Carne Ross in the documentary Accidental Anarchist. Hopscotch Films
Carne Ross in the documentary Accidental Anarchist. Hopscotch Films
Carne Ross in the documentary Accidental Anarchist. Hopscotch Films
Carne Ross in the documentary Accidental Anarchist. Hopscotch Films

Former Iraq war whistleblower calls for a UK foreign policy based on 'global solidarity'


Lemma Shehadi
  • English
  • Arabic

Live updates: Follow the latest news on the UK general election

A former British diplomat and whistleblower on the Iraq war believes UK foreign policy should shed its colonial hangover of “British interests” overseas and instead think more about how nations can work together on global issues.

Carne Ross spent more than 15 years as a British diplomat working on Middle Eastern files including the Iraq war – before resigning in 2004 to give secret testimony on the UK's intelligence on weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

Today he is a Green Party candidate in the UK general elections, helping to steer the party’s foreign policy of “global solidarity”, while challenging Labour’s prospects at forming the next government. His opponent in London's South Islington constituency that he is standing in is Emily Thornberry, a shadow cabinet member and Labour MP of almost 20 years.

“I reject the notion of British interests. I think this is a manufactured notion. A safer world will come about when we show solidarity with people all over the world, and above all, for the protection of their human rights,” he said during a video interview.

Mr Ross’s anger over the legacy of the Iraq War is what compels him to stand with the Greens, a party with historically few seats in parliament.

“Tony Blair has been rehabilitated. His officials who perpetrated the lies have also been rehabilitated. There's been no real accountability. So I'm quite angry about that,” he added.

Britain's Lord Butler, second right, arrives with his team, from left to right, Ann Taylor, Michael Mates, Lord Inge and Sir John Chilcott, in London. Reuters
Britain's Lord Butler, second right, arrives with his team, from left to right, Ann Taylor, Michael Mates, Lord Inge and Sir John Chilcott, in London. Reuters

His testimony to the Butler inquiry in 2004 as the UK’s Iraq expert on weapons of mass destruction at the UN, later to the Chilcot Inquiry, helped expose that the basis for the Iraq War – that Saddam Hussein had obtained weapons of mass destruction – was a lie.

“In Britain it's certainly believed by most people that the war was based on a lie. I'm partly responsible for that belief, which I'm proud of,” he said.

But he is nonetheless filled with regret. "It's awful being a mouthpiece for a government you don't agree with," he said.

The Iraq war and the war on terror, he said, were the catalysts for the “erosion of global rules” that drives major conflicts today, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

“Putin and Lavrov have been around for a very long time, and they have long memories. They took their cue from the lawlessness of (the) Western war on terror and the Iraq war to pursue their own illegal actions in places like Georgia but above all, Ukraine,” he said, with reference to the Russo-Georgian war of 2008.

Former British diplomat and whistleblower, Carne Ross. Photo: Carne Ross
Former British diplomat and whistleblower, Carne Ross. Photo: Carne Ross

Today, the West’s inaction over Gaza and Israel’s perceived impunity, he added, further threatens this world order.

The Green Party has condemned the Hamas attacks of October 7, but also called for a ceasefire “early on” because they had anticipated the huge civilian casualties that would ensure. The party is on the margins of the UK Left and is currently polling around 5 per cent.

As well as supporting the cases against Israel and Israeli officials at the international courts, they have called for the Metropolitan Police in the UK to investigate government ministers for complicity in war crimes because of continuing arms sales to Israel.

It is a position, which Mr Ross says differs greatly from the Labour party. “Even now (Labour) doesn’t seem to be calling for an unambiguous and lasting ceasefire, which I find incredible,” he said. “Labour Party talks about a rules-based order, but we actually stick to it."

Ms Thornberry, he points out, had refused to answer a BBC journalist on whether the Israeli siege of Gaza in the early days of the war was a breach of international law.

The West would pay in the long term for pursuing a diplomacy that put security interests and economic relationships over global human rights and climate action.

“The West did not show solidarity with the Global South on covid or on debt. People in the Global South ... see the hypocrisy and the double standards of the West in places like Gaza. There is a price for that,” he said.

The consequences of this were already palpable with Ukraine's struggle to attract leaders from the Global South countries to its peace summit in Switzerland this week.

