24:02.160 --> 24:03.760]  cabinet level position.
[24:03.760 --> 24:05.000]  He couldn't even remember its name.
[24:05.000 --> 24:09.040]  They asked me who's the president of you, Becky, Becky, Becky, Becky, Stan, Stan, I'm
[24:09.040 --> 24:11.400]  going to say, you know, I don't know, do you know?
[24:11.400 --> 24:15.880]  It's not the fact that he doesn't know, it's the fact that he doesn't think he should look
[24:15.880 --> 24:16.880]  it up.
[24:16.880 --> 24:22.560]  Do you agree with President Obama on Libya or not?
[24:22.560 --> 24:26.800]  OK, Libya.
[24:26.800 --> 24:32.000]  The basic knowledge of those attempting to spearhead a country can leave much to be desired.
[24:32.000 --> 24:35.960]  Where does this leave Americans choosing their politicians and their country's potential
[24:35.960 --> 24:36.960]  future?
[24:36.960 --> 24:39.400]  Let's find out.
[24:39.400 --> 24:43.920]  Uzbekistan, I've heard of it through Borat.
[24:43.920 --> 24:46.000]  For some reason, I don't know anything about Libya.
[24:46.000 --> 24:48.080]  Do you know what Uzbekistan is?
[24:48.080 --> 24:50.920]  No, I do not know what Uzbekistan is.
[24:50.920 --> 24:51.920]  Uzbekistan?
[24:51.920 --> 24:52.920]  No.
[24:52.920 --> 24:55.640]  Do you know the U.S. is an air base there?
[24:55.640 --> 24:56.640]  No idea.
[24:56.640 --> 24:58.640]  What do you know about Libya?
[24:58.640 --> 24:59.640]  Not much.
[24:59.640 --> 25:01.640]  Do you know how to spell Libya?
[25:01.640 --> 25:02.640]  Yes.
[25:02.640 --> 25:03.640]  Yes.
[25:03.640 --> 25:07.640]  Do you know the United States was involved in a war with Libya?
[25:07.640 --> 25:08.640]  OK.
[25:08.640 --> 25:11.920]  Do you know why?
[25:11.920 --> 25:13.120]  Nope.
[25:13.120 --> 25:15.440]  I know absolutely nothing about Libya, honestly.
[25:15.440 --> 25:16.720]  What about New Mexico?
[25:16.720 --> 25:18.320]  Is that a state or a country?
[25:18.320 --> 25:20.360]  Uh-oh, what is that?
[25:20.360 --> 25:23.280]  I think we should be on TV because we're so dumb.
[25:23.280 --> 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 --> 25:34.040]  I actually...
[25:34.040 --> 25:35.040]  Come on.
[25:35.040 --> 25:36.040]  It was not that long ago.
[25:36.040 --> 25:37.040]  Oh, oh, oh.
[25:37.040 --> 25:38.040]  Cheney.
[25:38.040 --> 25:39.040]  Yeah.
[25:39.040 --> 25:40.040]  Who is the vice president of the U.S.?
[25:40.040 --> 25:41.800]  You know, I have no idea.
[25:41.800 --> 25:43.800]  I know it's Barack Obama, but...
[25:43.800 --> 25:45.800]  The vice president?
[25:45.800 --> 25:46.800]  Cheney?
[25:46.800 --> 25:48.800]  So who is the secretary of state?
[25:48.800 --> 25:49.800]  Condoleezza Rice?
[25:49.800 --> 25:50.800]  Still no.
[25:50.800 --> 25:55.440]  We would be fools and nays to ignore their purpose and their plan.
[25:55.440 --> 26:00.080]  Some countries are at the top of politicians' list to attack verbally and literally.
[26:00.080 --> 26:03.600]  But how much do people really know about those faraway places?
[26:03.600 --> 26:05.800]  What's the capital of Iran?
[26:05.800 --> 26:06.800]  Give it to me.
[26:06.800 --> 26:07.800]  Tehran?
[26:07.800 --> 26:08.800]  Yeah, Tehran, yeah.
[26:08.800 --> 26:09.800]  Who's the president?
[26:09.800 --> 26:10.800]  I'm with your dad.
[26:10.800 --> 26:11.800]  Who?
[26:11.800 --> 26:12.800]  I'm with your dad.
[26:12.800 --> 26:13.800]  Do you know what the president of Iran is?
