and he corrected believed that containment, in the long run, would over come the soviet union. would, in time, disintegrate. the soviet system was so imperfect. indeed, i was in the soviet union in 1979, and i was astonished. i went into a so-called super market. what you found there were some rotting vegetables and some cans of fish. and the shelves were more or less bare. it wasn't just that you could also look at the clothing that the people were wearing on the streets or in the buses that you rode on. and the sense that you had was that it was something almost the third world country. that they had invested so mightily in the build up at the military at the expense of their consumer society. of course, it produced so much resentment and antagonism, and kennon also wrote early on, they couldn't hold on to eastern europe forever. it wouldn't last forever. the eastern europeans were too sophisticated, too educated, too wise to have sustained this kind of soviet control of them for ever. so i think there was some -- you know, achievements. significant achievements. as i said be

by the british attack on the soviet union. on july first one thousand nine hundred forty seven british divisions were to deliver a crushing blow to the. say that russia should be forced to succumb to the we. just one quote from the plan of the operation. could only be achieved. the occupation of such. a country would. point and for the resistance. some credit is certainly due to the british military planners they were clearly aware that the soviet army was nearly twice the size of the western allies combined forces and quick success in any such conflict would be impossible. some historians suggest that stalin was wary of something like operation unthinkable. he knew that something was brewing it's hard to say whether he had a clear knowledge of the details. famous by kim philby was operating in britain at the time were top foreign office officials they were doing a very effective job. steffen daughter son of a german anti-fascist had joined the soviet army in one thousand nine hundred forty two as a volunteer. in april of one

britain was aiming to see germany destroyed on the other hand it wanted to the soviet union weakened as much as possible i mean by real concern was to the appearance of a new arrival on the concert of the. continued. in early april the ford most u.s. troops were about one hundred kilometers west of berlin there were almost no battle ready german armies facing them all of them had been moved to the eastern front to repulse the soviet offensive. horizon ours known to have asked general simpson whether u.s. troops could take berlin was lost as he expected in that case simpson said he expected some thirty thousand an. hour sadler that wouldn't do for us troops were to hold their positions at the russians do the fighting. on april first stalin called a meeting of his supreme command where he decided that the berlin operation should start in mid april. i think that if roosevelt hadn't signed on april the twelfth and would have agreed to the participation of the western allies forces in the assault. as a kind of cool would prevent the allies from stabbing him in the. roosevelt the soviet co

when the war broke out, trotsky insisted that his followers support the soviet union. despite the fact that the stalin regime had wiped out his family and his comrades, and of course was trying to have trotsky killed, trotsky tried to justify the soviet occupation of eastern poland as a result of the nazi soviet pact. the baltics, the invasion of finland in the winter war of 1939 to 40 which gave the red army a bloody nose, so to speak. trotsky said we may not like get, but the red army is, in fact, spreading socialism to these lands. the fact is, in the soviet union we have a workers' state. it's a degenerated worker state, trotsky called it, but nonetheless, the state -- there is state ownership of the means of production, and so the occupied territories are getting socialism at the end of a day in and sit speak, with the red army bringing it in from the soviet union. this is very curious because at this very time, trotsky was saying workers' state, generated workers' state, but at the same time trotsky was very openly calling the stalinist regime totalitarian. and wh

to relieve pressure on the soviet union in the east. but. that it would be only when it became clear that the russians would. that they were. entering europe. and the british and american response had a significant impact on the balance of forces in post-war europe. many in the west are upset about stalin's power to shape the post-war arrangement it makes me want to say look your judgment was with should have gone in the foot sooner who scored the goods by the way with another woman. on april twenty eighth soviet troops encircled the city center and began an assault on the way stop. the building was protected by bands in the spring river and the bridge crossings had been blown up. troops crossed the sprit aboard tiny dinghies from one bank to the other a distance of several dozen meters. they face continuous german fire half of the sailors who were there to secure the crossing died in the shadow of the right stuff . in the seven sailors were given the titles of heroes of the soviet union. and then in one of them was nikolai. manzer files a r

the revolution turned china communist, soviet union tightened its grip on eastern europe and cruise chov told them we will bury you. he fell to castro. meanwhile out in california hollywood actor began intellectual journey that would make him the most effective communicators ever of conservative ideas. >> reagan was way left. in 1945, 46 and 47 by his own addition he was sympathetic to the new deal. he campaigned vigorously to harry truman in 1948. where did this other come through? i think that process began seriously in 52, 53, 54 particularly 54 when he joins general electric. >> that is par the living better. >> reagan began to hang out with corporate people play golf with corporate presidents and that's when he began to drift toward the republican party. >> the thing about reagan he was self taught. he visited ge factories over a 7 day period traveling by plane because he was afraid to fly. he was traveling with a stack of books and magazines and national review magazine along the way he picked up and absorbed a lot of the founders and he would use these thoughts in his speeches and

