While other MPs were working as barristers or taking politics and philosophy Rory Stewart was in Iraq trying to implement some sort of democracy there. He spent time under siege. He then relocated to Afghanistan for three years where he worked for an NGO trying to establish water supplies and functioning utilities, setting up schools. He was able to speak with great authority on matters in the gulf because he had lived among the people there. There is a very good book written by William dalrymple on the British wars in Afghanistan in the 19th century. He stayed with Rory Stewart while he was working on it. The final chapter of the book deals with the modern invasion of Afghanistan, and is as incisive a commentary as I've seen on it. It pretty much echoes the views of Stewart when I've heard him talk on newsnight.
He is a very interesting man, he does not seem interested in the petty factional squabbles of party politics, and trys to understand the issues that are important to the people he represents. Nor does he dogmatically stick to views when presented with contrary evidence.
Whether he will be a success as a politician is another matter. I don't know if he is as adept at the nefarious manuoverings as more cynical practitioners. I certainly think we would be in a much better place if we had a few more like him, regardless of which party he is representing.
