Retired Major General on Gaza, Iraq and Afghanistan | Ash Sarkar meets Charlie Herbert

Major General Charlie Herbert has stood out in recent months for his vociferous condemnation of Israel's war on Palestinians. His media appearances have proven vital in synthesising a moral and strategic critique of war in which civilians are treated in a manner he characterises as unprecedented.
He sat down with Ash to talk about serving in Northern Ireland in the 80s, conscription and why Israel's plan for Gaza will not work.
Novara Live broadcasts every weekday from 6PM on KZbin and Twitch.
Episodes of Downstream are released Sundays at 6PM on KZbin.
__________________________
Support our journalism by buying Novara Media merch:
shop.novaramedia.com
Donate one hour’s wage per month, or whatever you can afford:
novara.media/support

[@whatintheworld6076]

I’m from Africa, Ethiopia to be exact. It always amazes me how these former colonial countries never see fault in their expeditions of war around the world. He went on and on about how the Afghan quickly devolved upon the forces leaving etc. Did it ever occur to you that you shouldn’t have been there to begin with messing with the ethnic and historic composition you did not belong in. How supremacist of you to think ONLY what you had to offer is better and the indigenous people can’t figure out their own society. Did they not live in their own balanced way before the west declared the WMD lie based war on multiple Middle East nations? This whole conversation reminds me of colonialism’s argument as they carved Africa “these are uncivilized savages and we are bringing them culture and Christianity.” But at the same time the British empire was loading artifacts and artwork from all over Africa (the culture of Africa) and displaying them in their museums. The Italians in their second attempt to colonize Ethiopia called us savages and pagans. Never mind Ethiopia is the 2nd country to adopt Christianity and Judaism since the time of Queen Sheba. Still they used the same argument that their cause to colonize us was just because they were better civilizations than us. The stench of devastation that follows the wars by western nations is suffocating. How about you don’t interfere in other nations way of life. What would have happened to the Native American culture and way of life if you just stayed your supremacist ass in Europe… or Africa or India or Middle East. Don’t you see the Gaza devastation is still your legacy? What right did Britain have to give away a land in Palestine to European Jews that it rejected? It was never yours to give in the first place. The world would be better off without your intervention.

[@veronikalynn5084]

🔥🔥 sad how often this needs repeating

[@grantcunningham2481]

Well said!

[@FabianMacGintyONeill]

If you'd said that comment in person in a room I was in I'd stand up and applaud you, well said

[@doniehurley9396]

How great is it to hear such a clear and wise statement from an African voice

[@michaeljay64]

Powerful and well deserved recognition.Thank you!

[@saad4447]

the reality: “Israel is a settler colonial project that is nearing its end, as colonial projects reach their final phase become more brutal and ruthless.” ~ Ilan Pappe

[@memxfgtwjd]

One of the few voices of reason amongst the madness there

[@Uncanny_Mountain]

All that matters is how to fix it, or what are we all doing other than thoughts and prayers? We must *Demand* Govt by People's Referenda: By Peaceful Occupation of our Capitals until it's installed, or run Mascot Candidates Single Issue Referendums with thresholds and a social contract means Communities can vote their own laws. A Public Authority can audit police and prosecute bad cops in our own courts. Nationalise resources and give Indigenous peoples the right of Sovereignty over them as Guardians. This can be achieved through a General Strike or Velvet Revolution, much like the Occupy movement, peacefully occupying State Buildings until a People's Mandate can be implemented. With the appropriate checks and balances, you could have a national digital forum where qualified professionals can debate the issues in a public setting without all the disinformation and bad faith antics, hatespeech etc. Any vote would need to pass the 70% threshold, with a veto or _rewrite_ vote needing 30%. The issues would be debated, the public educated, and then a vote taken. Votes that fail will have to wait a year before trying again. Any new proposal (Citizen Initiated Referendum) would have to reach a threshold of support before it made it onto the register. This would be subject to a Social Contract (New Constitution) that forbids human rights abuses and discrimination. That can be written in the same manner based on the core principles we all share. Councils and Boards could operate in the same fashion at Scale. It works in a way that obligates people to better educate themselves ( that is to use logic and evidence in their reasoning ) for a better understanding of the issues, and then take collective responsibility for the outcomes. As opposed to the divisive US v them scapegoating and bi-partisan finger pointing the current Capitalist Pyramid Scheme runs on. We need Government by People's Referenda, either through Mascot Candidates or Peaceful Occupation of the Capitals until one is established. Make it an annual March on Oct 14.

[@soleboxy]

What is the motherland

[@saad4447]

@@soleboxy of what?

[@tonycooper5599]

@@memxfgtwjd Correct, although Ilan Pappe actually lives in the UK.

[@JuliusGalacki]

He is leaving out that Israelis also torture their prisoners whom they take randomly. That is not just from testimony, that is from photographic evidence of bruises and burns.

[@RadiantStar8997]

The mowing of the lawn.

[@61bullet43]

He’s leaving out that the FAMINE instigated by ISRAEL, USA, AND UK is just starting to blow up. How can he defend the UK military? He sickens me.

