Mikhail Gorbachev, Ted Turner, Henry Kissinger Assemble to Mark Disc Release of ‘Cold War’

homemediamagazine.com ^ | April 30, 2012 | Anne Sherber

[Tailgunner Joe]

NEW YORK — It was hard to imagine, watching Mikhail Gorbachev and Henry Kissinger arrive at the Paley Center for Media in New York April 29, that the two grandfatherly old men were once at the very epicenter of Cold War politics. Gorbachev, once head of the notorious KGB and the USSR’s final president, and Kissinger, Nixon’s Secretary of State, often credited with and blamed for U.S. involvement in Vietnam, were at the Center to support the May 8 Warner Home Video DVD release of Cold War ($68.92).

The series, which was produced by and broadcast on CNN in 1998, was the brainchild of Ted Turner. According to Sir Jeremy Isaacs, the series’ executive producer, Turner’s motivation was his concern that history would not do justice to what he saw as a seminal period of history during which the USSR and the United States both developed the ability to end life on earth.

“Ted Turner said to me, ‘our grandchildren will not understand what the Cold War was. It will be a paragraph in a history book,’” Isaacs recalled.

According to Isaacs, who also produced The World at War, another epic documentary series that exhaustively chronicles a specific period of history, the original plan for the series was that it would be 40 episodes long, one for each year of the era. The running time was eventually halved, but Turner ultimately added four additional episodes. According to Pat Mitchell, who served as co-executive producer of the series and is now CEO of the Paley Center, a museum of broadcast media, it is already used extensively at universities and libraries as a teaching tool and is one of the most requested titles by visitors to the Paley Center.

Gorbachev, who presided over the dismantling of the Soviet Union and who was interviewed at length and figures prominently in the series’ last four episodes, said through a translator that although he occasionally had questions about the filmmakers’ perspective, he was impressed with the program’s comprehensiveness, overall.

“To some extent, one viewpoint seems to prevail,” he said. “But the series is very informative. It draws a line under all those conflicts that brought us several times to the edge of the destruction of civilization.”

Both Turner and Isaacs said that the DVD release of the documentary, which is narrated by Kenneth Branagh, is a case of a film that was waiting for a format. Isaacs noted that to prepare to answer questions about the series, he recently watched it from beginning to end and was struck by its depth.

“Some of the episodes are so packed with information that you have to concentrate to really understand,” he said.

The ability of disc viewers to maneuver through the series at their own pace makes the experience of watching much more rewarding, he said.

“DVD may be the medium for which Cold War was best made,” Isaacs noted.

Turner also was impressed when he revisited the series.

“I’m proud to have come up with the idea for the series and proud that it was executed so well,” Turner said. “Of all the documentaries that I have produced, I am proudest of this one.”

Warner Home Video plans to market Cold War to universities and museums. But, according to Rosemary Markson, SVP of TV and special interest marketing at Warner Home Video, the company also will be reaching out to mass-market outlets.

“It’s perfect for Father’s Day,” Markson said.

[mkjessup]

You assign way too much significance to the former Soviet leader who was most likely on the CIA payroll, or didn't you hear about that?

The fact that Gorbachev has a foundation, has been a resident of the United States for years, is hardly proof that the collapse of Soviet communism was part of some global conspiracy.

Your first mewling about all this conspiratorial nonsense was "I am personally convinced that the fall of the Berlin Wall was solely to send communists out from Russia where they had been contained the whole cold war, out in to the free world to destroy it."

Do you have ANY idea of just how insane that sounds? The Berlin Wall fell because millions of formerly enslaved East Germans decided that it was time to be FREE.

Give your head a shake.

[hedgetrimmer]

In the world of global communism, the fact that our politicians took down the guardians of the Golden Gate, our military that was present since California became a state, by shutting down the Presidio, Ft Baker and the military facilities on the Marin headlands, for their phony “peace” movement, only shows their strength against America. To cement their relationship as the superiors to our congress persons, the first thing granted this communist dictator is the keys to the Coast Guard commanders house as the first ‘tenant’ of the fallen military base.

