Possibilities

"Us v. Them" is powerful, but it isn't the only choice, especially in the face of "You and Me."

Nov 22, 2024

Happy birthday Stephanie, who is always an inspiration.

Happy Thanksgiving! Whoowee, despite so much going on — from the ICC warrant on Netanyahu to US missiles being used in the Russia-Ukraine war to the decline of America and rise of Trump and the question about women in combat — Team Interruptrr be off next week. I might write a column for next Wednesday, we’ll see. We’ll be back with the regular weekly roundup on Friday, December 6.

As we look towards Thanksgiving, Kate Brannen reflects on two documentaries that remind us that resentment and distrust are choices, as is humanity. The latter requires us to see, connect, and listen. Thank you Kate. — Elmira

Spoiler alert: this country is about to become even more polarized. As Donald Trump’s new administration takes shape, it is clear American institutions – and individual Americans – are about to be severely tested. It will take an enormous amount of strength to not let these next few years bring out the worst in us.

When politicians are doing their best to get you to see the world as “us versus them,” it is difficult to resist the pressure. Trump relies on stoking hatred and division, even spreading imaginary reasons (immigrants eating pets) to hate our neighbors. But you can also find an “us versus them” mentality among many Democrats, for whom it is difficult not to villainize people who voted for Trump. And, of course, this is not a uniquely American problem. Foreign leaders, from Vladimir Putin to Benjamin Netanyahu, dehumanize the people who live on the other side of the border. Their goal: foreclose political opportunities for reconciliation, peace, or any alternative future.

But this sense that war, violence, and hatred are inevitable is proven wrong every day by individuals. Two recent documentaries drove this point home for me. They both take place in the aftermath of devastating terror attacks, introducing us to people who have every right to hate each other but who instead form brave and profound friendships. Together, they reveal that what’s politically possible is so much greater than what our leaders sometimes want us to believe.

“Finding Alaa” is a co-production of the CBC and BBC and it tells the story of Azdyne Amimour, a French-Algerian man whose son Samy left home in 2013 and joined the Islamic State in Syria. Amimour had lost touch with him until November 2015, when police told him that Samy was one of the terrorists who participated in the attacks in Paris that killed 130 people. Samy had been one of three gunmen who opened fire inside Bataclan Hall, killing 90 people.

Amimour also found out that Samy left behind a daughter, Alaa, born in Syria just days after the attacks in France. As Amimour searches for her and grapples with his son’s story, he reaches out to Georges Salines, whose daughter Lola was murdered at the Bataclan. The two share their grief for their lost children and build a friendship. “Terrorism is a weapon,” says Salines. “Its main objective is to build such a deep gulf of hatred between communities, that conflict is inevitable.” The friendship between Amimour and Salines is a radical rejection of that outcome.

When I was watching “Finding Alaa,” I remembered another short film, The Guardian’s “My Brother’s Keeper,” about the unlikely friendship between Mohamedou Ould Salahi, who was held at Guantanamo Bay for 14 years as a prisoner despite never being charged with a crime, and one of his former guards, Steve Wood.

In this case, both men had no reason to try to see the humanity in the other. Wood, who deployed to Guantanamo when he was 24, explains that he was told that the detainees would try to kill him if given the chance. At first, Wood believed Salahi was an al Qaeda terrorist, but meeting him in person was his “Matrix moment in life,” not knowing what to believe about this smiling, polite man in front of him.

As for Salahi, the U.S. government kidnapped him in Mauritania in 2001 and flew him to Guantanamo. There, he was tortured and put in extreme solitary confinement. Still, when he met Wood, he did not prejudge him. Slowly, over coffee and cards and pecan pie, the two men got to know each other. They transcended their preordained hatred of each other not after Salahi was released in 2016, but at Guantanamo, “in the darkest of moments … when it mattered most,” he says.

Both movies reveal what is possible between humans who find themselves in situations where resentment and distrust seem like the only choice. They are an antidote to the onslaught of hateful messaging all around us. As Salahi says, “I believe in humanity.” — Kate

Kate Brannen is a Non-Resident Journalism Fellow at the Reiss Center on Law and Security at NYU School of Law. She was previously deputy editor at Foreign Affairs magazine and the editorial director at Just Security.

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Elsewhere in the World.....

On our radar...

The big news today is the International Criminal Court…It has formally issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for crimes against humanity and war crimes. While it is unlikely that either will ever be arrested, it does isolate Israel — and the United States — further. What happens now? Ellen Ioanes lays it out. (Vox)

To show his strongman authoritarian bonafides and disregard for international norms, Hungary’s Viktor Orbán invited Netanyahu to visit immediately following the announcement.

G20 - A picture is worth a 1000 words….

