Alastair Crooke
British diplomat
Alastair Warren Crooke CMG (sometimes misspelled as Alistair Crooke), born 30 June 1949, is a former British diplomat, and is the founder and director of the Beirut-based Conflicts Forum, an organisation that advocates for engagement between political Islam and the West. Previously he was a ranking figure in both British intelligence (MI6) and European Union diplomacy.
Early life and education
Crooke was born in Dún Laoghaire, Ireland, to Frederick Montague Warren and Shona Ann Thomson. His elder brother was Ian W T Crooke, who became an SAS officer, eventually commanding 23 Special Air Service Regiment. Crooke was brought up mostly in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). He was educated at Aiglon College in Switzerland and at the University of St. Andrews (1968–1972) in Scotland, from which he obtained an MA in moral philosophy and political economy.
Career
Crooke started his career in London banking for a few years.
Crooke later worked for nearly 30 years in the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) under diplomatic cover in Northern Ireland, South Africa, Cambodia, Colombia, Pakistan and the Middle East. His early work included helping provide weapons to jihadists fighting the Soviets in Afghanistan and assisting in the Northern Ireland peace process.
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