you that after one thousand nine hundred forty united states of america never agreed with the soviet union on estonia latvia and lithuania on the occupation obvious to any lothian lithuania by the soviet troops were by the soviet union and incorporation of these three baltic states into the soviet union but when controversially for comrades gorney were visiting tallinn riga of vilnius so the state department or the white house did recall they they didn't recall the ambassadors so that's the real let's take a look at the history of the russian japanese dispute over the cruel islands then reported by spotlight feeling that the need of. the soviet union was encouraged by the allies in one thousand nine hundred forty five. to take over the cool on lands which is done belonged to japan the u.s.s.r. was a truly poor missed the territories exchange for and to do war against japan after japan's capitulation in the second world war the folk who islands became part of the u.s.s.r. which was recognized by the international community to bend could never reconcile with the fact and the territories rema

the revolution turned china communist, soviet union tightened its grip on eastern europe and cruise chov told them we will bury you. he fell to castro. meanwhile out in california hollywood actor began intellectual journey that would make him the most effective communicators ever of conservative ideas. >> reagan was way left. in 1945, 46 and 47 by his own addition he was sympathetic to the new deal. he campaigned vigorously to harry truman in 1948. where did this other come through? i think that process began seriously in 52, 53, 54 particularly 54 when he joins general electric. >> that is par the living better. >> reagan began to hang out with corporate people play golf with corporate presidents and that's when he began to drift toward the republican party. >> the thing about reagan he was self taught. he visited ge factories over a 7 day period traveling by plane because he was afraid to fly. he was traveling with a stack of books and magazines and national review magazine along the way he picked up and absorbed a lot of the founders and he would use these thoughts in his speeches and

britain's joint started preparations for hostilities against the soviet union a month before the war. by the british attack on the soviet union without declaring war on july first one thousand nine hundred forty seven british divisions were to deliver a crushing blow to the. say that russia should be forced to succumb to the will of. the operation. could only be achieved. the occupation of such. a country would be. for the resistance. some credit is certainly due to the british. they were clearly aware that the soviet army was nearly twice the size of the western forces. would be impossible. he knew that something was brewing to say whether he had a clear. top officials. son of a german anti-fascist had joined the soviet army in one thousand nine hundred forty two as a volunteer. in one thousand nine hundred five he was a propaganda officer. early hours of april sixteenth he was summoned to headquarters he was told to announce to the germans through the loudspeakers the start of the war's final so he defensive in a few hours time. general with this isn't possible with we can't possibl

by the soviet union and incorporation of these three baltic states into the soviet union but when come regression of her comrades. were visiting tallinn riga of vilnius so the state department or the white house would recall they are they can recall the ambassadors so the real let's take a look at the history of the russian japanese dispute over the coral islands and a report by spotlights even a dimly that. the soviet union was encouraged by the allies in one thousand nine hundred forty five to take over the cool on lands which had done belonged to japan the u.s.s.r. was a truly poor missed the territories exchange for entering the war against japan after japan's capitulation in the second world war the fuku islands became part of the u.s.s.r. which was recognized by the international community japan could never reconcile with the fact and the territories remain a bone of contention between the two countries russia keeps sticking to the provisions of the one nine hundred fifty six agreement that included the possibility of handing two of the islands back to japan however japan is not

the revolution turned china communist, soviet union tightened its grip on eastern europe and cruise chov told them we will bury you. he fell to castro. meanwhile out in california hollywood actor began intellectual journey that would make him the most effective communicators ever of conservative ideas. >> reagan was way left. in 1945, 46 and 47 by his own addition he was sympathetic to the new deal. he campaigned vigorously to harry truman in 1948. where did this other come through? i think that process began seriously in 52, 53, 54 particularly 54 when he joins general electric. >> that is par the living better. >> reagan began to hang out with corporate people play golf with corporate presidents and that's when he began to drift toward the republican party. >> the thing about reagan he was self taught. he visited ge factories over a 7 day period traveling by plane because he was afraid to fly. he was traveling with a stack of books and magazines and national review magazine along the way he picked up and absorbed a lot of the founders and he would use these thoughts in his speeches and

