Welcome to Part 2 of my interview with Thomas G Poehlmann the experiences this man has had is certainly fascinating for sure!
LP: Liberland’s libertarian ethos emphasizes individual freedom and you have done global outreach. How have your experiences in regions like Syria shaped your understanding of self-determination in contested spaces?
Thomas G: My intellectual journey into the geopolitics of the Middle East began at the peak of my professional career. As the managing director of two large international holdings, I needed a complete break. Between meditations in a monastery in Tibet, insights into traditional Chinese medicine, and travels through the countries of the Silk Road to the Hindu Kush, there was one person I kept encountering who became my spiritual mentor: the journalist, author, and Middle East expert Peter Scholl-Latour.
It was the ideological “black-and-white thinking” of the West—”We are on the good side”—that intrigued me. The narratives surrounding Iran, the “dictator Assad,” and the “axis of evil,” as well as the biblical war in the “holy land” between Jews and Arabs and their divided Ummah of Shia and Sunni, all this captivated me.
Wasn’t this region—the land between the Tigris and Euphrates—the cradle of civilization, which has now become a pawn in geopolitical power struggles, fundamental religious interests, and resource conflicts over oil and gas? Sometimes I wonder, would Syria, Iraq, Libya, or currently Venezuela even be of interest without these natural resources?
In 2015, during an interview, I met Consul Abeer Al Assad, the niece of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad through his mother’s Makhlouf line, at the Syrian embassy in Prague. What started as a professional interview blossomed into a friendship.
Syrian diplomats were largely isolated at social diplomatic events in Prague. However, during events organized monthly by the former Czech Foreign Minister Cyril Svoboda at the Diplomatic Academy, the then Syrian ambassador, along with Abeer Al Assad, had the opportunity to present Syria and discuss the conflict against Daesh (Al Qaeda terrorists).
Around the same time, I also met the Czech libertarian politician Vit Jedlicka, who is now the president of the Free Republic of Liberland. Influenced by the ideals of individual freedom and the teachings of the Vienna School, including Hayek and Ludwig von Mises, a strong friendship developed between us.
It sounds like you have quite a fascinating story related to your involvement with Liberland and your diplomatic ties in Syria. The situation in Syria has indeed been complex, especially following the changes in leadership and the challenges faced by individuals like Ibrahim J. Faddoul. It’s interesting to hear about the ongoing efforts to maintain diplomatic contacts amidst such turmoil.
Your mention of Abeer Al Assad and her artistic pursuits adds another layer to this narrative, highlighting how individuals adapt and find new paths even in difficult circumstances.
I’m curious to learn more about your transformation into the “Pink Panther” and the behind-the-scenes aspects of the “MISS LIBERLAND” events. It sounds like a unique blend of fashion, beauty, and diplomacy.
Stay tuned and follow also Tom’s WhatsApp Group Liberland International press!
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