Chit-chat on a plane

I had just begun reading the front page of the paper on the flight from London to Dubai on December 29th when I got to chatting to the guy sitting next to me, an Irish guy in his 50’s. He found out I was from Iceland, and headed back to Dubai. That’s a bit of a hot spot for an Icelander, isn’t it? A bit, I said. How about yourself? Well, I was home with the family enjoying my Christmas holiday, but got called back to work, he said. What do you do? I’m the UN Chief of Security for Pakistan.

My eyes dropped to the front pages of our respective papers, each portraying separate shots of Benazir Bhutto accompanied by stories of mass rioting. I’m going to a hot spot?

Nice guy. Consults on international hostage negotiating (as you do), like the Koreans in Afghanistan. Also goes trout fishing in abandoned valleys 5,000 meters above sea level in the Pakistani mountains. Not a big Bhutto fan, but didn’t want to speak ill of the dead. Plus, he said, it’s a banana republic… what kind of a political process is it to pass on power to your son and spouse? There was a small pause - then I couldn't help but think outloud. Seems to be working for the US, no?

Was invited to go visit him in Islamabad. Tempting. Very, very tempting.