You claim there is no significance to this? I don’t think you are so naive.

You know nothing about his ‘foundation’ the Green Cross International— any thinking person knows the green movement was the renamed national socialist party in Germany when it was formed in the 1960s.

You don’t get what this ‘foundation’ did to destroy local water rights and water infrastructure here by corrupting local politicians to act in the interest of the foundation, and not serve the people who elected them. This technique is one used in the Ukraine to topple the government there so the Soviets could take over.

So let a communist dictator take from the American taxpayer a mansion on the most valuable parcel of land in the city of San Francisco. Let them thrive by leeching off our tax money and our economy while American citizens get poorer, and our infrastructure is destroyed. That’s how the global communists are winning and you abet them with your speech.

Let him run a tax free foundation from his free house courtesy of the Californian and American taxpayers.

I’d say communists are doing quite well thanks to the cessation of the cold war. Communism isn’t a failed system, it is hale and hearty because the cold war ended.

[mkjessup]

Well you let me know when you’re about to lead the charge and I’ll open up my arsenal (and that’s no joke either) and you’ll discover the difference between those poor bastards in the Ukraine and US (as in “U.S.”).

Quite frankly, I don’t consider Gorbachev being a tenant on the former Presidio as ominous as you do. Actually I view Gorbachev’s becoming a resident on a past historic U.S. military base as being rather humiliating from a dedicated Communist’s perspective. But that’s just me.

Since you are clearly highly informed on this topic, how about providing some documentation between ‘Green Cross International’ and the ‘Green (Nazi) Movement’ in Germany? If there is truly a demonstrable link, by all means let’s spread the word.

[hedgetrimmer]

Quite frankly, I don’t consider Gorbachev being a tenant on the former Presidio as ominous as you do. Actually I view Gorbachev’s becoming a resident on a past historic U.S. military base as being rather humiliating from a dedicated Communist’s perspective. But that’s just me.

Let's see, misappropriation of tax payer owned property, misappropriation of taxpayer money, military protection now completely missing from the pacific coast except at San Diego and Seattle (long coastline without military support),tax free status for a corporation designed to usurp sovereignty and the Constitution, the list goes on forever.

But to a globalist, hunky dory let the corrupt federal government give away American resources to communist dictators, because the globalists infesting our government love communists and want them to thrive. Your comments violate very basic principles of the American way.

That Presidio dwelling is a spoil of war, that was ceded to the communist. The fact that it is a former military base is another humiliation to Americans, as it was designed to be.

And now we are seeing the globalists threaten Americans with use of deadly force to protect their globalist military entity NATO when they come to America for another sovereignty destroying 'summit'.

Americans are being trashed, plundered and humiliated at every turn by the globalists, but you think nothing of it. Hmmmm.

[dfwgator]

That's awesome. I credit/blame JFK for dropping the bomb on Japan.

I thought he dropped the bomb on the Germans, served those Krauts right, for bombing Pearl Harbor.

[mkjessup]

Your view of your local situation (being that you're in Californication anyway) is quite parochial. If We The People were to march on the Presidio today, and demand that it be turned over to us, assuming we were not mowed down by automatic weapons fire, tell me how such a punitive measure would advance the cause of restoring our Constitutional Republic?

Nobody is going to argue with you that our imperial masters in Washington are corrupt as the day is long, just kindly explain to me and everyone else why the first shot in our new War of Independence should be fired on the Presidio, ok?

In that same vein, WTF have you been doing to turn things around regarding this affront to our national pride, honor and sovereignty?

If you're looking for a fight, that's fine but I can think of far worthier and rewarding targets than the one you've got in mind.

Get back to me.

[hedgetrimmer]

Those who hope that we shall move away from the socialist path will be greatly disappointed. Every part of our program of perestroika...is fully based on the principle of more socialism and more democracy."
Mikhail Gorbachev Perestroika - New Thinking for Our Country and the World 1988

Yeah, let the kindly old dictator have his free housing and tax free corporation collection billions of dollars to ease his retirement from the Soviet Union.

