The British media’s leading metropolitan liberals have an odd crossover with new Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa (a name change from Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, the ‘kunya’ or Arabic name associated with his past jihadism). Back in February, Al Campbell and Rory Stewart flew into Damascus to platform the new President in a simpering interview for their The Rest is Politics: Leading podcast…
It certainly doesn’t look like treating al-Sharaa as an incoming centrist dad was a good idea now. As the BBC reports:
“Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s government responded by deploying forces to the city. Druze residents of Suweida told the BBC they had witnessed “barbaric acts” as gunmen – government forces and foreign fighters – attacked people. Israel targeted these forces, saying they were acting to protect the Druze. Government forces withdrew and Druze and Bedouin fighters subsequently clashed. Both Druze and Bedouin fighters have been accused of atrocities over the past seven days, as well as members of the security forces and individuals affiliated with the interim government.”
Campbell later recounted the trip in an article for The New European. He tweeted at the time: “This is why we were in Syria. Long interview with fighter turned President Ahmed al-Sharaa. We discuss on RestIsPolitics tomorrow and the full interview out on LEADING Monday. Fascinating on so many levels.” Certainly proving to be an interesting choice…
Tom Baldwin, author of Starmer’s hagiography, spoke to Times Radio:
Tom Baldwin: “I think he’d like to do something. He’s very dutiful and driven by service. That’s why he came into politics. I think that’s characterised his time as prime minister. He hasn’t always sought popularity or been good at being popular. But I think he has some of the necessary qualities that we actually do want in a prime minister. That resilience, that relentlessness, that ability to carry the weight and the job really does weigh very heavily on people and he carries that weight very, very well.”
Jo Coburn: “NATO Secretary-General?”
Tom Baldwin: “I think that’s something that he would be interested in. I think it probably requires Andy Burnham’s government to support him in that and these are some of the questions which Andy Burnham has to resolve quite quickly.”