My guest today is Toby Harnden, who is an author, journalist, and winner of the Orwell Prize, UK’s most prestigious prize for political writing. His most recent book, First Casualty: The Untold Story of the CIA Mission to Avenge 9/11, is the story of the first US team into Afghanistan post the attacks of September 11, 2001. A former Royal Navy officer before becoming a journalist for the likes ofThe Sunday Times and The Daily Telegraph who has subsequently reported from 33 countries, was imprisoned in Zimbabwe, and faced prosecution in Britain for protecting confidential sources, Toby is uniquely qualified to tell this story. Some of the topics we covered are: Toby’s journey into journalism, building credibility with the CIA, the story of Team Alpha, the battle of Qala-i Jangi, human terrain of Afghanistan as well as the scars of Team Alpha in the years to come.
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Full show notes:
My guest today is Toby Harnden, who is an author, journalist, and winner of the Orwell Prize, UK’s most prestigious prize for political writing. His most recent book is First Casualty: The Untold Story of the CIA Mission to Avenge 9/11 and will be the main focus of our discussion today. A former foreign correspondent for The Sunday Times of London and The Daily Telegraph who has reported from 33 countries, he specializes in terrorism and war. Born in England, Toby was imprisoned in Zimbabwe, faced prosecution in Britain for protecting confidential sources, and was vindicated by a $23 million public inquiry in Ireland. A dual British and American citizen, he spent a decade as a Royal Navy officer before becoming a journalist. He holds a First Class degree in Modern History from Corpus Christi College, Oxford and is the author of Bandit Country: The IRA & South Armagh (1999) as well as Dead Men Risen: An Epic Story of War and Heroism in Afghanistan (2009), for which he received the Orwell Prize. Previously based in London, Belfast, Jerusalem, Baghdad, and Washington D.C., he now lives in Virginia.
Some of the topics we covered are:
111. Lest We Forget: Our Duty Is Not To The People with David McBride
110. 🎙 AI's Impact on Massive Death Toll in Gaza with Meron Rapoport
109. Chris Gunness: Israel's Opposition to UNRWA and the Campaign to Delegitimise the Organisation
108. Return of The Voices Of War
107. 2023 Wrap-Up: A Year of Insight and Inquiry
106. Jason Pack – Aspirations of Peace in the Middle East: A Deep Dive into Regional Dynamics and the Global Enduring Disorder
105. Professor Greg Barton - Terrorism, Jihadism, and Violent Extremism: Exploring the Roots and Impacts of Radicalisation
104. Nadim Shehadi – Beyond Gaza: Unpacking the Middle East’s Entrenched Conflicts and Power Dynamics
103. Dr David Livingstone Smith - Dehumanisation in the Israel-Palestine War and its consequences
102. Special Release: Chris Gunness - Scratching Beneath the Complexity of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
101. Professor Rashid Khalidi - Understanding the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: An Exploration of Root Causes and Geopolitical Dynamics
100. Carl Miller - The AI Revolution: Exploring its Ethical, Social, and Political Ramifications
99. Special Release: Vlad Sakovich - The View from Russia: An In-Depth Conversation on Anti-War Activism under Putin’s Regime
98. Dr. Jonathan French Flint - Navigating the Ethical Maze of War: On Strategic Theory and Military Ethics
97. Yousuf Sediq – The War in Afghanistan: Exploring its Complexities, Absurdities, and Challenges with an Afghan Special Forces Commander
96. LTC Kevin Cutright - Empathy Unleashed: Transforming Military Decision-Making and Operational Effectiveness
95. Heidi Langbein-Allen - From Propaganda to Desperation: Understanding Nazi Indoctrination of German Youth in Hitler’s Army
94. Special Release: Dr Mike Martin - Cracks in Putin’s Autocracy: Dissent, Mutiny, and Shifting Tides
93. Dr Neil Greenberg - Battlefield Minds: Understanding the Complexities of Military Mental Health
92. Hasan Aygun - Turkish Elections Unveiled: Erdogan’s Rise to Power, Dimming of Democracy, and Geopolitical Ramifications
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