He also condemned the UK's "deep defence" relationships with Israel and Saudi Arabia as examples of putting security interests over solidarity.

Catapulted to another existence

Mr Ross had expected to be a diplomat all of his life, but his resignation after Iraq became “a catapult into another existence”.

“At the time that was a disaster for me professionally, but looking back, I'm glad it happened, because it's awful being a mouthpiece for a government you don't agree with.”

He founded Independent Diplomat, a non-profit supplying diplomats for hire to unrepresented minority groups around the world, from the Polisario in Western Sahara to the Kurds of North East Syria - people left behind when a world order of nation states was established in the last century.

He also worked with the Syrian opposition against shortly after the revolution in 2011, where he had supported a military intervention against Syrian President Bashar Al Assad, who launched barrel bomb and chemical weapons attacks against civilians with Russian-backing.

The lessons from these inform the paths forward that he sees to the Israel-Palestine conflict. Palestinians needed to be given “the space to develop their own political voice, ideally, a united political voice that can represent the views of the Palestinian people fairly,” he said.

The international community should move beyond rhetoric and pressure Israel to leave to occupied territories. "Warm words" about a two-state solution were moot without "real pressure".

“There must be a political solution that provides for the security and the protection of human rights for Israelis and Palestinians, but it's going to take international pressure for that to come,” he added.

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    Satirical political character Count Binface in London before challenging Conservative leader RishiSunak for the parliamentary seat of Richmond and Northallerton. Reuters
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    Mr Sunak holds a Q&A with staff of a West Transport distribution centre in Ilkeston in the East Midlands. AP
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    Mr Sunak poses for a selfie in Ilkeston. AFP

Mr Ross' diplomatic journey turned him into an “accidental” and “gentle anarchist”, the memoirs and philosophy of which he will outline in his next book, The Gentle Anarchist.

“Elites in institutions don't take seriously the people they're fully responsible for. I saw that myself when I was part of an elite institution,” he said.

“We thought that we knew best, and that's what you're encouraged to believe. That's why I'm an anarchist these days. Institutions as much as they are necessary need to be absolutely transparent and accountable, and they're not.”

In the long term, abolishing the British foreign office may be the only way to rid the institutions of its colonial hangovers and ensure its transparency, he said.

“I'd abolish it. It is deeply steeped in its own arrogant traditions, it needs to be totally abolished,” he told The National.

Although diplomats are necessary, he insists, institutions like the FCDO in its current form were not – they needed to be rebuilt from the ground up to be “absolutely transparent and accountable”.

“It's not that I don't see the need for diplomats. Of course, we need diplomats to explain our views to other people and to listen.

“But I would make those temporary representatives. I would make their work transparent."

As an MP, he hopes to also encourage people to lead less consumerist lives and advocates for forms of spiritual fulfilment that could lead us towards a more sustainable future.

“We have a hyper consumerist society, because our spiritual needs are not being met. The society I envisage allows for those spiritual needs to be met,” he said.

“We'd consume less and produce less, which would ultimately help us live more in harmony with the planet.”

Semi-final fixtures

Portugal v Chile, 7pm, today

Germany v Mexico, 7pm, tomorrow

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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

Full Party in the Park line-up

2pm – Andreah

3pm – Supernovas

4.30pm – The Boxtones

5.30pm – Lighthouse Family

7pm – Step On DJs

8pm – Richard Ashcroft

9.30pm – Chris Wright

10pm – Fatboy Slim

11pm – Hollaphonic

 

THE BIO

Family: I have three siblings, one older brother (age 25) and two younger sisters, 20 and 13 

Favourite book: Asking for my favourite book has to be one of the hardest questions. However a current favourite would be Sidewalk by Mitchell Duneier

Favourite place to travel to: Any walkable city. I also love nature and wildlife 

What do you love eating or cooking: I’m constantly in the kitchen. Ever since I changed the way I eat I enjoy choosing and creating what goes into my body. However, nothing can top home cooked food from my parents. 

Favorite place to go in the UAE: A quiet beach.

GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

Race card for Super Saturday

4pm: Al Bastakiya Listed US$250,000 (Dh918,125) (Dirt) 1,900m.

4.35pm: Mahab Al Shimaal Group 3 $200,000 (D) 1,200m.

