MP that walked across Afghanistan reacts to fall of Kabul | Rory Stewart interview 

Rory Stewart is a rare politician. He has a heart and soul.

Rory Stewart has been to Afghanistan 125 times and runs a huge charity out there. He knows what he's talking about.

This was an excellent interview. Competent, non confrontational but firm on all sides with open and honest engagement. More of this, please!!!!

I watched his two Afghan documentaries yesterday. Very enlightening.

I am continually impressed when listening to this man. He speaks with intelligence, compassion and wisdom. Politics in this country really needs him. His clear analysis is above the squabbles of our corrupted political system. He spoke for twenty two minutes and he didn't waste a single word. No spin, lies or self aggrandizing. He has a very prescient message and we all need to listen.

When Rory Stewart talks about Afghanistan, it's worth listening. I respect him.

Rory comes across as a decent bloke, sounds very sincere in what he's saying, how could he possibly ever succeed in today's political swamp.

Amazing interview-everyone here should watch Rory’s “Great Game” documentary on Afghanistan here, very penetrating and beautiful.

I have a lot of time for Rory Stewart. POlitic opinion aside, i think he's a principled bloke

I'm a Labour guy - but this guy has integrity and intelligence.

Rory Stewart is a well travelled, open-minded, tolerant, educated and sensitive human being with spiritual awareness and wisdom. These are qualities any healthy society would look for in leaders. Instead we choose our leaders based on personality and personal ambition. This is self-harm on a humanity level.

Imagine this guy leading the country , just by listening to him , I feel secure

No wonder he was ousted from Tory party, he speaks more sense than the lot of them combined. Everything is wrong in politics, we need a new system.

Soooooo, who thought Boris would be a better representative/leader for the Uk than this guy??? 🤔 Shows what a joke this country is right now, really embarrassing.

compare Mr Stewart's intelligence, thoughtfulness and reasoned attitude with the incoherent, rambling lies of boris. unfortunately, even tragically, Mr Stewart has far too much integrity to be a tory PM.

I'm not a Tory but I wish he hadn't pulled out of the London Mayoral election, he would have been a shoe in. I've a lot of respect for this man.

And to think, if the Tories had any backbone, this man could have been in charge through this and the pandemic. Instead they kicked him out of the party.

This guy is the kind of man who should be in leadership. Love his book. Sadly politics (and most workplaces nowadays) are a case where the people with the least integrity seem to be given the most authority.

When Rory Stewart speaks he makes me wanting to listen.

Great interview, Stewart is so well informed and honest in his assessment of the situation in Afghanistan.

A very sensible analysis - Rory stewart showing exactly why the Tory mps wouldn’t vote for him

Ah...was waiting for Rory Stewart's interview, just like that...and here it pops up on my YT feed! Having read his book describing his walk thru Afghanistan...which I must say is written quite sensitively...I was looking forward to his reactions to the fiasco... Thanks!

As an Afghan/British Army soldier, I have the utmost respect for Tory Stewart. It is rare to find a man with such intellectual understanding along with wisdom who has a genuine sense of humanity, let alone one that is a politician! He is a great example of what a true leader should be like.

Pleasant enough chap but before everyone gets misty eyed about this true blue tory,check out his voting record as an MP.

I don't vote conservative, but Rory is one of the only politicians i trust. I hope he keeps his integrity,

A true blue Tory who's makes a lot of sense when he speaks , a very rare breed indeed .

Rory has exceptional knowledge and experience with Afghanistan. I watched his previous broadcasts when they were about. A valuable diplomat. And more.

This guy can’t be a politician..he answered a question and I believe what he’s telling me.

even as an extreme anti-tory this is one politician's opinion i respect on this

It’s so incredibly unusual listening to Rory Stewart. He’s a politician… but he speaks with clarity, incisive analysis, credibility and intelligence. No patronising three word jingles. No bullshit spin or patronising analogy ‘for the little people’ No fluffed deflection answers. Just honest, candid answers based on real experience, solid values and genuine intellect. He should lead his party.

This was the one guy who was talking sense on Question Time the other day

Apart from coming across as a really decent human being - I love his name!

Rory, even though a tory, is the Prime Minister that the UK needed. They got bumbling boris.

Let's get this man back in British politics

This man should be leading the Conservative party. Liked and subbed.

This came up in my recommended feed, but I must say that this is an amazing interview - Rory Stewart has amazing insight into this situation and talks in a balanced and realistic way about important topics that sensationalist media and typical phony politicians will never touch on. The interviewer also asked good questions and gave Rory ample time and space to answer. I learned a lot from this interview and am thoroughly happy I watched it. Good job, PoliticsJOE.

He would’ve been a remarkable Prime Minister

Interesting that the UK could have had this chap as PM.... he was in the conservative leadership race and they chose Johnson!

I would say: blame the Taliban. It's so neo-colonial to always feel that 'we' are responsible for local issues all over the world. Yes, 'we' are responsible for mucking a lot of things up - best to start stopping with that. Fair trade practices etc.