[@RadiantStar8997]

@@61bullet43 He is part of them but tries to make people think the motives were good. They weren't.

[@annelliot622]

He misses out that the Israel was routinely using terrible forms of torture on Palestinian detainees. And the after the 7th of Oct it is many times worse. I find many of his comments about the various areas he spoke about very insidious and am sad that Ash was so slickly but obviously taken for a stroll.

[@Uncanny_Mountain]

And the poisoning of inmate's with unknown injections, meaning many prisoners die within a year of release The use of sterilisation of Ethiopians and Shephardics, the hearts stolen from Yemenis They never tell the whole story

[@nsnawas]

The project in Afghanistan lasted 20 years, the project in Algeria 132y. In the land of Palestine, what? 75-80 years. All will fall, no occupation can last!

[@ellengran6814]

European settlers in America managed to "occcupy forever". Israeli settlers have pushed out more and more families every year. No wonder they believe they can just continue until there is no resistance left, like in America.

[@squareinsquare2078]

Ireland was 800 years.

[@gangajal9292]

Oil fields = killing fields!!!!

[@heliotropezzz333]

@@squareinsquare2078 and counting

[@KahinaKhando46]

​@@squareinsquare2078India was 900 years if Islamic rule and 800 million Hindus killed...All occupation is horrifying.

[@dLehman]

Ash is brilliant in her questions!! She does not let the guy off the hook!

[@madwisdom4929]

Gaza has No tanks or ships and Israel needs billions of American taxpayer dollars to fight. What’s wrong with this picture?

[@Hermothersdaughter665]

Right? the math is not mathing.

[@sweetyandjoshuaenjoytheirb718]

What is totally wrong is the one that carried out genocide is the one claims to be genocide victims. One would thought past experience would give them humanity.

[@ScandalUK]

British-made FMJ bullets took the lives of many in the Flour Massacres of the north - but nobody has identified the aid agencies involved.

[@tmr10059]

imagine if they really at war with hisbullah

[@auumellmahaye7767]

_Everything._

[@heliotropezzz333]

Israel will never look at its own role or deal with historical Palestinian grievances. It is closed minded.

[@Uncanny_Mountain]

Roman Catholic* It's a Trojan Crusade

[@survivormary1126]

Brainwashed.

[@heliotropezzz333]

@@Uncanny_Mountain ?

[@timbarry5080]

It's not just closed minded, it is sociopathic. The victim just doesn't matter to them.. being immoral just doesn't matter

[@superscopesix]

narcissist state 💯

[@Djhautesavoie]

At the end of the day, you are imposing your way of life on others by force.

[@heliotropezzz333]

Or sometimes trying to stop other hostile forces from doing so.

[@zaloo]

or, in the case of Afghanistan, supporting like-minded people within that society. is the USA Christian-fundamentalist nationalist or libertarian or liberal or left? is Brasil Bolsonaro/Christian fundie or PT/Worker's Party/bossa nova/MPB? at one time (1964) the US weighed in with the Brazilian reactionaries, anti-coms and conservative Catholics. this last time it "suggested" the reactionaries in the army stand down, allowing the election to take course and Worker's Party to do its thing. i'm just saying societies are always at least bi-polar. and both (or however many) sides are attached to the outside globe in different ways and degrees. and those outside forces have their own complicated interests.

[@Uncanny_Mountain]

​@@heliotropezzz333 or accusing others of what you're doing, now your history all makes perfect sense, you incite a reaction so you can fall back on your privileged status by virtue of identity politics And that's why you were ejected from so many countries, like the Jesuits such as Biden and Trump Now we know

[@edc1569]

eh?

[@scallamander4899]

'Most of my career was about saving lives, not taking lives.' This man helped plan the supremely criminal invasion of Iraq, which has led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of civilians. How Ash can not hold him to account boggles my mind. Expected better from Novara. Ash should have said, 'It was not just a ''strategic error'' mate, it was a crime against humanity.'

[@lunaridge4510]

great point!

[@bentz98125]

I give her benefit of the doubt she didn't say it because she was on a mission to expose the naive self-serving mindset of a colonial foot soldiers for what it is.

[@johanvanhecke8583]

Maybe.. but if all soldiers of IDF would be like him , that would have made already a big difference I think. No ?

[@scallamander4899]

@@johanvanhecke8583 If anything, the fact that English soldiers can hide a lot of their war crimes behind charm and understatement, and always resort to the camouflage of amateurs 'doing their best and muddling through', probably makes it harder to spot the problem. British foreign policy causes significantly more harm to the world than Israeli policy towards the Arab world and beyond. The fact that the Israeli army is more brazen actually helps the pro-Palestine cause somewhat.

[@zoranazanoskar5400]

There is really no dilemma there - occupying army is by definition in the wrong. There is zero morality in being occupier. Full stop. Defend your own country within its borders. Once you step out of those borders, you are by definitionwrong.

