Emma Sky on “In a Time of Monsters”

I THINK FOR MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE SERVED OUT IN IRAQ AND SYRIA, IN AFGHANISTAN, THEY FIND IN THEIR SERVICE THAT THEY SEE IN A WAY THE BEST OF THEMSELVES, THE COMRADERY THAT THEY HAVE WITH THEIR FELLOW SOLDIERS, MARINES, AND THAT REALLY FORMS A VERY, VERY STRONG BOND.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TRUST, THE WILLINGNESS TO DIE FOR EACH OTHER, TO GIVE LIFE OR LIMB FORY STRONG -- IT'S A VERY STRONG BOND AND IT'S A REAL SENSE OF SERVICE, AND I THINK MANY FIND WHEN THEY COME BACK HOME THEY MISS THAT SENSE OF DEDICATION.

I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING THAT HE TRANSLATED THAT INTO THE DESIRE AND ARTICULATED A NEED FOR SORT OF A NATIONAL SERVICE BACK IN THE UNITED STATES.

SOMETHING THAT WAS SORT OF MOOTED RIGHT AFTER 9/11 BUT NEVER HAPPENED.

9/11 WAS PART OF WHAT CAUSED YOU AND CIRCUITOUSLY TO LEAVE THE COMFORT OF YOUR HOME AND JOB IN GREAT BRITAIN AND GO OUT TO EVENTUALLY BECOME A BRITISH WOMAN SERVING OF AN AMERICAN GENERAL COMMANDER IN THE MOST DIFFICULT AREAS OF IRAQ AFTER THE INVASION THERE.

HOW DID IT EVEN HAPPEN THAT YOU WENT OUT?

WELL, IN 2003, THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT SENT OUT AN E-MAIL ASKING FOR VOLUNTEERS TO GO OUT TO IRAQ TO ADMINISTER THE COUNTRY FOR WHAT THEY THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE FOR THREE MONTHS BEFORE WE HANDED IT BACK TO THE IRAQIS.

AND I WAS SOMEBODY WHO HAD SPENT THE PREVIOUS TEN YEARS WORKING IN ISRAEL/PALESTINE.

FELT I HAD SOME USEFUL SKILLS IN TERMS OF CONFLICT MEDIATION AND CAPACITY BUILDING, AND SO I WAS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO VOLUNTEERED.

BUT WHEN I LEFT THE UK, I HAD NO IDEA WHAT MY JOB WAS GOING TO BE OR WHERE I WAS GOING TO BE BASED IN IRAQ.

THEY JUST SAID FIND YOUR WAY TO BASRA, YOU'LL BE MET ON ARRIVAL AND EVERYTHING WILL BE MADE CLEAR.

AND WAS IT?

NO, I WAS TOLD TO LOOK OUT FOR THE PERSON CARRYING A SIGN WITH MY NAME ON IT, AND, YOU KNOW, I LANDED AND I WAS LOOKING AROUND FOR THAT PERSON, BUT THERE WAS NOBODY THERE TO MEET ME, NOBODY WAS EXPECTING ME, SO I, YOU KNOW, SPENT ONE NIGHT IN BASRA, THEN I MADE MY WAY TO BAGHDAD, FOUND MY WAY TO THE ROYAL REPUBLICAN PALACE THAT HAE TAKEN OVER BY THE COALITION, AND AFTER A WEEK THERE THEY SAID, OH, WE'VE GOT ENOUGH PEOPLE HERE.

TRY THE NORTH.

SO I THEN FLEW UP TO MOSUL AND THEY HAD PEOPLE THERE.

SO I KEPT GOING UNTIL I GOT TO KIRKUK.

WHEN I ARRIVED IN KIRKUK, I WAS THEN TOLD I WAS THE SENIOR CIVILIAN REPORTING DIRECTLY TO AMBASSADOR BREMER AND THAT I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR, YOU KNOW, THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE PROVINCE OF KIRKUK.

I MEAN, YOU CAN'T MAKE THAT STUFF UP.

IT REALLY DOES TELL US IN BRILLIANT TICHNICOLOR, THE AD HOC NATURE OF THESE MASSIVE,