The idiots’ guide to our Middle East policy
The idiots’ guide to our Middle East policy as Bird & Fortune would have discussed it. (By Matthew Parris) As the Geneva Conference on Syria begins, this is what John Bird and the late, great John Fortune might have made of it ??? John Fortune died last month. Rest in peace, John, you hero. By way of a tribute as the Geneva Conference on Syria kicks off, here’s my pale pastiche of this duo’s genius: the interview Bird & Fortune might have conducted this weekend. Fortune (to Bird) Good evening. Now, you’re an expert on the Middle East and many of us are feeling a bit in the dark about where Western policy has been . . . er . . . steering things, what with Iraq and Iran and Syria and Saudi . . . er . . . Bird :Arabia. Fortune :Yes, Arabia. Now let’s start in the 1980s . . . for instance, when Saddam invaded Iran. Whose side were we on? Bird :Obviously, we supported Saddam. Fortune :Obviously? Bird :Well, yes. The Iranians had overthrown the Shah, who was ou...