Prized

Our last event at this year’s Hay Festival: three female journalists talking to Misha Glenny about what has been left in Afghanistan after twenty years of US and NATO “support”.

The subject was a sobering one, the mess that we've left after the precipitate invasion post-9/11, after all the blood and treasure invested with little real plan, but I was most struck by the quality of the panel, the individuals who are great in the field of journalism in challenging conditions but who appear as humble as they are excellent in that field.  And my reaction was an emotional one, born of the situation that we find ourselves with a clown for a PM and circus acts for his Cabinet.  To sit, watch and listen with the four on the panel was a real privilege.

The three female journalists were Lyse Doucet (here accepting a Hay Medal for her work – on behalf of all who do the work in such challenging conditions), Sana Safi (Afghani) and Emma Graham-Harrison.  Each had a lot to say, but each deferred to the others in their respect for their work.  And Misha Glenny, veteran that he is, was an excellent host.

I'm very glad that we stayed an extra day to hear them all.