5.10pm: Nad Al Sheba Conditions $200,000 (Turf) 1,200m.

5.45pm: Burj Nahaar Group 3 $200,000 (D) 1,600m.

6.20pm: Jebel Hatta Group 1 $300,000 (T) 1,800m.

6.55pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 Group 1 $400,000 (D) 2,000m.

7.30pm: Dubai City of Gold Group 2 $250,000 (T) 2,410m.

RESULTS

2.30pm Jaguar I-Pace – Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (Dirt)
1,600m 

Winner Namrood, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Musabah Al Muhairi
(trainer) 

3.05pm Land Rover Defender – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D)
1,400m 

Winner Shadzadi, Tadhg O’Shea, Bhupat Seemar 

3.40pm Jaguar F-Type – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,600m 

Winner Tahdeed, Fernando Jara, Nicholas Bachalard 

4.15pm New Range Rover – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,400m 

Winner Shanty Star, Richard Mullen, Rashed Bouresly 

4.50pm Land Rover – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 2,400m 

Winner Autumn Pride, Bernardo Pinheiro, Helal Al Alawi 

5.25pm Al Tayer Motor – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000  T) 1,000m 

Winner Dahawi, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi 

6pm Jaguar F-Pace SVR – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,600m 

Winner Scabbard, Sam Hitchcock, Doug Watson  

Lexus LX700h specs

Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor

Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh590,000

Three trading apps to try

Sharad Nair recommends three investment apps for UAE residents:

  • For beginners or people who want to start investing with limited capital, Mr Nair suggests eToro. “The low fees and low minimum balance requirements make the platform more accessible,” he says. “The user interface is straightforward to understand and operate, while its social element may help ease beginners into the idea of investing money by looking to a virtual community.”
  • If you’re an experienced investor, and have $10,000 or more to invest, consider Saxo Bank. “Saxo Bank offers a more comprehensive trading platform with advanced features and insight for more experienced users. It offers a more personalised approach to opening and operating an account on their platform,” he says.
  • Finally, StashAway could work for those who want a hands-off approach to their investing. “It removes one of the biggest challenges for novice traders: picking the securities in their portfolio,” Mr Nair says. “A goal-based approach or view towards investing can help motivate residents who may usually shy away from investment platforms.”
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Personalities on the Plate: The Lives and Minds of Animals We Eat

Barbara J King, University of Chicago Press 

How does ToTok work?

The calling app is available to download on Google Play and Apple App Store

To successfully install ToTok, users are asked to enter their phone number and then create a nickname.

The app then gives users the option add their existing phone contacts, allowing them to immediately contact people also using the application by video or voice call or via message.

Users can also invite other contacts to download ToTok to allow them to make contact through the app.

 

Specs

Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric

Range: Up to 610km

Power: 905hp

Torque: 985Nm

Price: From Dh439,000

Available: Now

How to turn your property into a holiday home
  1. Ensure decoration and styling – and portal photography – quality is high to achieve maximum rates.
  2. Research equivalent Airbnb homes in your location to ensure competitiveness.
  3. Post on all relevant platforms to reach the widest audience; whether you let personally or via an agency know your potential guest profile – aiming for the wrong demographic may leave your property empty.
  4. Factor in costs when working out if holiday letting is beneficial. The annual DCTM fee runs from Dh370 for a one-bedroom flat to Dh1,200. Tourism tax is Dh10-15 per bedroom, per night.
  5. Check your management company has a physical office, a valid DTCM licence and is licencing your property and paying tourism taxes. For transparency, regularly view your booking calendar.
EU Russia

The EU imports 90 per cent  of the natural gas used to generate electricity, heat homes and supply industry, with Russia supplying almost 40 per cent of EU gas and a quarter of its oil. 

Notable cricketers and political careers
  • India: Kirti Azad, Navjot Sidhu and Gautam Gambhir (rumoured)
  • Pakistan: Imran Khan and Shahid Afridi (rumoured)
  • Sri Lanka: Arjuna Ranatunga, Sanath Jayasuriya, Tillakaratne Dilshan (rumoured)
  • Bangladesh (Mashrafe Mortaza)
Nepotism is the name of the game

Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad. 

GIANT REVIEW

Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan

Director: Athale

Rating: 4/5

Updated: July 03, 2024, 8:38 AM