I caught Ben Judah on NPRadio yesterday (~2PM ET). He was very good.
Can't find any mention of the interview on the net, though.
On 5 March 2014 03:38, Stefan Lemieszewski <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
> Ben Judah authored a book on Putin (*Fragile Empire - How Russia Fell
> In and Out of Love with Vladimir Putin* -2013). He was interviewed on *Al
> Jazeera* on 4Mar2014. He pointed out the secret document from Downing
> Street about the British plan to protect the Banksters on London from
> sanctions on Russia. Judah explained how enormous sums of money from
> Russian oligarchs, are money laundered by British elites, boosting its
> economy from the stolen loot derived from Russia. It's a huge business that
> Downing Street wants to protect. We already know that Britain is a huge
> haven for mafia oligarchs from Russia and Ukraine. Below is the *Guardian*article.
>
>
> Stefan Lemieszewski
>
> ------------------------
>
> http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/03/uk-seeks-russia-harm-city-london-document
> Guardian
> 3Mar2014
> *UK seeking to ensure Russia sanctions do not harm City of London*
> *Government document photographed outside No 10 states that 'London's
> financial centre' should not be closed to Russians*
> Nicholas Watt <http://www.theguardian.com/profile/nicholaswatt>, chief
> political correspondent
>
>
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> GRAPHIC
> The secret document carried by an official in Downing Street.
>
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Britain is drawing up plans to ensure that any EU action against Russia<http://www.theguardian.com/world/russia>over
> Ukraine <http://www.theguardian.com/world/ukraine> will exempt the City
> of London, according to a secret government document photographed in
> Downing Street.
>
> As David Cameron <http://www.theguardian.com/politics/davidcameron> said
> Britain and its EU partners would put pressure on Moscow after it assumed
> control of Crimea, a government document drawn up for a meeting of senior
> ministers said that "London's financial centre" should not be closed to
> Russians. It did say that visa restrictions and travel bans could be
> imposed on Russian officials.
>
> The picture of the document was taken by the freelance photographer Steve
> Back, who specialises in spotting secret documents carried openly by
> officials entering Downing Street. The document was in the hands of an
> unnamed official attending a meeting of the national security council (NSC)
> called by the prime minister to discuss the Ukrainian crisis.
>
> The document said Britain should:
>
> * "Not support, for now, trade sanctions ... or close London's financial
> centre to Russians."
>
> * Be prepared to join other EU countries in imposing "visa
> restrictions/travel bans" on Russian officials.
>
> * "Discourage any discussions (eg at Nato) of contingency military
> preparations."
>
> * Embark on "contingency EU work on providing Ukraine with alternative gas
> [supplies] if Russia cuts them off".
>
> * Specific threats to Russia should be "contingent and used for private
> messaging" while public statements should "stick to generic" point.
>
> * Draw up a technical assistance package for Ukraine "ideally jointly with
> Germany".
>
> * Pursue the "deployment of OSCE and/or UN (but not EU) monitors in Crimea
> and eastern Ukraine".
>
> * Push the "UN secretary general Ban to take the lead in calling and
> creating a forum for engaging Russia on Ukraine".
>
> * Accept an emergency summit of EU leaders to discuss Ukraine. This will
> now be held in Brussels on Thursday.
>
> Government officials said that no decisions were taken at the meeting of
> the NSC, but they confirmed that the call in the document for London's
> financial centre to kept open to Russians reflected the government's
> thinking that it wanted to target action against Moscow and not damage
> British interests.
>
> The prime minister told the NSC that the government may be prepared to
> support EU sanctions that would be targeted at Russian businesspeople
> seeking to visit the EU. There could also be a "dialling down" of economic
> co-operation.
>
> But nothing would be agreed that could harm the British economy. One
> source said: "You want to make sure that the costs fall more on Russia than
> other people."
>
> Downing Street trod a careful line during the day as it made clear that
> action would need to be taken on the diplomatic and economic - though not
> the military - front to punish Russia. But it does not want to give Russia
> an excuse to refuse to embark on dialogue with Ukraine and the EU.
>
> The prime minister highlighted this approach when he said after the NSC:
> "What we want to see is a de-escalation rather than a continuation down the
> path that the Russian government has taken, violating the sovereignty and
> territorial integrity of another country. So we shall have to bring to bear
> diplomatic, political, economic and other pressures in order to make this
> point. That is the very clear message the whole world needs to send to the
> Russian government."
>
> Downing Street had earlier ruled out a military response in the wake of
> the Russian takeover of Crimea. The prime minister's spokesman said: "The
> only avenue that is being pursued is a peaceful and diplomatic one. Our
> other G7 partners have been very clear about that as well." The prime
> minister agreed in separate phone calls with Fran�ois Hollande and Angela
> Merkel that the international community should speak with one voice on
> Ukraine as it tells Russia that its actions are "completely unacceptable".
>
> A No 10 spokesperson said: "In both calls, the leaders agreed that the
> international community should speak with one voice and send a clear
> message to Russia that its actions in Ukraine were completely unacceptable.
> They agreed they must continue to work very closely together in response to
> events in Ukraine including in preparation for the special European Council
> which has been called on Thursday. It would be important to be clear about
> the costs and consequences for the Russian government of continuing to
> violate Ukraine's sovereignty; and of supporting the people and government
> of Ukraine in support of their efforts to build an inclusive Government and
> tackle economic challenges.
>
> "They agreed there could be an important role for the United Nations, and
> potentially other international organisations, in facilitating the dialogue
> between the Russian and Ukrainian authorities which is central to the
> shared objective of de-escalating tensions in the region."
>
> Former US presidential candidate Senator John McCain said he was
> "disappointed" by the UK's position and said European countries were
> "ignoring the lessons of history".
>
> Asked if it was right to avoid such sanctions, he said: "Of course not. I
> am not astonished, to be very frank with you. Disappointed, but not
> astonished."
>
> ==============
>
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