Customer Reviews

Pity the Nation: Lebanon at War

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Dear Mr. Fisk I'm a Lebanese citizen, my name is Sami, I live in Beirut near Ein El Mraissy where you used to live while you were in Lebanon.Yesterday, I just finished reading your amazing book (Pity The Nation), I read it in the Arabic version. I was born in 1975, and I was a child when the Lebanese war began, I only remember from it is the Israeli occupied of Beirut in 1982, and I remember that because the Israeli soldiers try to take my brother away (My brother died later in February 6, 1984, while he's coming back from his work, he was only 19). and I also remember the street battles between Amal and Hizb Allah in 1986 or 1987, and finally the war between the Syrians and Michael Aoun in 1989. Allow me to tell you how I liked you. I liked your style of writing, I liked your insistence to still in Lebanon with all the dangerous there, and with all the hard attempts to kidnapped you from some peopel you know them very well. Believe me, I wished to be more older than I'm now just to watch all the important events that you mentioned in the book. I didn't even imagine that all these things really happened in Lebanon, my father only say to me that there was a war in Lebanon, but with no details. Maybe because of what he saw of all the sad things in his life and the death of my brother. If you still contact Mr. Terry Anderson please send him my regards, and please tell him not to change his mind about the Lebanese people. And also if you still contact G. C. your Bolivian friend and Shahrazad Faramarzi from Iran too. Have you visited Lebanon recently?There are some changes here, but still the same things in South Lebanon as you know. Sami Traboulsi Technical Engineer Beirut, Lebanon December 3, 1999

I am lebanese and I lived in Lebanon during the 15 years of
war . I read the book and I think it contains an accurate
account of the main events in the war ,and a good description
of the people involved in the conflict (militias, foreign armies,
etc ) But I find Fisk is too harsh when he suggests that
all lebanese statesmen or politicians were feudal warlords,
or as he says , "mafiosi." Some were , and some others were
lawyers , bankers ,etc. It is true ,however , that most of these
became at some point allies of a warlord ,or were forced
to flee the country. Nevertheless, I think a reader would get a more
balanced view of Lebanon , if he reads *in addition* to this
book , Kamal Salibi's "A house of many mansions" or "crossroads
to civil war" . Salibi is infinitely more sympathetic than
Fisk to the idea of the creation of the Lebanese state, and I
think it is necessary to read both books to have a balanced view.

Robert Fisk has spent the last 25 years in Lebanon. He brings the skills of a dedicated reporter, the objectivity of an outsider and the knowledge of a local to the subject. The most compelling thing about this incredible book is the quantity and quality of eye witness testimony. Robert tells the story as only one who has been there can. Another striking thing about this book is Robert's desire to be exact and precise. Everything is cited and referenced.

If you hold a bias for one of the many sides in this sorry conflict you will probably find yourself nodding vigorously sometimes and shouting angrily at others.

Those with an open mind will just be horrified. Regardless of the ebb and flow of politics and war it is always the poor, the weak the silent that suffer. Robert gives them a feint voice.

Amazingly, and for the ultimate purpose of objectivity in reporting, Fisk spares his opinions and comments over what he saw and lived... he reported afterall. No matter how skeptical someone can be, he cannot deny all of Fisk's reports. Anyways, even by trusting 10% of what Fisk's has reported from Lebanon is utterly moving.

Robert Fisk's _Pity the Nation_ is both a sincere, difficult account of Lebanon's long and bloody civil war, and a revealing window into a truly inspirational writer-reporter.

Fisk risks life and limb, literally, as any person in the region taking cover from oncoming fire and shrapnel, caught in the midst of bombing, or unexpectedly halted by military men, to get the real story beneath "official" versions. In doing so he discloses the human, off-the-camera side of the war's principal leaders - who exposed seem small, often disagreeable - as well as its common folk, both participants and unwilling in-betweens, Israeli, Maronite, Druze, Syrian, and Palestinian.

For anyone desiring to understand the causes of war of this nature and the human and psychological elements behind it, as well as the bravery of one man who has tried to present the story to us honestly, _Pity the Nation_ is absolutely invaluable.