[@bestbehave]

True, and it's the whole of Israel/Palestine that is being occupied

[@superscopesix]

The entire state of Israel was created by force through occupation and violence leading up to 1948

[@andrewblyth954]

Brilliant interview. I certainly don't agree with his perspective on many things, but he comes across as someone speaking in good faith and for that he should be respected. It's so valuable to have these opportunities to see the world through others' eyes. More like this please!

[@maxpowerii7368]

Yes I don’t agree with many things he said but this is about as modern thinking and progressive as a British Army officer gets so we should be thankful to him regardless.

[@maxpowerii7368]

Yes I don’t agree with many things he said but this is about as modern thinking and progressive as a British Army officer gets so we should be thankful to him regardless.

[@greggasiorowski1326]

Once a war pig always a war pig even though slightly defanged.

[@tomdavies3132]

Totally agree, you only strengthen your arguments through testing them. Often that is best achieved through listening in the first instance.

[@Middlescholar]

If Hamas are admittedly under ground in tunnels. What's the purpose of discussing whether civilians in buildings above ground are legitimate or not, given that Hamas are not on the ground at all.

[@sasamoal]

Rightly said 👍

[@martinfiedler4317]

That is a good question. I think, we all - including South Africa - know the answer...

[@RadiantStar8997]

Any excuse is a good excuse when they want land and resources.

[@gangajal9292]

Because it is a NAQBA!!!!!😢😢😢😢😢

[@samernammari8785]

There was an incident a few years ago during which Israel targeted a building where a senior Hamas leader, Shehadeh, lived with his family. 16 other families (or so, can’t recall exactly the number) lived in the same building, and they all died as a result of the bombing. I think he refers to this scenario.

[@JohnWesleyBarker]

"If you want peace, you don't talk to your friends. You talk to your enemies." - Desmond Tutu (1931-2021)

[@victormeidan1062]

Well, Winston Churchill disagreed with this Tutu fellow !

[@bestbehave]

@@victormeidan1062 No he didn't. "Meeting jaw to jaw is better than war." Winston Churchill (1874-1965)

[@victormeidan1062]

@@bestbehave Churchill was famous for NOT agreeing to discussing peace with his great historical nemesis.

[@gregorymclaughlin6206]

Your army, Ash, rolled into Derry (Ireland) in 1969 - "armoured cars and tanks and guns" - and ruled us for nearly 30 years. You didn't have to be in the IRA - most of us weren't! - to feel the boot of British rule. Appalling. Bloody Sunday being the low point. Yet as bad as we felt the force of British rule, it was nothing compared to what the Palestinians are experiencing now in Gaza and also in the West Bank. There will never be an apology to them, though. There has never been an apology from the British to the nationalist/republican people of the north of Ireland. I wonder why?

[@edc1569]

I guess the UK could have tried the Russian method, both sides did awful things, the Good Friday agreement should have drawn the line and provided Ireland a path to unity if/when it choses too.

[@erikdalna211]

He avoided that. Britain cannot be honest about it until Ireland is unified.

[@sueellen7]

Thanks. I always love Ash’s interviews. Always brilliant, compassionate & able to ask difficult questions in good grace

[@Ztandard32]

Novara Media is producing some really high quality content. Great analysis.

[@JohnMckenna-kf9vx]

When this man was in Ireland, he was not "fighting terrorism," as he claimed. He was in an occupying imperial army, denying Irish peoples right to self-determination. He was a terrorist, inflicting terror on the Irish people.

[@gghstlr]

Exactly

[@robbiewizz658]

Facts

[@lawrencenoctor2703]

Terrorist are always the other guys, when we do it its peacekeeping. Thats the stance of the patronizing empires.

[@jsquire5pa]

Not really .. the British were an interposing force (though clearly completely neutral) between two sides which were at low level war with each other ..

[@kaiserblazer]

He called the British army an occupying force? Why did you give an impression he didn't?

[@snizami]

Damn, hes really thoughtful but he still has so many lingering pro-western biases.

[@RadiantStar8997]

He couldn't live with himself unless he tried to justify it as a force for good.

[@annelliot622]

I have a feeling he just does a very good job of coming across as thoughtful

[@HelenA-vz5wy]

@@RadiantStar8997or he’s just a sociopath like the rest of them

[@BarbarraBay]

4:13 he does not understand because under international law Israel actually does not appear to have any rights of self-defence in relation to an occupied terrority.

[@damienflinter4585]

Kudos, Ash, brilliant interrogation of the complexities of an honest military mind and its blindness to the interests it serves.

[@bentz98125]

Yes, she brilliantly dissected the specimen for all to witness. Depressing to realize how representative he is of how many people in control of so many weapons.

[@damienflinter4585]

@@bentz98125The ordinary grunt is a victim, often well motivated. This lad opened by referring to his inadequacy in the educational system. That will leave anyone insecure in the dog-eat-dog economics run by the same militarist mindset, so the 'security' forces gives them a little security in return for blinkered obedience. This lad somehow kep his basic decency, though his indoctrination with British presumption of superiority and natural right to rule exposes the distance still to be travelled. There but for fortune, as the song sang.