Following the Asian financial crisis in 1997, finance ministers from the 20 largest economies got together in 1999 to discuss and address financial issues. Following the 2008 crisis, those gatherings leveled up to include the leaders of the 20 largest economies, which make up 85 percent of the world’s GDP. This week, Brazil hosted the G20, sans Russia (because, you know…)

While these are largely performative, this year’s performance raised a lot of eyebrows when the US president was left out of the G20 “family photo” on Monday. The leaders of Brazil, China, Turkey, and South Africa went ahead without Joe Biden (and Canada’s Justin Trudeau and Italy’s Giorgia Meloni), to gasps and much speculation about America’s diminished role on the world stage. America First or America ignored? Kayla Tausche and Kevin Liptak reflect. (CNN) 👀
Others missing from the family photo? Women. Why are so few leaders female? The Women’s Empowerment Working Group is working to change that. It convened its first meeting at the G20 this week. Maite Gonzalez Latorre on how the group came to be and its potential to have impact. (Atlantic Council)

Spoiler: It’s not great, since misogynist leaders such as Argentina’s Javier Millei are opposed. And then there will be Donald Trump….

Meanwhile, the final “communique” - the concluding document provided watered-down support for Ukraine, an ominous indication, and while it did call for more funds to combat climate change, it failed to promise any transition away from fossil fuels.

Trump 2.0

If Donald Trump thinks America First will intimidate the rest of the world, he’s in for a surprise, writes Ann Phillips. With the rise of China and other emerging market economies, countries are no longer beholden to Washington DC. (Responsible Statecraft)
What will Trump’s cabinet picks mean for US foreign policy and relations with Europe? Majda Ruge dives in. (ECFR)
Listen: Given how much Elon Musk has been at Trump’s side, you’d think he was a political heavyweight. Gabrielle Sierra on the rise of the tech bros on the global stage and the changing of the world order. (Why It Matters) 🤬

COP29

The UN Climate Change Conference wraps up today. This year’s focus: financing. More specifically, how much money should wealthy countries, who are the main polluters, provide poorer countries that are feeling the impacts of climate change? Maria Louise Gambale notes that the Global South wants the West to pay trillions, which is unlikely to happen. (PassBlue)
There’s so much smog over India and Pakistan, you can see it from space. As COP29 works to improve environmental conditions, R Umaima Ahmed on the alarming conditions. (Global Voices)

US

With Donald Trump waiting in the wings to move back into the White House, US President Joe Biden has given Ukraine the green light to launch US missiles inside Russia. What does that mean? Samya Kullab takes a look. (AP)

He’s also given permission for Ukraine to use antipersonnel landmines, to slow down Russia’s advancement, which we have concerns about. (AP)

While the US move won’t radically change the trajectory of the war, it has prompted Russia to change its nuclear doctrine. Our friends at ICAN note that Russia now maintains that it “could launch nuclear weapons in response to an attack on its territory by a non-nuclear-armed state backed by a nuclear-armed one.” (ICAN) 😳

The US Senate rejected a resolution to halt arms sales to Israel. Jessica Corbett has more. (Common Dreams)

Africa

South Africa has accused Israel of genocide, bringing a case before the International Court of Justice. Yet, private arms companies in the country continue to sell arms to Israel. Ilham Rawoot, Ra’eesa Pather, Ariella Scher, Abongile Nkamisa, and Michael Marchant investigate for Open Secrets. (Africa is a Country)

Asia

In Hong Kong, 45 pro-democracy politicians and activists were sentenced to prison this week. Tiffany May has the details on this crackdown by Beijing. (NYT)

There’s been lots of chatter about the 4B movement, born in South Korea. What is it? No sex, no dating, no marriage, no babies. Is it coming to the US next? Catherine Kim considers. (Politico) 🤔

The Americas

Watch: Haiti remains in crisis, as gangs rule key locales in the country. Marcia Biggs traveled to Haiti and brings us this chilling look at how the gangs have decimated the country and left Haitians with very little. (PBS News Hour)

After watching this, it is not surprising to hear that Doctors Without Borders has suspended its operations in the country.

The US has recognized Edmundo González as the “president-elect” of Venezuela. Macarena Vital Liy reports. (El Pais English)

Post G-20 summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping was welcomed with open arms by Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Naiara Galarraga Gortazar has the details on the growing bilateral relationship. (El País)

Europe

Sabotage or accident? Russia or China? Who cut the underwater internet cables in the Baltic Sea? The US and EU have differing views on what happened this week, writes Ivana Kottasová. (CNN)

November 20th marks day 1000 of the Russian assault on Ukraine, and as the war heads into winter, things appear bleak for Ukraine. MEI Senior Fellow Dr. Iulia-Sabina Joja and Former NATO SACEUR Gen. Philip M. Breedlove discuss with Matthew Czekaj. (Middle East Institute)

Ukraine has put up a valiant fight against Russia. But it has come with enormous challenges and complications. Katie Livingstone on the struggles Ukraine faces in recruiting and retaining fighters. (Military.com)

On November 6, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced a confidence vote in January, plunging the country into political chaos. By all accounts, this will spell the end of his leadership. Melanie Banerjee on the possible changes ahead for Germany. (Geopolitical Monitor)

Middle East

Can Lebanon survive another war with Israel? Maha Yahya says that with a precarious economy and political deadlock in the country, it’s doubtful. (Foreign Affairs)

Under the Radar

Transgender Day of Remembrance was this week. Rasha Younes calls for the protection of trans people worldwide, citing that there have been over 5,000 anti-trans murders in the past 16 years. (HRW)

From Afghanistan to Iraq to the US, women’s rights are being eroded at an alarming rate. Hind Elhinnawy breaks it down. (The Conversation)