i had spent time as a teenager and a student in eastern europe in the soviet union itself and i was able to discern, and it didn't take much discernment, to see the evil in the heavy- handed authority of the soviet state. and when americans became so enthused about the prospects of detente, that there could be convergence with the soviet union perhaps, that we could indeed persuade them to see our ways, that struck me as an illusion right there, yet that was the prevailing view in american academia, certainly through the 1970s. >> how long did you live in russia? >> i didn't live in russia, but i made numerous trips there, starting at 19. >> and this work that you're in now, how long have you been a management consultant? >> oh, goodness sakes. i really withdrew fulltime from academia a number of years ago, because i had a passionate interest in entrepreneurship, in building and enterprise, which struck me as the core american experience. so i've been teaching at georgetown, however, one or two courses a year for the past 15 years, in foreign policy. but at the same time, being intereste

and its forty years since the soviet union's first remote controlled robot known as the tank landed on the surface of the moon the machine revolutionized space exploration and paved the way for today's satellites shuttles and space to. one i'll be back in less than half an hour from now in the meantime nato is poised for a crucial summit in lisbon this weekend to map out missile defense its strategy in afghanistan and the role of the alliance when up next join in cross talk for a debate on the future of the organization. and you can. still. follow in welcome to cross talk i'm peter lavelle we're there at nato as members of the north atlantic treaty organization meet in lisbon this military alliance is in search of a mission can nato remain relevant facing twenty first century security threats. and you can. start. to discuss the role of nato today i'm joined by hugo lucas in boston he's a professor of international relations at boston university in london we have martin mccauley he's an author and senior lecturer at the university of london and in paris we cross to john laughlin from th

a large extent was the creation of the united states of america not as is usually so that the soviet union but now whatever view we take about the events of nine hundred forty five and afterwards there is absolutely no doubt surely that nato remains only an instrument for american foreign policy the very fact that president medvedev is going to the nato. summit in lisbon at the end of this week is itself a result of a reset in russian relations with russia announced by who by the president of the united states what subjects are they going to discuss there obviously afghanistan which is an american war transferred to nato and the missile shield and american policy transferred to nato so nato is simply an extension of american foreign and military policy and the reason why it's in a crisis is not i beg to differ with yeah go ahead jump in go ahead. yeah i'm going to say that. you know no martin first go ahead go ahead i'm going to say nato it was formed in one thousand nine hundred ninety europe the west europeans wanted nato has it couldn't they did they perceived a threat exact wrong the s

either russia or the soviet union to visit those islands and one of the reasons why russian and soviet leaders have been so reluctant to venture into that part of the country is because they didn't want to crave the attention of neighboring japan but we should be there sad as it was extremely important it was incumbent on him to do so to stress the strategic importance all of this region and also to allow people who believe in the real audience to know that russia hasn't forgotten about them now he first voiced our doubt idea of a visit to the stop in korea lot of about a month ago but back bad bad weather prevented him from doing so and immediately after that news broke out we heard this statement from the japanese foreign ministry saying that he should really do so and. indeed proceed to be a few supplies that would seriously damage relations between the two countries now cease to see this really you need say the russian diplomats who retorted that it was essentially not part of japan's business and make sure that if asked the president was free to travel to any part of russia at any

and forty years ago the soviet union paved the way for today's satellites shuttles and space tourists with its revolutionary luda tanks. with twenty four hour news from russia and from around the world this is r.t. in moscow good to have you with this russian businessman vic to boot has gone before us federal court for the first time just a day off to be extradited from thailand during a brief appearance he was told the list of charges he's facing dubbed the merchant of death for allegedly trafficking weapons around the world will go on trial of allegations he on terrorists moscow says the decision to hand him over to the u.s. is extreme just in justice and promise to support him by means which is being held in a high security prison in you you were reporting on brings us the latest. we know the russian businessman will also be appearing before a judge at one pm new york city time as you mentioned he's being held at a federal prison the metropolitan correctional center in lower manhattan where several suspects terrorism suspects have been held in years past following the september ele

forty years ago the soviet union paved the way for today's satellites shuttles and space tourists with its revolutionary movements. twenty four hour news from russia and from around the world this is r.t. here in moscow good to have you with us russian businessman victim has gone before a u.s. federal court for the first time just a day after being extradited from thailand during a brief appearance he was told the list of charges he is facing the merchant of death for allegedly trafficking weapons around the world who go on trial over allegations he terrorists says the decision to hand him over to the u.s. is extreme justice and promised to support him by all means but he is being held in a high security prison in new york from where marina portnoy joins me live now so what happened when boot faced the court today. well bill it was a very quick procedure as you mentioned victor boot was taken before a federal judge in lower manhattan where he pled not guilty to all the charges against him charges placed by u.s. officials by the u.s. attorney in this other just of new york and now he is

