Lebanon and Beirut, then and now Once an oasis, Lebanon’s slide into disaster and chaos began when the country’s corrupt, weak leadership was drawn into the morass of Middle Eastern politics. Norvell DeAtkine Aug. 11, 2020
The tragedy of the Christians in the Middle East One would think the region’s Christian communities would band together to maintain their survival, but they do not and never have. Norvell DeAtkine June 10, 2019
US still hasn’t learned lessons from the Iraq war In both Vietnam and Iraq, the army, as well as all the other American institutions and agencies involved, were abysmally ignorant of the people, culture, history and terrain. Norvell DeAtkine Feb. 14, 2019
Syria, the new tar baby As in Lebanon in 1983, we are surrounded by enemies, with few reliable friends. Norvell DeAtkine Jan. 4, 2019
Iconoclast Elie Kedourie, of wit, clarity and coherence As others have pointed out, the Western influence did not result in more democratic institutions but rather more effective and efficient security systems. Western European ideas did not take root but totalitarian movements did, particularly among the elite. Norvell DeAtkine Nov. 22, 2018
Nizar Hamdoon and Jamal Khashoggi: Birds of a feather A graduate of Indiana State University, Jamal Khashoggi was a man who moved easily in Washington and among the self-appointed “elite,” who promote their social standing by having at least one radical as a “friend” to present at cocktail parties. Norvell DeAtkine Oct. 24, 2018
