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Donald Rumsfeld (pictured), Menelik Shabazz, Elizabeth French

Matthew Bannister on US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, film-maker Menelik Shabazz and archaeologist Elizabeth French.

Matthew Bannister on

Donald Rumsfeld, the US Secretary of Defense who challenged the military bureaucracy, advocated the invasion of Iraq in 2003 and was blamed for many of the failings of that operation.

Menelik Shabazz, the pioneering film director who supported the careers of many other black film makers.

Elizabeth French, the archaeologist who was a leading expert on the pottery of the ancient Greek city of Mycenae.

Producer: Neil George

Interviewed guest: Justin Webb
Interviewed guest: Andrew Cockburn
Interviewed guest: Joy Francis
Interviewed guest: David Somerset
Interviewed guest: John Bennet

Archive clips used: C-SPAN 19/03/2003; CNN 02/12/2002; AP 13/05/2004;
Step Forward Youth 1977 by Menelik Shabazz; Burning an Illusion 1981 by Menelik Shabazz;
Blood Ah Go Run 1981 by Menelik Shabazz; Autumn Breeze Movies, Mycenaean War and Peace 24/05/2010;
Introduction to Mycenaeans and Mycenaean Culture, History with Cy 21/06/2019; History Victorum,
The Citadel of Mycenae 04/06/2020.

Available now

28 minutes

Donald Rumsfeld

Born 9 July 1932; died 29 June 2021 aged 88.

Last Word spoke to former 大象传媒 correspondent during the Gulf War Justin Webb and to journalist and author Andrew Cockburn.

Menelik Shabazz

Born 30 May 1954; died 28 June 2021 aged 67.

Last Word spoke to magazine editor and journalist Joy Francis and to education curator at the BFI David Somerset.

Elizabeth French

Born 19 January 1931; died 10 June 2021 aged 90.

Last Word spoke to director at the British School at Athens professor John Bennet.

Broadcasts

  • Fri 9 Jul 2021 16:00
  • Sun 11 Jul 2021 20:30

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