[@heliotropezzz333]

So far I haven't heard any realisation from him that he might have been deliberately misled on the information/intelligence front for political reasons in relation to the war in Iraq. He seems to think it was merely a mistaken interpretation of the information and intelligence.

[@Helen-xy9qj]

I thought he implied it was fraudulent.

[@Uncanny_Mountain]

Westerners never admit to being wrong It's why BB is now leading his own people over a cliff

[@dLehman]

@Ash, great questions!

[@yaznin2474]

Don't agree with everything said. But so much respect for Charlie engaging in such a discussion. Found him to be quite humble - very rare to hear such honesty from such men. Well done NM.

[@Uncanny_Mountain]

Like all westerners he has failed to entertain the prospect that he can be wrong, and therefore is extremely easy to mislead At best...

[@bentz98125]

He's no sociopath but the institutions he served certainly are.

[@carinarilk89]

​@@bentz98125For money. For the Weapon Industry. For the Investors! For the Overrich!

[@ValQuinn]

Veterans and serving soldiers tend to be a lot more alive to ambiguity than dogmatic career politicians. The job kind of necessitates it.

[@pamplemouse5]

They're trained to be charming in the schooling they go through. All of the ultra rich are like this. Look at how "let the bodies pile high" Boris was when he was in control.

[@jenifernaidoo7231]

Ash is Amazing

[@willeizlini]

i agree, incredible interviewer

[@dLehman]

How can you not have an issue with IDF ticktock videos? Just because British soldiers did that doesn’t make it ok.. parading lingerie or dancing after massacring civilians are both horrendous and any army or soldier should not do this..

[@RadiantStar8997]

Yep. There are rules of war.

[@SafaDave]

That’s not what he said.

[@gangajal9292]

These acts turn a soldier into a criminal! Not in my name!!!!! Free Palestine🙏❤️🇯🇴

[@jamessones4044]

@@aum966that’s just it. They believe THEY are better than everyone else. We all know this.

[@dLehman]

@@SafaDave that’s exactly what he said. Replay and you can quote him on what he said

[@marionanderson7059]

Admitting their mistakes isn't in the vocabulary of the occupying power because the lies on which their whole state was built on would unravel if they faced what they did to get to October 7th

[@Helen-xy9qj]

Everything about Israel is a lie. "A democracy in a sea of tyrannies." Ho, ho, ho.

[@ianmackillop1774]

The ICJ ruled in 2004 that Isrel has no right of self defence because their occupation is illegal. The only right they have is to end the occupation.

[@jaysukhwinder7340]

Brilliant convo

[@matthewotooleis]

These kinda conversations are very valuable for all. He kept saying how great the questions were- he’s probably never had to think of these things before. Novara keep getting better and better. Ash is brilliant. Pace. ✊🏻

[@Ahibasabala]

No they're not valuable, this is high-brow apologism, but it's still dishonest and deceiving.

[@jenifernaidoo7231]

​@@Ahibasabala And now you know what the other side is thinking or at least willing to say.

[@gangajal9292]

Do you know the origin of the Novara name bearing in mind that Novara is a city in northern Italy? Just curious.....btw great interview Ash 🙏❤️🇯🇴

[@matthewotooleis]

@@Ahibasabala a) Know your enemy. b) The defeat of facism will necessitate strange bedfellows (read your history). c) My enemy’s enemy is my friend- for now.

[@annelliot622]

No way. He was artful, I must say. Very insidious. Now I realize why he's been interviewed as much as he has. Slick. And Ash seemed to fall for it.

[@mariacoronel2547]

54:15 Before the troops were there, the poppy cultivation was at a kind of a low point. When the troops left, it was up 20 times the highest point of poppy cultivation in Afghanistan. Why were US and British troops there in the first place? They should never meddle in any countries affairs.

[@-farang-la-fan]

Do you have a source? I’d be genuinely really interested to see the data on this one. 😊

[@ronstephen-wy4ib]

You should Google it. The Taliban virtually eliminated poppy growing and then the USA came and the growing exploded with the fields being protected by the US military.

[@sculpy2758]

@@-farang-la-fan From 'Crossing the Rubicon' by Michael C. Ruppert: p.68 "Among the first things the US forces and CIA did was liberate a number of known opium warlords.."(54) "..amidst reports that they were being encouraged to do so, began planting massive opium crops."(55) (54)"Victorious Warlords Set to Open Opium Floodgates" Observer, Nov. 25 2001. (55)"Opium Farmers Rejoice at the Defeat of the Taliban" Independent, Nov. 21 2001. "From a paltry 180 tons under the Taliban in 2001, according to the UN, the estimated 2002 harvest, under CIA protection, was close to 3,700 tons."(57) "The 2003 crop set new records, coming in at almost 4,000 tons."(59) "In November of 2003, Reuters reported that current Afghan opium cultivation was 36 times higher than under the last year of Taliban rule."(61) (57) "Massive post-war rise in production of Afghan opium" Independent, Sept. 26 2002. (59) "Afghan Poppy Production Rises Again" AP, Apr. 28 2003. (61) "US: Afghan Poppy Crop Leaping" Reuters, Nov. 28 2003.

