Ambassador Richard Le Baron

USA needs to “super size” engagement in the Middle East: Ambassador Le Baron

The former American Ambassador, Richard Le Baron – now retired - told FPA members that much more interaction and engagement – not less – was needed between the USA and the countries of the Middle East. It was a very long term project, difficult to sell to the American public, but especially needed in a place where US policy had failed so miserably. Ambassador Le Baron is currently engaged in a Middle East strategy taskforce at the Atlantic Council aimed at developing a long term framework for US policy in the region. He thought focusing on ISIL propaganda reflected a borderline racism – “wow, Arabs can actually tweet.” We needed to recognise the difference between extremism and  legitimate desire to right injustice, and to remember the people of the region, the vast majority of whom simply wanted to live normal, secure lives. Conspiracy theories about American policy abounded in the Middle East; to change perceptions we needed to see many more young people from the USA and Iran, Egypt, Syria and other countries visiting and working with each other in the future. The main lesson from the current situation was that it was a manageable problem, don’t be afraid. Ambassador Le Baron said we must to keep perspective; terrorist attacks have not and will not change our societies. He was very hesitant to ascribe a single cause to radicalisation – it can be caused by personal issues, political pressures, the loss of a family member, or something quite else.