Stories, Inspiration, Imagination

Dear Colleagues,

On March 12, 2034, US Navy Commodore Sarah Hunt starts the day on the bridge of the USS John Paul Jones. The guided missile destroyer is conducting a routine freedom of navigation patrol in the South China Sea. That same morning, US Marine Major Chris Wedge Mitchell is flying an F35E Lightning over the Strait of Hormuz, testing a new stealth technology.

By day’s end, Wedge is an Iranian prisoner, Sarah Hunt’s destroyer lies at the bottom of the sea, and China and Iran are coordinating next moves with their new cyber weaponry.

Elliot Ackerman, a U.S. Marine vet who served multiple tours of duty in the Middle East and Southwest Asia, writes speculative fiction. His 2034: A Novel of the Next World War is coauthored with U.S. Admiral (ret.) James Stavridis.

When 2034 was published four years ago, at least one critic dismissed the plot as too far-fetched, even for science fiction. But then there was a time not so long ago when Brexit, Trump, January 6, October 7, and AI avatars hosting discussions of newsletters were highly implausible.

I’ve invited Elliot to speak with us about his work. Elliot is imaginative, a fine storyteller, and bestselling author. He’s a recipient of the Silver Star, the Bronze Star with Valor, and a Purple Heart. Elliot started as a literature major in college.

MBN At Work

We’re acutely aware of the wrenching change, the disruptive technologies, the decimated business models in our industry. Change is radical and rapid. The way people consume news and information is dramatically changing. We shoulder immense responsibility.

Millions across the Middle East and Northern Africa depend on MBN for critical news about the United States — and their region. We engage with audiences that care deeply about modernization, development, and democracy. Our audiences rely on us as a crucial counterweight to the disinformation and malign influence of adversaries China, Russia, and Iran.

Thanks to all of you across the company. You’re striving to make MBN better each and every day.

There are power shifts in the Lebanese scene. We recently had a valuable interview with Ashraf Rifi, a former Lebanese justice minister, head of internal security, and articulate Hezbollah opponent.  We were early in forecasting the election of President Joseph Aoun, Lebanon’s army chief who had been backed by the U.S., France, and Saudi Arabia. Warmest thanks to our Lebanese colleagues Mona Saliba, Clara Geha, Mirna Kallab and Paul Zghaib.

Thanks to Leila Bazzi for pushing us — and me. I see solid work across platforms each and every week. Thanks to Chams Eddin, a superb and graceful juggler of many balls, for keeping me informed.

We’re interviewing the interesting and influential like, including senior State Department officials. We’ve had Syrian actor Jamal Suleiman and head of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Mazloum Abbdi, who addressed recent clashes between the SDF and Turkey-backed factions in northern Syria. Thanks to Areig Elhag and colleagues for facilitating excellent our interviews.  A tip of hat to Rob Satloff and his producer Adam Nixon for getting top U.S. guests like Assistant Secretary Barbara Leaf on Rob’s show.

We’re covering stories of political significance and emotional weight; the suffering in Gaza, violence in Israel, and the forensic work undertaken by human rights groups in Syria to determine the fate of thousands who disappeared in Assad’s torture cells.

Bill McCarren of the National Press Club comes to Springfield this week. Bill has helped lead the organization’s most high-profile campaigns for journalists in trouble, including those supporting Jason Rezaian, Jamal Khashoggi and Shireen Abu Akleh. I had the privilege of working closely with Bill on the case of Alsu Kurmasheva, who released from Russia last August in a historic prisoner swap.

Bill is focused on finding Austin Tice. Austin is the American journalist and ex-Marine who was kidnapped while reporting in Syria on August 13, 2012. There’s hope now that prison doors have been flung open, and fear that an armed group has moved Austin to a new location. Austin’s mom Debra was with us for an interview recently.

Our Team, the MBN Story

Join me in welcoming today new colleagues who will boost our work in countless ways. Scott Riddick is our new director of security.  Grant Turner is our new CFO.

What a job acting CFO Raji Kalra and our finance team have done in transition over the last several weeks. My thanks to Gulcan Kutlubay and colleagues.

Andres Ilves joins us this week to give shape to our work covering Iran in our region. Alina Niamtsu will work with us on Russia.

Starting in February, Lesia Halatyn will be in Springfield where she’ll lead HR. Lesia will report to Billy Sabatini.  My thanks to Leila Loudaya and colleagues for the work in Human Resources they’re doing. Lesia is an open, empathetic, tireless worker. She brings tremendous, relevant experience from her time in a comparable senior role at RFE/RL based in Prague.

Ilan Berman will learn more about MBN progress tomorrow. He’s been with us in the spring and appears regularly on Alhurra shows. Ilan is a sharp analyst of Russia, China, and Iran, and a long-time student of public diplomacy and U.S. international media. At present, he leads the Trump transition team working with USAGM.

CODA

Take care of yourselves. Change is exciting. Disruptive times are stressful. Stamina is important. Do your best to eat well and sleep. Exercise, read, and keep listening. Souls need nourishment, too.

Here’s beautiful guitar and vocals from our Beshar Alazzawi, a member of the pitch team that won 2nd place in the December Ideas and Innovation Competition (thanks for the link to our viola player Diana Turecek).

John Prine was all about grappling with meaning and change. Bob Dylan called Prine “pure Proustian existentialism.” Here’s classic Prine.

Elsa Einstein said she fell in love with Albert “because he played Mozart so beautifully.” He played piano, and a very decent violin. At Halloween, he’d pop out of the house in Princeton and play fiddle for trick-or-treaters. Here’s Einstein playing Mozart.

And here’s the sensational Sierra Hull on mandolin. “Bluegrass, it just ain’t for boys anymore.”

Warm regards and gratitude, Jeff