[@sculpy2758]

I provided multiple sources but my comment was predictably censored because YT doesn't like truth and referencing. Just go searching. There were many media articles, as well as a UN report, describing the vast production increase as a direct result of the West taking control and ensuring such. It was actually 36 times the 2001 yield, by 2003. Elite US society makes monumental illegal profits from that trade. That was one of the main reasons we were there. The Tally Ban were not fans of that trade. We are.

[@rumpelstilzz]

No, no! There is absolutely no correlation between poppy growing in occupied Afghanistan and an opiate epidemic in USA. Never has been, never will be.

[@erikdalna211]

The most interesting comment was the experience of a soldier of the “dehumanising effect of war” and that discipline is the only way to stop soldiers becoming mindless killers. It’s clear that the IDF has lost that discipline if it ever possessed it. Over half a century of terrorising civilians in the occupied territories has left them incapable of respecting civilian life.

[@roycanriz]

A fine programme. Some great questions and answers.

[@aquasal3456]

Is R el started to fall ! This is just the beginning

[@victormeidan1062]

If it makes you feel better, you can believe that lie........

[@Uncanny_Mountain]

​@@victormeidan1062 you are literally running out of Gibronis When israel falls so does the West, Judaism, and Christianity Islam has won, even when the entire West went against a concentration camp

[@jimbob3030]

@@victormeidan1062 I don't think you understand what is meant by losing in this context. South Africa didn't lose because of a military loss, it lost in the court of world opinion and then sanctions and economy and then was forced to change it's ways.

[@victormeidan1062]

@@jimbob3030 South Africa was attacked because of its specific policy of Apartheid. Israel is attacked because it exists. Obviously, there is no comparison !

[@victormeidan1062]

@@Uncanny_Mountain What is Gibronis ???

[@DavidUK64]

How could “we” have done better in Afghanistan? Not invaded in the first place.

[@geraldineanneboyd9165]

what drove people into the Armed Forces in the past wa usually poverty and the need to put food on the table

[@theodorepage6087]

As a irish man I totally agree with you ,,,how it tuck him so long fingers out how wrong he was 😢

[@Psylenoz]

He is speaking purely from his own experience. He gave us his brief past which is always crucial when listening to someone because you can understand where they are coming from. The content of this chat is what we need to see on main platforms. This is democratic!

[@AbdulRahman-mk3wl]

Do not call occupation self defence

[@willeizlini]

Great interview, Ash. I love your work and your keen questions!👏

[@kevininglesant2514]

I resent the implication that unwillingness to serve in the armed forces is associated with a lack of a sense of duty and a materialistic / capitalistic stance. If I get conscripted I will point blank refuse to hold a weapon. I think I would try to emigrate before that point, I don't feel enough loyalty to the UK to be willing to die defending it

[@ronstephen-wy4ib]

Except you wouldn't really be DEFENDING you'd be attacking.

[@kevininglesant2514]

@@ronstephen-wy4ib I wouldn't be doing either

[@survivormary1126]

Definitely caught that!

[@johanvanhecke8583]

I would leave Belgium to. No way they will force me to kill others . If it were to be soldier to work in hospital or so.. ok. But never to kill

[@Metal_666]

Great interview - interesting to hear a soldier describe the IDFs actions - acting like death squads, not an army.

[@gregorymclaughlin6206]

"Doe that make sense?", asks Charlie, trying to make sense of Israeli atrocities in Gaza. No, Charlie, it doesn't.

[@Gph0367]

Great interview Ash. Well done. Keep up the amazing work ❤

[@marziaball5089]

But it looks like Britain is not learning any thing from Iraqi war , bombing Yemen now

[@andrewwatts2443]

I don't think people wouldn't want to be conscripted because they are selfish or don't have a lack of a sense of duty. I think people understand that while the majority of those that join the military do so for educational, training, career purposes. However people don't like why the military is used which seems more and more for political and economic (money) reasons. I think the volunteer numbers would be higher if the purpose of the military was purely to defend the innocent, assist in humanitarian aid and to prevent things like piracy or smuggling. Instead it's to test and sell arms or new technology or to secure resources for some billionaire pound corporation or individual. People don't believe in the military in the UK as most are on some level aware of how the UK become Great Britain which was once the largest empire in the world and achieved this through conflict and subjugation. I 100% disagree about his comments on covid. It was thought about a great deal. Entire test scenarios were done and full reports written up on what to do along with a department to handle it. The idiot Boris trashed it all. Instead it was turned into an excuse to conduct the biggest transfer of wealth (120+ new billionaires in under 3 years) in the UK's history from the poor-working class to the already wealthy.

[@markdaly2374]

Ash strikes again brilliant interview

[@timbarry5080]

I'm just a few minutes into this interview. He describes the reaction to the 7th as "angry" and laments them not making a strategic response. It wasn't just an angry response. They saw it as a golden opportunity to use the 7th as an excuse to do exactly what they are doing. That's why it hasn't been measured, this is what they want to do

[@KapnScumdreg]

A really interesting interview. Thanks Novara!