In globalist speak-- never punish anyone that has pushed the globalist agenda. They are sacrosanct, and Americans must continue to be destroyed to protect their footmen.

[mkjessup]

Well enough talk, why don’t you just track down Gorby and kick his old Communist ass?

[hedgetrimmer]

He should be tried in a court of law,and put in jail for his treason. He should be forced to pay back what he has stolen from the American people. Every county or city ordinance based on this foundations global socialist agenda should be revoked so that freedom can once again reign in this country.

BTW, it is a typical communist technique to try to incite people to riot.

I don’t have any idea who you are, but what do you hope to accomplish with your comments?

[hedgetrimmer]

"What we're talking about is creating new forms of life on the basis of new values."

Mikhail Gorbachev From Red to Green Audubon magazine 1994

Since the environment affects all peoples, everywhere, all the time, it became the obsessive cause of the old line Marxists including former communist dictator Mikhail Gorbachev. Gorbachev is the president of the International Green Cross, an organization he founded in 1993 to prevent the world from committing ³eco-suicide² with headquarters in San Francisco. Some call it the watermelon effect because it is green on the outside and red on the inside.

Gorbachev and Strong have been unrelenting in their long march to achieve the redistribution dreams for absolute equity for the masses in hopes of positioning themselves and their friends as the ruling elite. And they have had a lot of help from wealthy American Steven Rockefeller who joined in writing and then pushing with evangelical zeal this redistribution agenda in a constitution-like document for a New World Order called the Earth Charter (http://www.earthcharter.org ).

[mkjessup]

...it is a typical communist technique to try to incite people to riot.

Who's inciting? I'm not inciting a damn thing, you however are long on ranting, and short on actual solutions to what is in your mind a high priority issue. All I said was that if this is as critical to you as your comments suggest, perhaps you should just go have a little talk with Gorby yourself? Or with his staff. Either way, I'd love to hear about how it turns out for you.

He should be tried in a court of law,and put in jail for his treason.

Draw up a draft indictment and specify how Gorbachev has committed those acts of treason, and perhaps you could explain to us what jurisdiction and prosecutor would be most likely to pursue such an indictment. How's that for starters?

(by the way, you DO know that in order to be charged with 'treason', that it would very likely be necessary to establish that Gorbachev was a citizen of the United States, you DO know that right?)

He should be forced to pay back what he has stolen from the American people. Every county or city ordinance based on this foundations global socialist agenda should be revoked so that freedom can once again reign in this country.

How much has he stolen? Could you toss us a ballpark figure perhaps? To tell you the truth, I had no idea that if Gorby could just be convicted in court, forced to pay a whackload o' money, that "freedom can once again reign in this country", and here I thought we had to get the Kenyan Usurper out of the White House to accomplish that?

Damn, you're full of surprises.

[hedgetrimmer]

You really do relish the situation the globalists have forced on American citizens.

I could quote you telling me to go commit and act of violence, but I won’t.

I can’t tell if you’re a New School type or just a product of the communist dominated public education system. Either way, you don’t sound very American.

[mkjessup]

You're just begging for attention, you're irked that I don't buy into your Gorbyphobia. You obviously don't know jackshit about me, or else you wouldn't be slinging that nonsense around about "you don't sound very American", that's just your pathetic way of trying to goad someone into continuing to converse with you, just like the inmates in an asylum keep trying to convince the orderlies that they really are Napoleon Bonaparte.

We're done here, and in closing I note that you have been unable to respond with the specific allegations of 'treason' that Gorbachev has committed, nor have you even made an attempt to detail how much money he's 'stolen', this only demonstrates that you're not interested in rational discussion, you're a ranter and yes: a conspiracy nut. There are plenty of conspiracies in the world, you can believe that, but America prevailing over the Soviet Union in the Cold War was not, and is not one of them.

I'm pinging a good FRiend of mine to this thread, maybe you'll enjoy ranting at him for a while.

