Customer Reviews

Dining with al-Qaeda: Three Decades Exploring the Many Worlds of the Middle East

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Hugh Pope's new book is a different kettle of fish from the stellar but straightforward Sons of the Conquerors: The Rise of the Turkic World, which was a great (and highly recommended) look a the world inhabited by the Turks today, from Turkey itself to the southern reaches of Russia and all the way to western China. That was a straightforward book of journalistic reportage; this is more of a hybrid, a book that focuses as much on Pope's experiences living and working in the Middle East over the last three decades as on the regions that he has lived in and traveled through.

Unlike Robert Fisk's massive The Great War for Civilisation: The Conquest of the Middle East, which is a similar kind of book in focus but far more ambitious in both scope and message, Pope's survey has no single compelling theme that sets current events in a historical context. That's a strength in some ways -- certainly, reality is hard to shove into a nice, neat little analytical framework, particularly in this region. On the other hand, it doesn't give the reader -- particularly one who is new to reading about the Middle East and with a familiarity with the issues gleaned only from cursory glances at newspapers and CNN -- much to hold onto as they follow Pope as he skips back and forward in both time and place, moving from his early adventures living atop a brothel in Aleppo, Syria, to his efforts to avoid frontline combat reporting in Iraqi Kurdistan during the American-led invasion of 2003. But then, Pope, unlike Fisk, doesn't make himself the hero of his own narrative (indeed, Pope's early discussion of Fisk's own recasting of reality in his book are eye-opening), although they start from a similar philosophical viewpoint: that over the last half-century or more, Europe and North America have tended to oversimplify the complexities of the Middle East and have remained dangerously unaware of the consequences of their often-clumsy political manoeuverings in the region.

Many of the observations, anecdotes and arguments put forward by Pope are at once fascinating and eye-opening. There are some "oh my god" moments, as when he has to bargain for his life with a Saudi recruiter with Al-Qaeda, and some sobering moments when the reader gets a glimpse of the reality behind the 'glamorous' life of a foreign correspondent, as when he spends six weeks or so trapped in a besieged town in southern Sudan after he decides to hitch a ride out the next day only to find that rebels have declared a 'no fly' zone. Pope tries to shed light on the Persian/Iranian character by probing into the writings of a long-dead poet, Hafez; and writes about the irony of Saudis destroying their own Muslim heritage when they level historic buildings in Mecca in order to build McDonalds franchises and glass office buildings and malls.

When Pope is weaving stories like this, I was caught up in the moment, and felt I was gaining more insight into a region that I've traveled through, at least insofar as I've been able to as a woman and a North American who prefers to travel on her own. (In other words, Jordan, Syria, Egypt, Turkey -- yes; Yemen and Saudi Arabia or Iran, nope.) His language skills (Arabic and Persian) give him an edge in reporting; the reader can have confidence that what Pope writes is what he has actually heard people say, rather than having it filtered through an interpreter who may have a separate agenda. That said, Pope has his own agenda: that Americans are too narrow-minded about the Middle East, and that may, unfortunately limit the audience for this book.

My only reservations come with this book as journalistic memoir. Pope goes back, over and over again, to his difficulties getting his stories on the front page of the Wall Street Journal, and the compromises he has to make to make them work for his editors and readers. Eventually, these endless variations on a single theme became wearing, even for me (and I spent years running the same gauntlet, albeit not from the Middle East, and was fascinated by his look at a process I know all too well and the personalities involved, whom I also knew.) For anyone outside the rather incestuous world of journalism, I would imagine these would become either wearing, or feed into theories that the media is deliberately withholding "the truth" about the world. (In fact, in my experience, the Journal's page one editor are simply in search of counterintuitive "man bites dog" stories, and too many of the stories about which Pope felt strongly just didn't meet that threshold.) There's a case to be made that that is too narrow an approach to take, particularly when it comes to covering such an important region, but it really isn't about bias, and if that's the story Pope wants to tell, it would probably work better in a separate book. The two themes in this story -- what has happened in the Middle East over the last 30 years and Pope's frustrations with his editors and publishers as he tries to write about those events -- don't always coexist easily, and make it a less fluid and focused book.

Still, Pope pulls no punches and that's refreshing, as is his point of view. He has witnessed enough tragedy on a massive scale that this book deserves a wide and open-minded audience of readers willing to think about his observations. As he notes in his brief conclusion, there are no uplifting endings -- but then, that's the reality of the world we inhabit and our yearning for a happy ending, for a pat resolution, can actually undermine our geopolitical efforts. Pope's ultimate and idealistic plea is for a kind of pragmatism that is all too thin on the ground. Perhaps it's appropriate that Pope has left journalism to work for the International Crisis Group, an independent body that does remarkable work in trying to identify the causes of some of the conflicts he has chronicled and find a way to defuse them before it's too late.