Wow, that was a great interview. Made me reconsider some things.

Just imagine if we'd had a man who was actually prepared to serve his country leading the Tory party.

A sensible, articulate and heart felt explanation of the tragedy in Afghanistan. Why aren’t more British politicians like this presenting a reasoned approach to such a critical issue, or are we already a banana ‘republic’.

I watched the documentaries and was very impressed by Rory - he truly has a marvelous biography. Having said that I do not get his instance or desire to remake Afghans or Afghanistan in any other image than what the internal polity or dynamics of their own country will support. Nothing he has done or says creates any moral obligation to them on my behalf.

After watching both his videos on Afghanistan and listening to the interview, I have the utmost respect for this man. He has personal in depth knowledge and moral fibre which government seem to lack. It gladdens me, as a former Serviceman and a caring Human being to know there are still people like him in modern Britain.

This was a Handover, not a Takeover

This guy needs to be at the forefront of UK foreign diplomacy and strategy.

Thank you both for bearing your soul, giving so much depth and meaning to this interview!

This is a very good interview and sums up the situation we now find ourselves in. It's quite frightening how inept our current crop of politicians are. This situation is a denigration of our modern democracies.

RORY,YOUR HONESTY WILL BE YOUR DOWNFALL BUT PLEASE PLEASE KEEP ON FIGHTING...

I have a great deal of respect for Rory Stewart, he’s walked the walk. But when asked about Biden’s claim that Afghanis didn’t fight for their own country Rory’s answer kind of missed Biden’s point. Biden was talking about the 300,000 or so trained Afghani troops, not powerless people in villages. I wish there had been a follow up question asking about this point because I genuinely don’t understand what happened to this US trained Afghani army. I also don’t know how to square Rory’s comments about remaining in Afghanistan with his Ted talk from years ago where he argues that the US/UK should get out of Afghanistan asap. These are questions not criticisms, Mr Stewart remains one of our most insightful public figures IMO..

This guy has a 3 part documentary on the history of Afghanistan that is much watch. I believe he grew up there. The Afghanistan we don't know is multicultural, rich in history, multi ethnic, complex.

I have always liked Rory Stewart. He talks well and knows what he is talking about. He’s had an extremely interesting life. He should be listened to.

He would make an amazing PM Hope he gets himself back in the commons

He's one of those rare creatures from Eton, who isn't out just for himself.

He oversimplifies the risk to US and UK forces when suggesting we keep just 2,500 in country and he is not harsh enough on the afghan forces who packed up and went home when the taliban showed up. The US spent $2 trillion on Afghanistan. Enough is enough. Time to try meeting our security needs in another way.

Thank you

I don’t know enough about Rory Stewart to give him my full support, but my god I wish he was PM instead of Bozo.

We went in for dubious reasons, messed it up and left those who were loyal to us in the lurch. Shameful.

Now is a good time for people to realize all human life is precious🙏

Rory was always a sensible and credible chap. His perspective and life experience has always been one worth listening to. You can tell that he is genuinely disappointed with this outcome given his relationship and personal involvement. He would have made an interesting PM, a different kind of PM. Unfortunately his position on Brexit made that impossible.

Just imagine if Rory Stewart had actually made it to PM, I'd bet a year's wage the UK would be in a far better place right now.

A rare beast - a Tory with emphaty and integrity.

Thankyou Rory for your knowledge and insight into this tragedy, my I wish you all the best for your future 😊

Rory Stewart OBE is a brilliant extraordinary man. So well learned that when he was a student in Oxford, he was a private tutor to no less than the young princes William and Harry during the summer.

Love Rory - what a genuine loss to his party. Great interview, thank you!

Only way I’d ever consider voting Tory is if this man leads them

Rory Stewart had said that the USA and UK should go back to their home from Afghanistan, now he says "why did they leave?".

He’s the best PM we haven’t yet had. Cometh the hour. Cometh the man.

Best PM the UK never had. What a missed opportunity.

Time for the Tories to get back Rory Stewart. Impressive interview.

the disco beat helps but should be louder in the mix to make this an absolute Banger. Thank God it fades out once the interview gets properly underway

What an interview 👏👏 the backdrop and Rory Stewart 🤍🤎

Rory, one of the few Torys I like because he thinks of the people. I genuinely agree with everything he's said. However it is because he has morals and thinks about people he will never be elected leader for the Tories. Maybe switch party? He's a good guy.

Can’t believe they chose Boris over this guy.

He's a very intelligent and articulate person. However, perhaps sympathy is the wrong word, but I can see to some degree where the US was coming from. They'd got themselves into a situation that appeared never ending - how do they disengage themselves? Impossible apparently because the US supported state could not exist without US support. Ie effectively they are there forever more. I expect the administration did a political calculation that however bad for their credibility this is now, it will blow over long before any future election. Doesn't take the Afghans feelings into account, though. Just shows the dangers of starting something without having an exit plan. Perhaps the days of the US being the world's policeman are ending. The thought of Russia or China fulfilling that role are pretty scary.