Adios!

[hedgetrimmer]

You contend Gorbachev is harmless and that stealing from the American people is something that is A OK with you, if its a rotten globalist doing it.

Your coarse language and immediate insults put you in a very low class.

Nothing can ever get accomplished in the name of preserving this country when there are Alinsky trained disruptors who slaughter every conversation on important topic with insults and rudeness. It is how the communists took over my local school district, I have seen it in many a public meeting and its shameful that there cannot be public discourse about the harm the globalist agenda has caused this country.

Now go get help from your friend.

[SaraJohnson]

It was a pinko party celebrating their strategy of putting the dumb Americans to sleep. Communism is dead...not. Reagan would not have been invited to this mash-up if he were living.

[stephenjohnbanker]

” Nothing can ever get accomplished in the name of preserving this country when there are Alinsky trained disruptors who slaughter every conversation on important topic with insults and rudeness”

You got the wrong guy.

[hedgetrimmer]

Your comment makes no sense.

[Freee-dame]

IIRC there is a general moral equivalence made. We had Kent State. They had the Gulag. Such propaganda has filled young minds for two generations. Very sad.

[mkjessup]

"Nothing can ever get accomplished in the name of preserving this country when there are Alinsky trained disruptors who slaughter every conversation on important topic with insults and rudeness"
You got the wrong guy.

This is a growing phenomenon that falls into the category of posters being unable to discuss or debate the issues. First of all, as one of my past taglines states "Politics ain't beanbag" (Finley Peter Dunne) and that means that if somebody wants Robert's Rules of Order, or the Marquis of Queensbury rules applied as if this were some high falutin' debating society, they're in the wrong forum. Most of the time, I find it easy to discuss whatever topics come up with whoever wants to discuss them, and it's all done in a friendly and cordial manner.

THEN, there are those few posters who grab hold of an issue and believe THEIR issue is the most important one out there, that THEIR issue should have priority over any other issue (example: insane fixations over former Soviet leaders), and if you don't agree with them, if you just bluntly tell them what a dumb ass they are, they automatically default to that whole "oh! oh! you're an Alinsky apostle! oh! oh!" and all they're doing is lamely trying to evade a simple truth, i.e., they ARE a dumb ass! lol

Too many posters embrace that limp comeback, invoking the name and tactics of a Communist (Alinsky) when it doesn't even apply. They find themselves unable to defend their position, so they take the easy way out, call whoever disagrees with them "un-American" or a follower of "Alinsky", while deluding themselves with the fantasy that they are SO superior because of whatever issue it is they are championing.

As I mentioned earlier, there are lots of conspiracies in this world, all kinds of nefarious plots, some we'll discover, some we'll never know about, but I know this: the collapse of Soviet Communism as practiced in Russia was NO conspiracy, it was the inevitable result of ONE U.S. President, Ronald Reagan, who had the vision, the guts, and the perseverance to see the Cold War through to it's end, and America WON that conflict, the Soviet regime fell to pieces just like a poorly manufactured ZIL automobile.

But to summarize? When someone is losing an argument, and cannot back up their claims, they will invariably start throwing tantrums accusing their opponents of being 'disruptors', 'alinskyites', etc., and all that proves is that they shouldn't have opened their pieholes in the first place, lol

[hedgetrimmer]

Oh, so Gorbachev doesn’t have a home on the Presidio? He doesn’t run Green Cross International? What facts were not presented?

I find it amusing that you claim you like a ‘friendly’ discussion. You never discussed anything. You just started posting insults. You were never friendly or cordial.

Now you have to call in a ‘friend’ so you can continue your tirade, but fail to address me, which I have been told is a violation of the forum etiquette.

Inviting communists into your country at taxpayer expense is like inviting a pedophile to babysit your children. Harm will be done as has been illustrated over and over again on this forum.

Ending the cold war turned out to be a very bad thing for the American people. It has helped the free traitors make their communist buddies very wealthy though, I have to admit.