Clarissa Ward
The Guardian
What holds, and what fails, under pressure, standards and accountability.
Clarissa Ward is a seasoned journalist known for her coverage of global conflicts, including Syria and Afghanistan. This interview reveals her commitment to protecting the stories of those affected by war while navigating the complexities of her profession with a strong sense of responsibility.
“That's because there were no boys, David. There were no boys. So I'm a fan of boarding school for older kids. If there is. Co ed. I mean, like, I think it's unnatural at a certain point when you're 17 years old and like in the British countryside with a bunch of girls. So yeah, that's why I went to London.”
“A lot of command I mean, they do actually have in terms of, you know, various different militant groups and insurgencies that I've covered, they actually have a pretty impressive level of command and control, I would say, but within reason and with absolute limitations.”
“I think I always knew I wanted to come back to the US because I never really left that, or rather that sentiment never really left me of not quite fitting in in the UK. And there's so much in the UK, like you can't talk about being ambitious or you can't be overly earnest.”
“I have a much better understanding of it. And it is frustrating on one level because you want to be able to come out and be like, here is my big takeaway and have it be something that's easy for people to synthesize. But my only big takeaway is that people are people.”
The Axe Files with David Axelrod — Ep. 459 — Clarissa Ward
LISTEN AT THE SOURCE ↗THE RECORD IS CHECKABLE