“Sir, I’m not going to start World War Three for you” - The NATO Russian confrontation in 1999 at Pristina Airport (402)

Cold War Conversations Podcast

Ian Sanders

Society & Culture, Documentary, History

4.8 • 758 Ratings

🗓️ 9 May 2025

⏱️ 94 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In this gripping episode, we hear a detailed account from an eyewitness right at the heart of the tense NATO and Russian confrontation in Kosovo in 1999 at Pristina Airport. NATO General Wesley Clark had ordered the British to use force to remove Russian forces, however British General Mike Jackson refused with the immortal words “Sir, I’m not going to start World War Three for you”. Former BRIXMIS officer Stephen Harrison was a British Army liaison officer to the Russians and the translator at the complex and fraught negotiations at the airport. He provides a blow-by-blow account from the detailed notes he took at the time. Further info and videos https://coldwarconversations.com/episode402/ Stephen's previous episodes: Arrested 11 times, plus 3 shooting incidents - a BRIXMIS officer's diary Pt 1 https://pod.fo/e/13af96 Imprisoned in a Soviet Military gaol - a BRIXMIS officer's diary Pt 2 https://pod.fo/e/13ca90 The fight to preserve Cold War history continues and via a simple monthly donation, you will give me the ammunition to continue to preserve Cold War history. You’ll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, and get a sought-after CWC coaster as a thank you and you’ll bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history. Just go to ⁠https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/⁠ If a monthly contribution is not your cup of tea, we welcome one-off donations via the same link. Find the ideal gift for the Cold War enthusiast in your life! Just go to ⁠https://coldwarconversations.com/store/⁠ Follow us on BlueSky ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/coldwarpod.bsky.social⁠ Follow us on Threads ⁠https://www.threads.net/@coldwarconversations⁠ Follow us on Twitter ⁠https://twitter.com/ColdWarPod⁠ Facebook ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/⁠ Instagram ⁠https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/⁠ Youtube ⁠https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations⁠ Love history? Join Intohistory ⁠https://intohistory.com/coldwarpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to Cold War Conversations, the home of real stories of the Cold War.
0:05.9	The Autopilot Order.
0:07.4	Now, informal, the strong urge felt at the ordering kiosk or drive-through that takes over the entire body and mind
0:13.5	and results in a person ordering a Big Mac without even having to think.
0:17.2	Related phrases.
0:18.3	Looks like I've ordered a Big Mac again.
0:20.4	The Autopilot Order at McDonald's. Surf from 11am. Related phrases. Looks like I've ordered a Big Mac again. The autopilot order at McDonald's.
0:23.5	Serves from 11am, subject to availability. General Jackson was kind enough to write to me afterwards,
0:29.8	and he said, but for your presence, things could have been quite different. That's enough,
0:35.5	more than enough for me. And I regard it as one of the highlights of my time in uniform.
0:44.0	This is Cold War Conversations. Thanks to financial supporter Phil Hennessey for providing today's
0:50.2	introduction. If you're new here, you've come to the right place to listen to first-hand
0:55.2	Cold War history accounts. Do make sure you follow us in your podcast app so you don't miss
1:00.0	future episodes. In this gripping episode, we hear a detailed account from an eyewitness right
1:06.0	at the heart of the tense NATO and Russian confrontation in Kosovo in 1999 at Pristina Airport.
1:13.4	NATO General Wesley Clark had ordered the British to use force to remove Russian forces,
1:18.3	however British General Mike Jackson refused with the immortal words,
1:22.4	Sir, I'm not going to start World War III for you.
1:26.3	I'm speaking with former Bricksmiths officer
1:28.2	Stephen Harrison, who was British Army liaison officer to the Russians and was the translator
1:33.7	at the complex and fraught negotiations at the airport. I'm delighted to welcome Stephen
1:39.7	Harrison to our Cold War conversation. The initial tensions came to the fall and came to the knowledge of the international community
	...

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