This is a solid and well-written book that tells uncomfortable truths, without cloaking them in dramatic feats of derring-do by the author or splashy revelations about foreign policymaking. Anyone with any interest in the Middle East should read this, as it brings a stubbornly independent perspective and an eclectic set of memories and experiences to the mix. It's not as compelling or streamlined a narrative as Fisk's book, but in some ways may be both more raw and more honest. But it's probably not a good introductory book on the Middle East, simply because of the way it jumps from one region and time period to another, and because of the frequent diversions into the art of reporting. A solid 4-stars.

A superb book.
Title is unfortunate as one either gets lured in or turned off by reference to Al-Quaida.
In reality it is a travelogue cum political insight into a complex and often "too simplified"region ...
Brilliant in its narratives such as the hold of Wahabbism on Saudi Arabia and effect thus on the ancient monuments around Mecca and Medina,it gives no simple solutions and is certainly an insight into Syria,Lebanon,turkey that a casual reader would be hard pressed to find.Split personality of an Iranian between visions on western TV and poetry of Hafez are well written and mesmerizing.

Who is our neighbor and who is our enemy? I guess this depends on where you live. North America is surrounded by water to the left and the right so the question becomes even more complex when thinking about people from Europe, Eurabia and the Middle East. Dining With Al Qaeda is a surprisingly delightful and slightly dreadful read about the various peoples of the Middle East. Being born in England and having spent decades living in the Middle East as a reporter for various outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, the author brings a unique perspective that offers insight and wise perspective (from decades of first hand experience) into the Middle East. The book also provides some interesting observations about the American perspective as well - both strengths and weaknesses.

In some ways the author is like a new Lawrence of Arabia because though an outsider to the Middle East it beomes a part of him and it shows. Upon returning from a trip to the Middle East, a cousin of mine once remarked that the place "kinda gets into your blood" and I think this phenomenon has proven true for the author. The book provides somewhat surprising commentary on the perhaps lesser known aspects of social and sensual values in the Middle East, culture, politics and that sad extension of politics - on warfare. Through a variety of entertaining (and sometimes harrowing) experiences the author does an excellent job of walking the reader through the complexity of viewpoints in the Middle East pretty much country by country. The differences between Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran and Israel are fascinating.

Moreover, if you are wine lover like me, you may find the commentary on Shiraz, Iran to be insightful. I don't think many wine lovers are aware of that grape's history and connection to Iran.

I'd say the books weak spot's are the subtle yet biased comments against Israel which are ironic because Israel champions the "western" values that it seems the author subscribes to, better than any other country in the Middle East with its diverse population, religious freedoms and significant cultural output. On the other hand, the author's transparency of thought throughout the book, though fascinating, perhaps unintentionally, chronicles how a western "thinker" living in Arabic environments eventually adopts some of the same stereotypical Arab biases that fuel the long running conflict. Although this ability to get into the Arab mind, in all its complexity, enables the author to get an inside look into a range of mindsets from "the Enemy" (which almost costs his life) and to our Arab neighbors, who are friendly and open to the western lifestyle. Deciphering exactly who that is, is the tasty food for thought that Dining With Al Qaeda delivers.

As an American woman who has lived for 15+ years in the region, I consider this book to be a must-read for Westerns who have never traveled to the ME but are called upon to make decisions - via their votes - that directly affect this part of the world. At the very least, I suggest reading the Epilogue. Pope's primary premises are that (1)the Islamic world is not one unified mass, but rather a conglomerate of very different cultures and viewpoints on politics and religion, (2) the differences in the realities of our daily lives and what we think of as 'normal' are so extreme that it is virtually impossible for Westerns to understand the lives of the peoples in the region, (3) we continually are denied access to the whole truth about the Middle East by news agencies that are willing to print only what they believe American audiences will find 'palatable', and (4) our own governments' policies and the lobbying groups that influence them are directly to blame for much of the disasterous situation that exists in the Middle East today.

The book's chapters are filled with details that can come only from someone who knows the region, the people, and the languages well. I was fortunate in being able to meet the author recently in Istanbul and was impressed with his professionalism and passion for this part of the world. His stories and perspective deserve a wide audience.