[@grantcunningham2481]

Good interview, great to hear from someone who's been on the 'other side of the gun'. Good work Ash, thoughtful and insightful as always.

[@brianmckerrow817]

Honest and decent man.

[@celienat9369]

perhaps he has good intentions but he still lacks a lot of knowledge. He knows very little of what's going on and his unconseious bias is very clear and rooted.

[@shadowofmyfutureself]

Good to hear from an expert that the blindingly obvious... Is blindingly obvious

[@cdwyer737]

Thought I’d lose interest after 5 minutes but I’m utterly glued! Truly fascinating interview!

[@humanitarianH]

I was disgusted when I learned about Abu Graib

[@heliotropezzz333]

Wasn't that the Americans?

[@humanitarianH]

@@heliotropezzz333 it absolutely was. I'm an American but I live in the UK now.

[@FREE_HUMANITY]

Thank you so much Novara Media! I've been a long time listener, Please keep up the fantastic work that you are doing. You guys are so intelligent and excellent communicators!!❤

[@geraldineanneboyd9165]

I do like how an officer of the British Army claims the soldiers used "minmum force"during the Falls Curfew, Bloody Sunday in London/Derry, the Ballymurphy massacre, the Springhill massacre, Loughgall, the murder of Aiden McAnespie and so on and so forth. The dead, wounded and traumatized family members were all British citizens and the officer admits that when he says the housing estates in NI were lke those he grew up in in the West midlands

[@jimpaddy79]

Those are all tragedies and some were crimes, but can you reasonable expect an army involved in a conflict of the size and duration of NI not to make mistakes or have some of its members commit crimes?

[@-farang-la-fan]

All armies are not infallible - history proves this! It’s unfortunate that some rotten apples crop up in these situations. The British Army has done some fantastic work since some of the stuff in Afghanistan to try and prevent this happening in the future. Is it perfect? No, and we, the Army’s Officers, MUST do everything within our power to keep an eye out for the signs and prevent it - it’s our responsibility.

[@bentz98125]

Apparently it takes the Irish for english speakers to understand Carolyn Elkin's: Legacy of Violence. Not a popular read in the UK I take it.

[@edc1569]

Shall we list out all of the death and destruction the IRA caused? Or are we just going to look at one side. The Good Friday agreement is the future for Ireland and the UK, it allows NI to join the rest of Ireland when it chooses to.

[@clarissasamuel932]

Positive interview. Thanks Ash, you asked some good questions.

[@AgathaZeus]

Great interview. Thank 👏

[@SafaDave]

Great interview Ash. Much appreciated. Great questions and interesting guest, very informative which has changed my perspective that makes me ask more questions before passing my judgements according to my knowledge and understanding. The big thing for me was not having your enemy involved in discussions, always considered that counterproductive, thought I was on my own with that thought.

[@coletteday712]

Ash is the future of journalism 🎉 She’s the GOAT right now ❤

[@NewLeftToday]

Great interview Ash, you covered a lot of ground and as the general kept saying, you were asking great questions that really deeply probed lots of important issues.

[@shaunmiller7370]

Thank you for your honesty you are right sadly

[@lukemcconnell112]

Charlie’s obviously coming at things from his own perspective as someone from the military establishment which doesn’t align with many lefties but I can’t help but think he seems like a pretty decent person capable of self reflection.

[@farzanamughal5933]

Yes of course. What's the point in watching an interview where the guy says only stuff you already know and agree with

[@Uncanny_Mountain]

He's a panderer, zero admission to the fraud and deception around Islamic terrorism as a Secret Operation by Western powers to destabilise the ME He is incapable of coming to any concrete conclusions

[@hugobnyc]

Ash is a great interviewer Thanks Novara

[@uzzyonline]

It's like saying rapists have the right to defend themselves ....

[@TheBlaze4000]

Not really, its like saying a rapists children have the right to defend themselves.

[@minoorazi7341]

Well, werent girls going to school before "they" decided to arm and support exterimists in Afghanistan??

[@jimpaddy79]

Correct and very worth pointing out

[@alexpkeaton4471]

Women in Afghanistan got the right to vote before American women did. Also, it's weird for any NATO nation to talk up women's rights in Afghanistan when the side they propped up was fine with child prostitution while the Taliban had outlawed that practice. Seems like an odd thing to give a pass on.

[@DouglasCarnall]

Life in Kabul before 1976 was certainly better for women, similar to women's position in Turkey. Then it suited US to fund the insurgency against the communist regime backed by Soviets, and the rest is history...

[@carolea7158]

@@alexpkeaton4471 Agreed

[@sculpy2758]

Yeah hearing him talk about all the good they did is maddening: urban Afghanistan was increasingly secular and many girls and women were working and going to school. The West marching in and funding and arming the fundamentalist rural warlords completely shattered Afghanistan's secularization. Him being there DESTROYED Afghani women's rights! And he waxed lyrical over and over about how they built a school for women.... well done mate! Bravo! Before you were there, most urban Afghan women were already enjoying having rights. The West destroyed that.