[26:13.800 --> 26:14.800]  No.
[26:14.800 --> 26:15.800]  The capital?
[26:15.800 --> 26:16.800]  The capital of Iran?
[26:16.800 --> 26:17.800]  No.
[26:17.800 --> 26:19.280]  Do you know the capital city of Iran?
[26:19.280 --> 26:21.280]  Um, negative.
[26:21.280 --> 26:22.760]  Do you guys know what Iran is?
[26:22.760 --> 26:23.760]  Yeah?
[26:23.760 --> 26:24.760]  Of course, yes.
[26:24.760 --> 26:25.760]  Do you know the capital of Iran?
[26:25.760 --> 26:26.760]  Who cares?
[26:26.760 --> 26:27.760]  Who's the president?
[26:27.760 --> 26:28.760]  Who's president?
[26:28.760 --> 26:29.760]  He just died.
[26:29.760 --> 26:30.760]  What about the capital of Iran?
[26:30.760 --> 26:31.760]  The capital?
[26:31.760 --> 26:32.760]  Yes, I do.
[26:32.760 --> 26:33.760]  What is it?
[26:33.760 --> 26:34.760]  You're asking me?
[26:34.760 --> 26:35.760]  I can't tell you that either.
[26:35.760 --> 26:36.760]  Top secret.
[26:36.760 --> 26:37.760]  Come on!
[26:37.760 --> 26:38.760]  I don't know why he's bothering me.
[26:38.760 --> 26:39.760]  It's not Libya.
[26:39.760 --> 26:40.760]  It's, uh, Pakistan.
[26:40.760 --> 26:41.760]  Anything?
[26:41.760 --> 26:42.760]  Any guesses?
[26:42.760 --> 26:43.760]  No.
[26:43.760 --> 26:44.760]  He's like Osama.
[26:44.760 --> 26:45.760]  He's the president of Iraq.
[26:45.760 --> 26:54.760]  Iran.
[26:54.760 --> 26:55.760]  Iran.
[26:55.760 --> 26:56.760]  Right.
[26:56.760 --> 26:57.760]  All right.
[26:57.760 --> 26:58.760]  Do you know his name?
[26:58.760 --> 26:59.760]  Medajedah Jaff, or something.
[26:59.760 --> 27:05.280]  When it comes to picking a future for the U.S., choosing what comes next may be tough,
[27:05.280 --> 27:09.160]  without the knowledge of what has gone on in the past and even the very present.
[27:09.160 --> 27:11.760]  I'm Stasia Cherkina, RT, New York.
[27:11.760 --> 27:15.240]  I like that they can't tell you a top secret response.
[27:15.240 --> 27:16.240]  All right.
[27:16.240 --> 27:17.880]  Sport live from Moscow a little bit later this hour.
[27:17.880 --> 27:22.080]  Union's got news of why English football team Manchester City's New Year celebrations are
[27:22.080 --> 27:25.560]  extra special today, but it's headlines next in just under two minutes.
[27:25.560 --> 27:54.120]  In fact, you're on RT with me, Kevin Howie.
[27:54.120 --> 28:09.760]  I'm Stasia Cherkina, and I'll see you in the next one.
[28:09.760 --> 28:28.320]  Thanks so much, everyone.
[29:28.320 --> 29:30.320]  at 10.30 p.m. New Year's Day.
[29:30.320 --> 29:32.320]  President Obama signed a bill
[29:32.320 --> 29:34.320]  which imposes new tough sanctions on Iran
[29:34.320 --> 29:36.320]  over its disputed nuclear program,
[29:36.320 --> 29:38.320]  despite Tehran's threats to shut off
[29:38.320 --> 29:40.320]  a key oil supply route in the Gulf,
[29:40.320 --> 29:42.320]  as tension between the two countries
[29:42.320 --> 29:44.320]  continues to build.
[29:44.320 --> 29:46.320]  The Syrian regime's crackdown
[29:46.320 --> 29:48.320]  on demonstrators carries on unabated,
[29:48.320 --> 29:50.320]  forcing Arab League observers
[29:50.320 --> 29:52.320]  to warn Damascus to rein in the violence.
[29:52.320 --> 29:54.320]  The monitors are overseeing
[29:54.320 --> 29:56.320]  the implementation of a peace plan
[29:56.320 --> 29:58.320]  President Assad agreed to.