Whilst the world slept

Egypt Independent

6 days ago

Leonard (Len) could not stop laughing. It was unlike him. Len was a distinguished diplomat that served his country around the world, in his late 60s, tall, athletic, Jewish and with an extremely high IQ.
He looked at all of us, his guests, and said, 'Israel has the right to defend itself,' and gave a broad cynical smile. 'Therefore,' he added, 'it can do whatever it wants.'
We were at his magnificent estate in Maryland – large, at over 25 acres. A beautiful home, a ranch with three Arabian thoroughbreds and a large cowboy barn-like structure that held cowboy gear on the walls, a billiards table, an amazing six-piece arcade including one with a racetrack, another flying a fighter jet and landing on an aircraft carrier and one created based on Star Wars.
It was an adult's fantasy world. I thought to myself, I could spend hours here and not get bored.
Large screens on the wall showed CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, BBC World and Bloomberg.
We were invited by Len for a barbecue and an engaging discussion – no event of Len's did not dig deep into world affairs be they political, business, social, tech, etc.
Len, in cowboy boots and hat, stopped laughing and said to all of us as he poured a beer behind his elegant bar on the north side of the massive barn, 'Don't get me wrong, I love Israel, but what is going on is a horrible sickening joke, created and directed by Netanyahu. He must go before he infects all Israelis with his sickness and brings global hate.'
Jemima Blunt, the Chairwoman of a prominent British think tank, suited up in an attractive cowboy outfit, including hat, scarf, boots, belt and matching jewelry stood up, walked towards Len and said, 'The world is a mess and Israel's actions, combined with 93 other conflicts of varying degrees will bring the global economy into great stress, alongside making the world vulnerable to numerous unpredictable unknowns.'
I expressed my agreement. I, too, wore cowboy boots, jeans, a croc belt, a cowboy shirt, and a bolero silver tie with a silver ghost horse.
I always tried to follow the host's attire rules.
Rajiv Anand, a very wealthy Indian who was a Bollywood king and a big Hollywood participant seated across from me and across from Samir Lahoud, a banker from Lebanon was fidgeting as he was sipping an espresso martini, then exclaimed that, 'The world is on fire, but we don't realize it yet.'
He detailed the conflict between India and Pakistan, the horror in Myanmar, the tension with China, the significant political stress in Bangladesh, the China-Taiwan conundrum, America's foray into Mongolia between Russia and China, plus the South China Sea shadow boxing.
The picture Rajiv detailed was quite concerning, as it had a lot of uncertainty and in my mind, he neglected to bring up Kashmir and Tibet.
Samir picked up the conversation and as is typical of a banker, stated that the FDI flows into developing companies dropped to its lowest levels since 1996, from over US$450 billion to $335 billion.
'This fact,' Samir added, 'should be sending alarm bells as growing tariffs plus investment and trade barriers, plus global conflicts, aim to pose a very serious threat to global growth and job creation.'
Sheikh Abdalla from Qatar, who owned and managed an asset management company in London, was in a three-piece suit and a bright red tie. Abdalla was young, in his early 40s and extremely active. He held an unlit cigar in his left hand and was sipping a large mug of Earl Grey tea.
Abdalla, with his pencil sharp mustache, spoke in a tight but sharp voice, exclaiming that, 'Not only is Asia in turmoil, but so is the Middle East, in a very big way, plus Africa.'
Slowly placing his mug onto a beautifully carved walnut wood table, he then explained that the status quo is no longer sustainable.
'Sudan is literally in hell, Somalia is disintegrating, Syria looks good, but it's a charade and will become another Muslim Brotherhood-type state, Gaza us a genocide that the world has ignored.'
He described it all in detail, showing a video on his iPad of bodies strewn amongst rubble, horrific images of destroyed humanity, including men, women and children. Two images made me squirm: a young man with a bullet through his eye, amongst other bullets in his body, lying in a pool of blood, and a child, his left foot with no shoe, and his right foot gone, lying on top of who was presumably his dead mother.
Len came after overseeing a number of guests, receiving plates of food in a casual manner, by five professional servers.
Many of the guests congregated around Yellowstone double pedestal tables, carved in various appealing shapes and colors. On the east side of the barn, near the entrance, there was a large buffet of steaks, hamburgers, kebabs, hot dogs, corn on the cob, plus an array of salads in addition to multiple sauces.
I had lost my appetite but joined a group that were gathered including: Len, Mario Alvarez, a Floridian originally from Cuba, the owner of a baseball team and multiple media outlets; Jean Durand, a French founder and owner of a string of gourmet food stores across Europe; Andreas Santos from Rio and owner of a global jewelry chain built on gemstone mines he inherited from his father, but expanded worldwide.
All dug in and I put food on my plate but basically used my knife and fork to move it around to appear as though I was joining in, as I found it difficult to eat after watching Abdalla's video.
I was lost in thought, pondering – could we not, as human beings, do better?
Layla Botros from Lebanon, a world-renowned art historian, joined us at our table carrying a plate full to the brim. Layla was not only attractive but very slim; I couldn't imagine where the food went. With Layla was Marcus Turnbull from the UK, a legal expert that served in a number of global institutions.
As the discussion led by Len covered the divisiveness in the US, tension with Canada and Mexico – Layla intervened saying, 'And what next?'
Layla asked, 'Can we close our eyes to where we are going? There is no rule of law,' she added, 'It's who has the power who makes the rules and it is an easy task to invent excuses to act outside the law, disregarding morality and humanity.'