[@ZoltzenMoltzar856]

We care but we never sent blankets, clothing food and water for over 5 months,,,now all of a sudden they care

[@heliotropezzz333]

If you are referring to Gaza, the problem was that Israel would not let aid through.

[@Uncanny_Mountain]

​@@heliotropezzz333 why is that a problem, unless israel is a hostile govt In which case why are we supplying them munitions?

[@ronstephen-wy4ib]

Same with sending aid through Egypt. If the US wanted to they could do that in a heartbeat.

[@johanvanhecke8583]

Sending aid would have been useless, since Israel doesn't allow them to go in... The West should have taken SEVERE sanctions against Israel.. Really SEVERE to force them to stop.. If you see how most of the western countries stoppep funding UNRA ( UMMA .?) , because 10 of the 30000(?) , did participate on oct. 7...!! Than America for example (not a good maybe..?) , should stop giving money to their police.. There you have a MUCH higher % of criminals...

[@Arateenteras]

Thank you Ash ,as always good interview.He is an eloquent person, sorry to say, wiser than what you usually see in the military.

[@thedarkknightReturns]

correction: the taliban did offer to surrender al quada, just not to the americans. they wanted to hand bin laden to a islamic country!!!

[@martinfiedler4317]

Interesting. I did not knew that.

[@pirbird14]

They made offers on three separate occasions.

[@annelliot622]

This retired general makes a lot of very insidious remarks.

[@Uncanny_Mountain]

They also asked for evidence No evidence connecting Bin Laden to 2001 has ever been officially released But we do know about Operation Vigilante Guardian

[@bentz98125]

Not to mention a ransom a tiny fraction of the cost of invasion eventually would have done the trick too.

[@bulentosmane]

Hanibal Doctrine.

[@Helen-xy9qj]

Yep. The Israelis have no interest in saving Israeli lives when they are in the vicinity of the enemy.

[@michelegosse7116]

The poor man had /has no idea of Afghanistan before US UK meddling with warlords and importing muhajjideens to take down a modern secular progressive government!! Warfare in vacuum and propaganda. He has a long way to awareness, if he ever longed for it. Good of him to be vocal on outrageous details, ok.

[@kaiserblazer]

How did this progressive government treat opposition? Did they allow the opposition to contest them in free and fair elections?

[@flopadoo]

Sounded a bit like "I was only following orders... "

[@jimpaddy79]

Not at all, he repeatedly said he was proud of what he done and that he thought it was done with good intentions, but that he was very disappointed with the outcome.

[@user-qf1zg4zz8j]

I can forgive Charlie Herbert for falling for "flawed" (criminal) intelligence - I fell for the propaganda at the time. That gives us both (and many others) a greater responsibility to make sure these criminal actions aren't perpetrated again. I think he is trying to do this, but we all need to try harder especially those of us that have seen this happen before and have a better understanding, and can educate others. "Never again" means never again for anyone, anywhere.

[@JawherMatmati]

Great interview !

[@jazziejim]

How can most of his time been saving lives rather than taking lives serving int the empire,s military in Afghanistan and Northern Ireland? He should have learned more in school because he can’t see how delusional that statement is, and unbelievable. And the Israeli government didn’t act out of anger. It was opportunism because this has always been their plan.

[@edc1569]

You understand the situation in NI hails back to the 14th century?

[@JianYZhong]

Another great interview, and I appreciate Charlie Herbert’s self reflection and self criticism, but he doesn’t go far enough. The British military seems to have a track record of covering up abuses, so he seems naive.

[@geraldineanneboyd9165]

didn't the British Army ever learn that Afghanistan was the "graveyard of Empires"? Empires had failed often enough to conquer the country

[@-farang-la-fan]

Exactly what I thought reading Hopkirk’s books!

[@bentz98125]

The entomologist E.O, Wilson noted the human species never commits folly only once, rather only and always, as a pattern.

[@willeizlini]

Ash in the house!!!!

[@unbiased786]

Great interview. Host and guest. Blessings to both.

[@proxy7863]

Great interview Novara. Good questions and allowing the interviewee all the time to talk 🙏 Would love for you guys to interview more ideology opposite thinkers to get them to fully articulate and explain their views in these long format interviews.

[@annelliot622]

I find many of his comments about the various areas he spoke about very insidious and am sad that Ash was so slickly but obviously taken for a stroll. He misses out that Israel was routinely using terrible forms of torture on Palestinian detainees; after the 7th of Oct it is many times worse.

[@duncanmelville2137]

As an ex-soldier, this was a fantastic discussion. Great questions Ash. I served in Northern Ireland and this was my political journey to the left.

[@Ahibasabala]

This isn't a fight between two nations as this person seems to be suggesting, it's a fight between a state and a group of largely unarmed people it holds captive. Why isn't Novara highlighting this fact? I'm disappointed to see this inappropriately forgiving, not to mention deceitful narrative presented. Do you think he'd be as understanding of the Russian occupation? As far as i'm concerned, Novara's motives are suddenly in doubt.

[@deselby6669]

He is very critical of the IDF war on the Civilian population of Gaza...