You don't have to be an expert to understand and enjoy the book Dining With Al-Qaeda by Hugh Pope, the former WSJ Istanbul bureau chief. The smells, dust, noise of the Turkish, Arab or Iranian streets burst from the book's pages as if through an open window of a seedy hotel, in which the reader might end up staying if he decided to travel in footsteps of the author.
The book is a trough of sad and funny stories from the most intolerant, xenophobic and complicated part of the world. Hugh Pope makes it less complicated. He is an Oxford-trained Orentalist turned journalist, who has spent many years reporting from the region. He has a sharp eye and merciless pen. He knows the culture, customs, and speaks the languages. In by-gone days of the British Empire he would be regarded as `gone native' like T.E. Lawrence or St-John Philby. Pope's profound sympathy to Arabs is the reason his writing about them is so very credible. Unfortunately, for the same reason he loses all fairness and balance when reporting from Israel.
Among the funny stories from Israel is one about Pope fainting in Haifa during his first visit to the `enemy territory'- Israel. Used to the misery of the Palestinians he observed during years of reporting from the squalid refugee camps of Syria and Lebanon, he was shocked to discover Palestinians having a normal life in Israel. Coming quickly to his senses (that's another story) he decided to speak Arabic to any Israeli he had a conversation with. He discovers that many Jews speak Arabic and do not fret about it. Eventually it dawned on him that Israel, while not being an Arab country, is as Middle Eastern as her neighbors.
The discovery of Israel did not do him much good, because it led to a terrible conclusion. In his epilogue Pope proposes a solution to the Israeli-Arab conflict, and it is worth quoting him in full: "In Israel/Palestine, I believe real peace can come only when Israelis agree to fully share the country they have conquered with its native Palestinian inhabitants, that is to work toward a truly democratic, one-state solution". In other words, he proposes that Israelis give up on their independence, bring in Palestinians from the UN refugee (concentration) camps in hope that everyone will live happily ever after. This proposal, a parody of common sense, is so bizarre, that it sound like a magic incantation, an attempt to conjure Israel off the map of the Middle East.
The problem is that there is a solution begging to be implemented. No magic incantations are needed for implementation of a one-state solution for Palestinians and Jordan, since both people are of the same ethnicity, religion and culture. Jordan is Eastern Palestine. It included the West Bank before Six Day War, when Jordan was ill-advised to attack Israel. Some fear that the re-unification will destabilize Jordan. But if the Arabs can't get along with each other, how does Pope or anyone imagine they would get along with Israelis?
One more thing! Since, despite anti-Israel bias, Dining with Al-Qaeda is a very interesting and educating read, there is a good chance it will soon be translated into Hebrew and published in Israel. No such guarantees about translation into Arabic.

This is an absolute must read for anyone interested in the Middle East, especially given current events where instantaneous media coverage is less than helpful. Pope mixes his own personal journey through the region over 30 years with his professional development, and has great insight into the practices and cultures of all the main player countries. His now specialisation on Turkey and Cyprus has emerged from an experience that began with Syria and ranged through all the others. He knows and admires the region, but is also clear-eyed and knowledgable about its quirks and pitfalls. Along the way he has much to say about the international media's approach to coverage, and is prepared to criticise where necessary. Pope shows the value of having as a reporter someone with a trained background as an Arabist and with Arabic capability who lives as well as observes the region. Add to that a great writer's touch, and the book will rightly emerge as one of the most informative works about the Middle East and its regional relationships

Hugh Pope's Dining with al-Qaeda is a flawed, yet valuable journey into Middle Eastern culture as seen through the eyes of a Wall Street Journal reporter. Pope is extensively traveled throughout the region and demonstrates a nuanced understanding of the history, culture and popular mindset of the region. The high point of the book are the personal vignettes of various encounters in Syria, Lebanon, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Sudan, Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan. As other reviewers have noted, these vignettes grab the reader's attention and provides colorful insight into Middle Eastern culture. Pope also demonstrates a first-rate understanding of the interplay of history, politics and culture in this complex region. He rightly lambasts rigid, simplistic ideologicallty-driven approaches to the Middle East, notably the latest Iraq War. Policymakers would do well to read his narrative in order to gain an appreciation of the complexity of the region and the second and third order effects of US and Western policies.

However, the book has notable failings. As noted by others Pope exhibits a naive pro-Arab and anti-Israel bias. It's not unusual for regional subject matter experts to "go native" but Pope takes it to an unthinking extreme. His rants against Israel, for instance, demonstrated none of the sophisiticated, nuanced understanding he exhibits toward Arab and Persian culture. Pope demonstrates an incredible naivete at times, especially with regard to macro strategic decisionmaking by major powers. To Pope the best policy is the most idealistic one and he appears not to understand the complexity of strategic decision making in today's complex security environment. Nor does he understand the important role intelligence services provide so that leaders can make rational and sound decisions. Another flaw is his repeated descriptions, as others have noted, of his frustration at the WSJ for not publishing his articles the way he thought best. Pope seemed entirely focused on getting his point of view across without regard to the larger picture that the WSJ management had of keeping the business relevant. I was also disturbed by what appears to be a rather thin skin and jumpiness on Pope's part - seems that anything that even hinted of danger was an occasion for hours of hiding or being bent out of shape. Maybe that's too harsh and biased coming from this reviewer who has served in two wars. But Pople certainly made no bones about his reluctance to confront danger when he hid out in northern Iraq in 2003 to submit articles of questionable urgency on Iraqi Kurds. I'ts amazing his employers kept him on the payroll given what amounts to near-cowardice and refusal to cover the big story.

Overall I'd give this book 3 1/2 stars, mostly for the rich cultural tapestry Pope weaves. I recommend it for all interested in the Middle East and Arab perceptions of the US and the West.