She explained that earlier Len had expressed his cynicism about Israel's right to defend itself when it massacred over 50,000 Palestinians in Gaza, half of them children, evicted and killed Palestinians in the West Bank, occupied five hills in Lebanon, alongside 12 percent of Syria in addition to the Golan Heights, bombing the region at will, striking Iran first and massacring all its military leadership and yet continuing to act as though they were the victim.
Marcus, as he was munching his hamburger, looked across the table, noted Layla having stopped, put his sandwich down, used his napkin, then spoke, 'To add to the mess, all global institutions have died but we have not recognized it yet. The UN is useless. Shameful that it meets, spins its wheels and not one decision has been implemented in decades…always either vetoed or ignored.'
Jean added that the WHO, WTO, FAO, World Food Program, Red Cross and many other organizations have now become worthless.
Mario remarked, 'We are all missing the key points. Firstly, it's not Israel, but Netanyahu that needs to be held to account. He is leading Israel astray, and harming Israelis of today and tomorrow through his insanity just to serve his personal agenda. Secondly, without rule of law, the law of the jungle will take over and destroy our humanity and morality. Third, we are witnessing horrific facts and ignoring them in an unprecedented manner, not aware of the cost around the corner. Fourth, it is a joke, as Len mentioned, about Israel's excuse to strike Iran is to defend itself. Is there a reason for any country to end its nuclear programs after what happened to Gaddafi in Libya?'
He questioned, 'If Iran did get a nuclear bomb, regardless of how much I hate the regime, would it dare use it against Israel, which has an arsenal of nuclear weapons? Fifth, in a few years, if not earlier, nuclear weapons will be useless given how AI will be weaponized. In just a few steps, weaponized AI can paralyze a whole nation without firing a single shot. No communication, no water supply, no power, no functioning hospitals, no internet, no nothing… total darkness, physically and mentally.'
Mario stood up now and said, 'I am sorry to all of you, but we are sleepwalking towards the abyss.'
He coughed. 'We are busy with our smartphones and our watching the incredulous charade of the Israel, Iran, US bombing play which if as has been reported. Iran moved its enriched Uranium before the attacks it has made a force of what has taken place. Sorry Len, I don't usually end a beautiful gathering like this with such a depressing statement.'
Len got up, held Mario in a bear hug, as Mario had apparently lost a brother recently, and Len knew him.
As Len released Mario, Jean stood up and in a distinct French accent said in English 'Len and dear friends not only is Mario correct but as you and I observed in June in the Hague there was a meeting of clowns and their magical ringmaster'.
Andreas explained that Jean was referring to the NATO meeting that all attendees with the exception of Spain succumbed to President Trump's decree of increasing their military spending to five percent of their GDP.
Jean detailed that Rutte, NATO's Secretary General kept going public saying all the military spending is to make NATO stronger and protect it against aggression, whilst in reality NATO had never once been attacked since its creation, expansion and attempt to land on Russia's border with Ukraine.
I noticed a lot of the group were whispering about the NATO meeting and Trump's dominance.
Mario waved at the group and walked to exit as the sun had disappeared below the horizon and everyone was in 'goodbye mode'. Len asked me to connect by phone tomorrow to discuss the region, and I greeted everyone around our table and walked out towards where the cars and drivers were parked.
Layla and Mario were ahead of me as I approached my car. Jesse, my driver, was there with a big smile. He'd had a big lunch, he said.
As we were driving home, I looked out the window as the moon was rising. My deep concern emerged that we human beings have destructive DNA built-in – something my dear doctor Alec Chester had told me. I thought we were better, but it seems I am wrong, as the world is asleep as we slip into the abyss. A question hovered in my mind as we approached my home:
What will wake us before it's too late?
About the author
M. Shafik Gabr is a renowned leader in international business, innovation, investment and one of the world's premier collectors of Orientalist art, and an accomplished philanthropist.
During his career, Gabr established over 25 companies plus three investment holding companies including ARTOC Group for Investment and Development which, established in 1971, is a multi-disciplined investment holding company with businesses in infrastructure, automotive, engineering, construction and real estate, over the past three years focusing on investment in technology and artificial intelligence.
Gabr is the Chairman and a founding member of Egypt's International Economic Forum, a member of the International Business Council of the World Economic Forum, a Board Member of Stanhope Capital, an International Chairman of the Sadat Congressional Gold Medal Committee, and a Member of the Parliamentary Intelligence Security Forum. Gabr is a Member of the Metropolitan Museum's International Council and serves on the Advisory Board of the Center for Financial Stability, the Advisory Board of The Middle East Institute, and the Global Advisory Council of the Mayo Clinic.
Through the Shafik Gabr Social Development Foundation, Gabr is helping to improve elementary-school education in Egypt, introducing students to arts and culture and promoting sports and physical fitness for youth. The Foundation has its first Medical and Social Development Center in Mokattam, Cairo, offering free medical and health services. In 2012 Gabr established in the US the Shafik Gabr Foundation which supports educational and medical initiatives plus launched in November 2012 the 'East-West: The Art of Dialogue initiative promoting exchanges between the US and Egypt with the purpose of cultural dialogue and bridge-building.
Gabr holds a BA in Economics and Management from the American University in Cairo and an MA in Economics from the University of London.