[@annelliot622]

Yes. It's imperative to continually highlight that this offensive is completely illegal and unjust. Gaza was under Israeli occupation.

[@bentz98125]

When life and death are on the line you take allies such as they are, where you find them. Ash's gentle questions and demeanor was a gambit to reveal the thought processes (or lack of them) inside. Not an inspiring statement of principle, but very revealing.

[@Hexanitrobenzene]

I think you are too skeptical. The interview was as critical of current IDF actions as you can get from a former high ranking military professional. Most importantly, the guest understands that this conflict must end with a political solution where occupation is addressed. He also called many actions of IDF not only unethical or immoral, but illogical, only increasing the resistance among the population.

[@syedshah9836]

The Major General is honest

[@ronstephen-wy4ib]

When a hospital MIGHT be protected by law and when it MIGHT NOT. Can you see the sociopath?

[@xx133]

He never explains why a military response was necessary, or what it accomplishes.

[@jimpaddy79]

Well he said it would achieve nothing

[@Nadia-mk2xi]

And calling it a “polarising conflict”?! And to stay “impartial”??

[@jimpaddy79]

Why cant it be both?

[@rahabhassan6541]

Brilliant question Ash!! Yes how do Armies decide about the level of force used against a trapped civilian population and are 2000lb bombs a level of force which is illegal?

[@Helen-xy9qj]

Targeting civilians is illegal fullstop.

[@bentz98125]

Even SS personnel were vulnerable to carnage-induced psychological stresses during the holocaust until they figured out the 'science' of how to administer Zyklon-B on an industrial scale.

[@MJ-zv2sd]

Thank you for awakening... Better late than never! I hope other soldiers will take example from you very soon! Pls keep spreading word 🙏🏼 Thx

[@halifaxeh]

Ash, you ask such great questions and actually allow your guests to speak! Thank you! And thank you to this major general for having the courage and morality to admit to military mistakes and speak the truth about what is going on.

[@richardfinlayson1524]

A lot of people here in OZ have been shocked by the reports of abuses in Afghanistan,I guess we feel misrepresented, our military has usually been held in reasonably high regard as far as fairness, but obviously there is stuff going on we don't know about, the abuse of prisoners and civilians can't be tolerated.

[@richardfinlayson1524]

As an Aussie it seems my country is always following the lead of the US AND UK , I just worry about what happens when one of those countries starts to do things we don't actually agree with, I guess that already happens to some degree ,but you see my point.

[@dirceubernardes]

Ash, you are an amazing interviewer!

[@simonhaste2864]

The very model of a modern Major General.

[@fray-adjacent]

i understood that reference

[@martinfiedler4317]

😂

[@grahamhorne6956]

A major general is no big deal. They're just Divisional Commanders there's several ranks above them.

[@martinfiedler4317]

@@grahamhorne6956Search for "I am the very model of a modern major general!" on YT...

[@selmaunsley6683]

Indeed

[@PresenceAwareness]

At last, someone with a brain and compassion from the UK forces.

[@RadiantStar8997]

Some people like a whitewash because they can't hadle the truth.

[@brandonmec32]

Good content, thanks for the discussion

[@longfence6528]

A lot that claim not to have known about the lies about Iraq, just didn’t want to know. What did Robin Cook and Clare short see, that all those others didn’t? As the public relations officer of the united food company put it, in response to a question asked about the company’s involvement in us overthrow of the Guatemala; “ yes we did it, but you have to remember how eager they were for the experience!!” E Bernays

[@PFDish]

Great info

[@nsnawas]

Unlike regular pirates, corsairs were commissioned by governments to carry out quasi-military activities on the high seas

[@nsnawas]

They also thought it was a noble cause, they were pirates like this guy

[@polunga7989]

Corsairs were used by the english and dutch to attack spanish ships going and coming from the americas

[@proflprasad9094]

Kudos for such a timely interview.

[@yousefjomaa3331]

Thank you Novara, keep up the good work.

[@PigmyPuff-jj7tj]

Off topic, this man has great hair. I kept looking at it 😂

[@-farang-la-fan]

Everyone knows that having great hair is a key part of leadership.

[@gghstlr]

Facts

[@gghstlr]

Too bad he has an untenable viewpoint that contradicts itself because of the lack of moral clarity. I get it that these people don’t wanna admit that they were and are supporters of oppression but the first step is admitting that you have a problem.

[@johnlavers3970]

oh my godd devistated if allegations of war crimes were true. the british army has always practiced torture from northern ireland to basra, although they are experts at covering up their torture and war crimes. what a lying monster. he knows of the abuses, what a liar

[@elaineklein2385]

Plus, the whole thing was a war crime. It was an illegal war of aggression

[@RadiantStar8997]

There is a BBC documentary about that. When it is going on the news media is deliberately silent about it even if it suspects it. 10 or 20 years later they go back in history and try to come clean when it's too late to do anything about it.

[@RadiantStar8997]

My comment's been deleted. Yep, they've always been like that and he won't admit it.

[@bentz98125]

The empire hid it but it also kept receipts and Caroline Elkins read and published them in her book, Legacy of Violence, and in British courts too.