Difference between revisions of "Alastair Crooke"
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::Born in Ireland in 1949, Crooke was brought up in Africa, mainly on a farm near Harare in what was then Rhodesia, where his father farmed tobacco. He was educated in Switzerland and at St Andrews University. <ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article402174.ece Let’s talk: ex-MI6 man plans terror summit], by [[Stephen grey]], [[The Times]],12 December 2004.</ref> | ::Born in Ireland in 1949, Crooke was brought up in Africa, mainly on a farm near Harare in what was then Rhodesia, where his father farmed tobacco. He was educated in Switzerland and at St Andrews University. <ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article402174.ece Let’s talk: ex-MI6 man plans terror summit], by [[Stephen grey]], [[The Times]],12 December 2004.</ref> | ||
| − | == | + | ==MI6 career== |
Crooke has been described as an 'expert in "parallel diplomacy", the use of covert talks when normal channels have broken down', a field which is something of an [[Secret Intelligence Service|MI6]] specialty. <ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/09/25/npal25.xml Palestine peacemaker comes home], by [[Michael Smith]], [[Telegraph]], 25 September 2003. </ref> His [[Conflicts Forum]] biography states that he has 'direct experience of conflict over a period of 30 years in Ireland, South Africa, Namibia, Afghanistan, Cambodia and Colombia.' <ref>[http://conflictsforum.org/who-we-are/alastair-crooke/ Conflicts Forum - Alistair Crooke], accessed 24 February 2008. </ref> | Crooke has been described as an 'expert in "parallel diplomacy", the use of covert talks when normal channels have broken down', a field which is something of an [[Secret Intelligence Service|MI6]] specialty. <ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/09/25/npal25.xml Palestine peacemaker comes home], by [[Michael Smith]], [[Telegraph]], 25 September 2003. </ref> His [[Conflicts Forum]] biography states that he has 'direct experience of conflict over a period of 30 years in Ireland, South Africa, Namibia, Afghanistan, Cambodia and Colombia.' <ref>[http://conflictsforum.org/who-we-are/alastair-crooke/ Conflicts Forum - Alistair Crooke], accessed 24 February 2008. </ref> | ||
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::It was during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, when he was stationed for three years in neighbouring Pakistan, that Crooke first met militant Islamists. The mid-1980s were a wild time on the Afghan frontier, with American money and weapons pouring in to support those fighting the Soviet army. <ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article402174.ece?token=null&offset=12 Let’s talk: ex-MI6 man plans terror summit], by [[Stephen grey]], [[The Times]],12 December 2004.</ref> | ::It was during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, when he was stationed for three years in neighbouring Pakistan, that Crooke first met militant Islamists. The mid-1980s were a wild time on the Afghan frontier, with American money and weapons pouring in to support those fighting the Soviet army. <ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article402174.ece?token=null&offset=12 Let’s talk: ex-MI6 man plans terror summit], by [[Stephen grey]], [[The Times]],12 December 2004.</ref> | ||
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| + | ==Palestine== | ||
| + | From 1997 to 2003, Crooke was seconded to work for the [[European Union]] in Palestine. | ||
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| + | ::He played a role in the negotiations to end the Siege of the Church of the Nativity in 2002 and helped facilitate the Palestinian cease-fires of 2002 and 2003. He also was a staff member of the Mitchell Committee that enquired into the causes of the Intifada. <ref>[http://www.counterpoint-online.org/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=537 Alistair Crooke biography], Counterpoint Online, accessed 24 February 2008. </ref> | ||
| + | In 2002, Crooke put together a plan for a [[Hamas]] ceasefire which was wrecked by an Israeli airstrike that killed the organisation's military commander and 14 civilians. He was withdrawn from the region a year later. | ||
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| + | ::The embassy acknowledged that Mr Crooke was leaving against his will but declined to discuss what his associates say were his growing differences with the Foreign Office over how best to bring an end to violence by Hamas and other militant groups. | ||
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| + | ::Sources said that even after the latest suicide bombings and collapse of a seven-week ceasefire, amid what the Palestinians claim was deliberate Israeli provocation, Mr Crooke continued to argue that Hamas was ready to enter the political process and urged Israeli restraint. <ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2003/sep/24/israel UK recalls MI6 link to Palestinian militants], by [[Chris McGreal]], [[Guardian]], 24 September 2003. </ref> | ||
==Affiliations== | ==Affiliations== | ||
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*[[Conflicts Forum]] | *[[Conflicts Forum]] | ||
*[[Oxford Research Group]] | *[[Oxford Research Group]] | ||
| + | *[[Javier Solana]] - former security adviser. | ||
==Notes== | ==Notes== | ||
Revision as of 00:04, 25 February 2008
Former MI6 agent and founder of Conflicts Forum.
- Born in Ireland in 1949, Crooke was brought up in Africa, mainly on a farm near Harare in what was then Rhodesia, where his father farmed tobacco. He was educated in Switzerland and at St Andrews University. [1]
Contents
MI6 career
Crooke has been described as an 'expert in "parallel diplomacy", the use of covert talks when normal channels have broken down', a field which is something of an MI6 specialty. [2] His Conflicts Forum biography states that he has 'direct experience of conflict over a period of 30 years in Ireland, South Africa, Namibia, Afghanistan, Cambodia and Colombia.' [3]
- His posting to Ireland in 1975 led to his first role as a British negotiator — with the IRA. Three years later he moved to South Africa where as “first secretary and press officer” he joined mediation with Swapo rebels in Namibia.
- It was during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, when he was stationed for three years in neighbouring Pakistan, that Crooke first met militant Islamists. The mid-1980s were a wild time on the Afghan frontier, with American money and weapons pouring in to support those fighting the Soviet army. [4]
Palestine
From 1997 to 2003, Crooke was seconded to work for the European Union in Palestine.
- He played a role in the negotiations to end the Siege of the Church of the Nativity in 2002 and helped facilitate the Palestinian cease-fires of 2002 and 2003. He also was a staff member of the Mitchell Committee that enquired into the causes of the Intifada. [5]
In 2002, Crooke put together a plan for a Hamas ceasefire which was wrecked by an Israeli airstrike that killed the organisation's military commander and 14 civilians. He was withdrawn from the region a year later.
- The embassy acknowledged that Mr Crooke was leaving against his will but declined to discuss what his associates say were his growing differences with the Foreign Office over how best to bring an end to violence by Hamas and other militant groups.
- Sources said that even after the latest suicide bombings and collapse of a seven-week ceasefire, amid what the Palestinians claim was deliberate Israeli provocation, Mr Crooke continued to argue that Hamas was ready to enter the political process and urged Israeli restraint. [6]
Affiliations
- Secret Intelligence Service
- Conflicts Forum
- Oxford Research Group
- Javier Solana - former security adviser.
Notes
- ↑ Let’s talk: ex-MI6 man plans terror summit, by Stephen grey, The Times,12 December 2004.
- ↑ Palestine peacemaker comes home, by Michael Smith, Telegraph, 25 September 2003.
- ↑ Conflicts Forum - Alistair Crooke, accessed 24 February 2008.
- ↑ Let’s talk: ex-MI6 man plans terror summit, by Stephen grey, The Times,12 December 2004.
- ↑ Alistair Crooke biography, Counterpoint Online, accessed 24 February 2008.
- ↑ UK recalls MI6 link to Palestinian militants, by Chris McGreal, Guardian, 24 September 2003.