at the bolshevik revolution and now since the end of the soviet union since the fall of soviet union and the rise of the russian federation it's become a different holiday entirely now the unity day holiday as it's now called is being called since two thousand and five is really looking to bring together the bring together russia's past with the presentation and we've seen events happening just behind me in the kremlin already today eighty two of the size just dust. and i come from the old church that was hidden away by the by the so it during the soviet times it's now being unveiled by really heads of the e.k.g. off the heads of the older adults to achieve in russia. that's the o.j. could try to place the one of the kremlin it's also been quite a. bit of. living family members of people who fought on both sides of the ocean civil war so the whites only of the reds only those members of those families that are alive today. would do the issues that was basically told it's going to paul it's in the early part of the twentieth century. quite a history right peter all of our following un

and poland and this day is certainly going to have its place in history because for decades the soviet union denied any responsibility for the murdering thousands of homeless soldiers on still get territory of course they were different locations but hopefully feeling proud of where thousands were and sick were shot execution style in the back of the head and buried in mass graves in early ninety's forty's but the collective term for this massacre became known as the guy who massacred because one of those locations is in the shopping forest in russia slightly and strategic and that became very loose and hard on the soviet history and of course for decades the soviet union denied any responsibility in this heinous crime blaming instead of the hauen nazi troops and that believes and was held up for decades until russia in the early one nine hundred ninety s. finally admitted responsibility for those murders and. then the process of healing the whole process of healing actually started very slowly but after that various documents were released from the russian state archives pertaining to the m

. >> yes, the british were very active in the first world war and the post war period in the soviet union and the soviet intelligence devise an opportunity on trust to read what insight could you give, what was the sis involvement and was there every post mortem or today damage assessment done of that and -- yes, that's my question. >> it was an operation -- they are dealing with operation groups within the soviet union. a classic kind of sting operation. and it did on old sydney riley some of you may have heard of. now sidney was a very able man and man of many personas and of many disguises who was taken up and he has hired originally by the first chief of the service who said this guy is a complete scallywag, he says. he seems to have done everything and has been everywhere but i think we can use him or he can be useful to us. the emphasis is important there and he is very useful. he provides a lot of information and early information out of the soviet union and from south russia in the first instance and we got some of the reports we can -- or in the book and quotations from the six s

for decades ago the soviet union guided tanks into ball between explore the lunar surface a revolution in space. good news for russia's twenty eighteen feet for world cup bid with the governing body releasing its latest report on wednesday you can find out more in sport in around thirty minutes from now. britain says it's ready to help debt hit and with billions of pounds of direct loans at a meeting of european finance ministers chancellor george osborne says it's in britain's interest to support their closest neighbor the meeting comes amid fresh market turmoil and fears that some smaller economies like portugal and ireland aren't able to service their massive debts the president warned the eurozone is actually facing a fight to survive and even though on and so far rejected any help no leyland a london based investor says he may have little turnitin to take the money. in a position of much choice because clearly it's a sort of rock and a hard place scenario and the short term expediency of bail out so it's better than. the immediate reactions of the situation but just you know you w

. >> this woman growth in ukraine at the time of the soviet union, where religion was taboo. her parents took her to the synagogue for the first time when she was 13. >> on the one hand, it was the first time and gained access to the language and religion. on the other hand, it was something natural. i knew i belonged there. >> eight years ago, she came to germany to be trained as a rabbi. she studied at a college in berlin. she is the first woman to be ordained as a rabbi in germany nce 1935. >> it is important me that jews in germany develop a positive i did in a, not something related to persecution and the holocaust but a positive identity. >> she will become a rabbi for jewish communities in lower saxony. as in many other places in germany, the jewish community there is primarily composed of immigrants from the former soviet union. >> i have the linguistic tools to reach people and key medicate jewish religious content in a more understandable way -- and communicate jewish religious content any more understandable way. >> she says that her new congregation likes to sing,

>> yes, the british were very active in the first world war and in the post-war period in the soviet union, and the soviet intelligence devised an operation known as the trust, and what insights could you give us about that? what was sis's involvement, and was there a post postmortem or damage assessment done of that? that's my question. >> it was in essence to lure the enemies in and persuade them that they were dealing with opposition groups within the soviet union in a classic type of sting operation, and it did for the ace of spies among other old ones you may have heard of. he was an able man, a man of many per sewn thats and disguys who was taken up and hire the originally by a chief man of the service who said this guy is a complete scale wag and has done everything and be everywhere, but i think he can be useful to us with a slightly different emphasis. he is useful and provides a lot of information, early information from the soviet union from south russia in the first instance, and we have some of the reports in the books, quotations from the examples of them and later from mosco