The
ANN Interview:
The
Backstory
If
you have reached this blog site having already seen the interview, it means
you were interested in what I had to say. Thank you for coming -
and welcome!
As
you can see by the date on this blog it is written after but before
the interview was broadcast throughout The Gulf, The Levant and North
Africa.
For
more detailed information of my analysis on the different regions, if you
are interested and have time, please could you visit the relevant
blogs at this website.
When
It's Time To Go......It's Time To Go
Not
too long ago I was cooking myself breakfast - 3 eggs and a small portion of baked beans - in my pyjamas - when the phone rang. It
was an old colleague.
'Drop
everything Patrick and get over to ANN' were the instructions. I
immediately had a flashback to an earlier time when, believe it or
not, something eerily similar had occurred – twice. One time
involved me, at very short notice, jumping into a Chinook (parked
outside for our convenience) at a base where a member of a Royal family was training for
active service, and the second, which I am going into in detail
about, was when I was driving in Chelsea and my phone rang. It was
again an old colleague (a different one) from the Atlantic Council (in the days of the Cold War, called 'Peace
Through NATO', of which I was an active member) who greeted me
politely asked if I was available (in the next few minutes) to
actively support our War effort in the Balkans. This was at the time
of the conflict in former Yugoslavia and I was being asked to
represent NATO in the University debating circuit and justify the political decision taken, on behalf of the democratic world, that it should be ordered to intervene, to prevent the massacre of Muslim civilians in
the (then) Serbian province of Kosovo. The latter was one of the
most difficult calls I had ever to take in my life. I was torn
between my loyalty to friends (Serb friends) and what I knew to be
'the right thing to do'. I have never been very religious but at
that moment was anguishing like never before and drew upon
what little spiritual strength I had to decide what to do within the
space of that telephone call.
As a civilian, I was being asked to do my duty at a time when my assistance was required. I had no doubt that in Serbia, media individuals, with misgivings, were also being likewise called upon, to do similar.
As a civilian, I was being asked to do my duty at a time when my assistance was required. I had no doubt that in Serbia, media individuals, with misgivings, were also being likewise called upon, to do similar.
I
never debated or hesitated the issue with the caller (AW) just said
'yes' because I knew it was the right thing to do morally, ethically
and I knew could never find the inner peace I sought if I did not, at
that moment, stand up to be counted. This was one of my (many)
moments in life of truth – the calling to a higher value and ideals
far beyond my capabilities as a spiritually failing human being nor
of my understanding – but I knew I was doing the right thing, come
what may.
Hearts
and Minds
At
a very prominent University College, I won the debate – no contest
- against a very formidable and nationally
recognized media individual – who should have 'wiped' the floor with me
and won - hands down – as I could tell that the student audience
was, initially, highly sceptical and anti-NATO intervention in Kosovo. That
was, until I explained clearly what the issues at stake were. Then
the tide turned. It happened that the NATO intervention in Kosovo
was short-lived so my tasks were concluded successfully in a very
short time period and I could return to an anonymous life, but not without regret for the fallen, on all sides. The lives of the fallen, Christians and Muslims, all wasted by their respective politicians, in the wake of a failure of diplomacy to resolve disputes and squabbles. And of course many of those fallen, on all sides, represented the youngest, whose future was once the brightest. There you have it.
'No No-Go Areas!'
So
too it was when this colleague called me, whilst in my pyjamas. It
was not difficult to say 'yes' because when he explained to me 'you
will be asked your views about ISIS, Afghanistan, the Levant, North
Africa, The Gulf, U.S.
policy – and you can say it exactly as you see it – no holes
barred – no sacred cows - don't take any prisoners - and don't hesitate to let them know exactly what you think. You can draw on or mention your personal contacts and anyone else you want to mention.' Under many
circumstances, on highly controversial topics of an international
dimension, you are expected to 'toe the line'. I do not do many TV
nor radio interviews for that simple reason and the fact that I don't
want to be leaving the 'politically correct' station as an 'embarrassment' after the
interview concludes. In addition, there are many networks I will
decline for political reasons - because they are indirectly controlled or funded by the
governments of countries whose policies or the treatment of women and minorities (Christians) I find odious. So I
am not readily 'available' nor 'easy to get hold of' for interviews these days.
I
knew that ANN is one of the reputable of the modern Arab
TV networks promoting democratic values, Womens rights, equal opportunities for all, and broadcasting throughout the Levant, The
Gulf and North Africa. It is a modest network with a 'progressive' audience and not a media network 'bankrolled' by
countries I would find a 'problem' to work with - such as Iran or Saudi
Arabia.
Within a few minutes of our conversation the phone rang again. It was someone
unfamiliar - but I had been told to expect that call. 'Hello, I am
…... can you just drop everything and get down to the studio for an
interview? Come as you are! When I explained that I was just about
to start eating my beans and fried eggs and was, to say the least,
rather scantily dressed and might not appear appropriate for a
viewing audience in the Muslim Levant, The Gulf and North Africa,
should I turn up in my slippers and dressing gown, I could almost hear howls of
laughter from the other end of the line. 'Ok!
Ok! Look, could you please get here as soon as you can?'
As
soon as I put the phone down I put my breakfast in the oven, got
washed and dressed and high-tailed it over to the studio. It took
more time to find an empty taxi (about 8 minutes) and battle our way
through traffic to the studio (about 16 minutes) than it did to get
washed and dressed and out the door for the interview (about 6
minutes.)
Because
we are talking about sensitive political and military environments, I
needed to be assured that there were no 'off-limit' areas for
discussion. 'No, just say it as you see it Patrick.' 'They really
are interested in what you think and how you see things
moving forward – or backward - as the case may be.'
Should
I mention my interviews with, whom I now believe, with hindsight,
were Al Qaeda operatives in the Southern Philippines before 9-11
whilst researching my book there?
Should
I alert the Gulf States and Turkey, if I get the chance, to the folly
and imminent dangers to their very own stability, emanating from
their active or passive support for ISIS and why such is the case? Should I mention Jack Devine's prophetic article* about Afghanistan, if I get the opportunity? (See my earlier blog about Afghanistan*, Its Bleak Future, unless action is taken on several issues.)
I
made a number of calls during that 16-minute journey to check facts
and issues. Remember I had just got up, had
done no homework whatsoever, and was expected, out of the blue, to
recall information and details I had not visited recently. For
example, could I mention AK?, a devout Muslim and charismatic Afghan tribal leader in the Loya Jirga (Supreme Tribal Council) whom I met
personally at the residence of a colleague and whose integrity and
vision for the future of Afghanistan impressed me so much that I drew
a comparison to that 'rainbow nation' vision which Nelson Mandela had for all of the people of South Africa - regardless of race, religion, color, tribe,
ethnicity or (in the case of Afghanistan) gender.
'No holes barred
Patrick, just say it as you found it' were the words echoing in my
thoughts.
That
was sufficient.
The
taxi arrived at the studio. The rest you have seen in the ANN
interview.