10 Year ago Rory gave a talk at TED and at the time it was 10 years into the war. Rory was advocating that the war should stop and all foreign forces should get out. This war has seen 3 other US president and now the present administration has decided to pull the plug. Couple of days ago, I saw another interview Rory did and he said that the US should NOT leave and blame the present Adminstration. Why the 180 degree turn???? Putting the blame on the present Adminstration is not fair but i would agree that the pulling out can be handle better.

Rory Stewart shows himself, once again, to be the Prime Minister we should have had. Genuinely a voice worth listening to.

What utter bollocks. The UK has know that this was going to happen 18 months ago. The mistake was Occupying the place. It was not worth a single British life.

I don't live in the UK, nor British, but I listened to him in interview with James O'Brien a couple of years ago, and I thought he was terrific. I would most definitely give him my vote.

"They never imagined he'd go the full Trump on us" lol

Rory, has always given a balanced and insightful view, since he has been on the ground and in the field. He is one of the few politicians that has integrity, who speaks real sense...

Rory should have been the leader of the Tories. A real pity he slipped through the net.

Did not his documents about Afghanistan imply that we should get out of Afghanistan immediately? We cannot rule over them by occupation force.

Great interview well done

Rory talks about the Afghan people being trapped and articulates his point so elegantly. The same applies to the people of Palestine. They are being trapped in their own home land. Yet U.K. or any other ‘developed’ country is not interested in their case. Makes you wonder why there’s a double standard. Surely every human regardless of their origin deserves equal human rights.

Seems like a very clear-eyed analysis.

Best video on my feed today

this is probably better journalism than you can get from tv (I wouldn't know though, as I do not have a tv set)

Can't help but feel Blair is dodging a by bullet here. He should have been driving a planned exit strategy before we went in......noone is talking about him.

Rory is one of the few politicians who can change my opinion.

Great interview, but is this the only place you could meet for an interview?

He is full of it, actually. Reminds me of 'mayor Pete' in the U.S. - same vibe, really. I can easily imagine them both sitting together in a CIA class of 2001-2002, or later, during their 'service in Afghanistan', stationed in Kabul at the agency's back-office, picking targets for drone attacks or overseeing heroin trafficking, while learning to call each other a 'veteran' with a straight face. 12:01 - 16 000 contractors worked on helicopters' maintenance alone! But Rory wants you to believe that it were just 3 000 of soldiers whom we could keep in Afghanistan forever and at almost no cost. Now imagine the overall number of people on the US payroll [directly and indirectly via NGOs or the sham Afghan government], who have been sucking the taxpayer's tit for all those happy years, and whose primal scream protesting the tit's withdrawal we are hearing now on every corner of the warmongering media.

I'm sorry for what my nation has done for the past 5 years (hell, past 20), the USA is a weak and morally abhorrent decaying empire and I'm afraid we will only get worse as time goes on. Best the world distances itself away from us.

As others have said this guy should be prime minister.

Great interview.

The most accessible interview I've listened to on the current situation, made me understand the issues in Afghanistan alot more.

He pretty much called all this 10 years ago .

If it could all be destroyed in a few days, it was built on sand. It was no more than a veneer.

I find it disingenuous of him to say the US threw away all the progress in Afghanistan, etc, etc, when for years he's been pointing out the futility of regime change there. IN his documentary just 2 years ago he interviewed a Russian general who said that they knew, back when Soviets occupied Afghanistan, that all their work would be undone by the Mujahedeen within 2 weeks of their leaving. In 2011, he said "the Taliban is NOT an existential threat" and "it's extremely unlikely that the Taliban will EVER be able to take over the country". He suggested that by withdrawing troops, keeping a "light footprint" and letting the Afghans control the changes, all would be well. So guess what, that's exactly what we did. We reduce the troop numbers to less than 9800 in 2015, and continued the drawdown. We transferred policing and military action to the Afghans. We agreed to give money to the Afghan government to use as they saw fit. Taliban attacks increased. Afghan government corruption increased. After more than 6 years of doing what Stewart claimed would work what happened? As soon as we withdraw all our troops the Taliban take control (something Stewart said could never happen) and the Afghan government flees the country. The 300,000 plus Afghan army that was supposed to secure the country during and after our withdrawal, deserts and hands everything over to the Taliban. So what would Stewart have us do? Another surge? Stay in Afghanistan with a small "foot print" for another 5 years, 10 years, 20? This ending was inevitable and Stewart knows it. The real cause of this mess was the getting into Afghanistan in the first place. As Stewart pointed out 2 years ago, "getting into Afghanistan is easy. The hard part is getting out."

Rory Stewart the best Priminster we never had, always considered, intelligent and HONOURABLE! Why the rotors passed him over for the dickhead they installed is beyond me.