Afghanistan Analysis: Scott Lucas on the BBC "Is There Hope Ahead?"

An interview with a difference this morning --- I chatted with BBC West Midlands after one of their correspondents filed a report from Afghanistan, speaking with British troops and the Afghan security forces they are training. 

There is a notable contrast between the upbeat message of the reporters and her interviewees and my own assessment.

The package begins just before the 1:06.00 mark.

Bin Laden Audio: Scott Lucas on the BBC "Assassination, Conspiracy Theories, and Bad PR"

Two appearances today on the BBC, both moving from the killing of Osama bin Laden to questions of how the US carried out the operation (was it a planned operation?) and pictures of the dead Al Qa'eda leader (should they be released?).

My wider point: the importance of the escalating questions does not lie in any conspiracy theory. Instead, they point to the tension in the US-Pakistani relationship and problems for the American position in the country. If these are not addressed soon, any US "victory" from the death of Bin Laden will soon be replaced by a "defeat" for the American position in Pakistan.

BBC Shropshire: Audio is at the 2:08.08 mark

BBC West Midlands: Audio is at the 1:08.00 mark

Beyond the Death of Bin Laden: Scott Lucas on the BBC

A couple more interviews are now on-line, with discussion ranging from the significance of Al Qa'eda after the death of Osama bin Laden to the threat of reprisals. Most interesting for me was the final part of the discussion with BBC Hereford and Worcester, when I was asked, "Do you feel less safe than you did on Sunday?", and I had to respond, "I felt safe Sunday. I felt safe yesterday. And I feel safe today" --- for me, the culture of fear has become a permanent spectre matching the supposed importance of bin Laden.

BBC West Midlands: Audio starts at the 37:25 mark

BBC Hereford and Worcester: Audio starts at the 3:20 mark

See also Assessing the Death of Bin Laden: Scott Lucas on the BBC and Al Jazeera English

Assessing The Death of Bin Laden: Scott Lucas on the BBC and Al Jazeera English

I've been discussing both the immediate events and the significance beyond the killing of Osama bin Laden by US forces on the BBC and Al Jazeera English. I think there is a lot here for debate: by the time of the Al Jazeera English interview --- the most provocative exchange, posing big questions about what is next for the US in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and beyond --- the celebration in America was only dimly heard in the analyses.

BBC WM: Audio begins about the 2:04.45 mark

BBC Coventry and Warwickshire: Audio begins at the start of the programme

Al Jazeera English: I appeared on a special edition of Inside Story this afternoon with Al Jazeera's bureau chief in Islamabad, Ahmad Zeidan, and with Hamid Gul, the former head of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence. Video will be posted later.

BBC Midlands Today: Video will be posted later.

WikiLeaks Audio: EA's Scott Lucas on BBC West Midlands

I joined BBC West Midlands Radio on Thursday to give an introduction to WikiLeaks and to consider questions such as "Are the released documents a threat to national security? Do they offer valuable information in the public interest? Or both?"

The interview starts at the 42:55 mark.