Robert Fisk's "Pity The Nation" is the most comprehensive, unbiased book ever written about the Lebanon's tragic civil war. Whereas most authors about this subject have written these books relying on newpaper clippings and rumours, and based on a very biased perspective, Fisk gets down and dirty from the beginning to the end. He has spent almost the entire period from 1975 until the war's conclusion in Lebanon, traveling from Beirut to Sidon to the Bekaa valley to the ignored villages of the south which were under occupation to Damascus, living out the war with the various militia's and the civilians, who took the brunt of the fighting. His detailed description of the rise and quick fall of the Phalangists and their leader, Bashir Gamayel America's ignorance towards what would bring peace to Lebanon, the links between the Shias' inspirational resurrection and Khomenei's revolution, Israel's bruatality, Syria's involvment and the misery of the Palestinian refugees is unparalleled in its depth and coverage. Fisk, through facing the realities of the situation, has a real understanding of the situation. The way he goes about describing the dire situation of the Lebanese and the Palestinians as well as the uncertainties he and his collegues feel about their safety in Lebanon, and the eventual kidnapping of Terry Anderson, makes this book read somewhat like a novel. Even if you know nothing about the Middle East, pick up this book.

Robert Fisk has produced the most accurate book that describes Lebanon between 1975 and 1990. This is the most factual book that you will ever read about Lebanon.

Pity the Nation is a good book to read.
It is descriptive of what happened in Lebanon throughout the wars of others on the land of the Cedars.
Yes, the wars of others.
In my library I have placed this valuable book under the caption `Biography' because I feel Bob Fisk has endured personal hardships at times and very sad events endangered by the intermittent fighting of the rival factions, like Palestinians fighting Palestinians one group was Pro-Syria, the other Pro-Iraq. Syrian Islamite fighting the Syrian secular Baathist regime of Hafiz al Assad. Amal Shia fought Pro-Iraq militias, and many groups changed alliances depending on the heated `Cold Wars' between the USA and USSR. Etcetera.
What Lebanon got to do with that!!!!

Indeed the term "Lebanon at War" is not absolutely applicable in this case, because in the annals of Lebanon's history, this country has NEVER attacked or assaulted its neighbors.
Lebanon has NEVER assaulted any country.
On the contrary, the Lebanese arena has often been `used' by others to temporarily solve their own problems or record winning scores.

Even amidst French rivalries in 1981 that accentuated in local polemics between the Socialists, the De Gaullists and the then weak Extreme Right, the French Ambassador to Lebanon, Louis Delamare, was shot and killed by assassins as he drove to his home in the so called West Beirut (predominantly Muslims). Three gunmen stopped his car a few yards from his residence, and, in what camouflaged to look like an attempted kidnapping, tried to enter the car. Failing to open the door, they shot the ambassador several times through the windshield, then fled in their car driven by a fourth man. Delamare's driver was unharmed and carried the ambassador to the hospital. A few hours later he was pronounced dead from the multiple head and chest wounds. At first, with no one claiming responsibility for the incident, there was speculation that pro-Iranian elements were involved because of the political asylum being granted in France to Iran's former president, Bani- Sadr. Other Arab sources, however, claimed that Syria was responsible for the assassination, possibly through the radical Palestinian group Assifa, led by Abu Nidal. It is said that Syrian President Assad's well-known displeasure with Arafat's recent independent diplomacy has lent his support of the radical group. Delamare's only crime may have been his escort only days before of French Foreign Minister Claude Cheysson to a meeting with Arafat in Beirut.
What Lebanon got to do with that!!!

Even the IDF (Israeli Defensive Force) attempted to break everyone. They played local villagers against their neighbours when it became apparent that each was of a different ideology. They armed, clothed, bribed small groups of youngsters of each faith to work for them, and, indeed, do the ugly side of their games.

But at the end of the day, Lebanese never lost their identity.
The Lebanese are peaceful people.
In a Lebanese mind, trade relations take precedence over all others (notably politics)

During the lull days in the fighting I have been rolling from Reifoun (Summer resort in Kesserwan - the heart of the Christians) to West Beirut on a daily basis and saw with my own eyes the large numbers of `militias' at Gallery Semaan, taking shades under the massive trees. Those guys were not Lebanese, no; they must have been Pakistanis, Indians, and Bangladeshis (mercenaries). Who sent them to Lebanon? Who armed them? Who financed them? - After all they do come from relatively poor countries - They did not speak Arabic, and I bet they could not have known whom their `enemy' was!!!

Why in the mid seventies until 1992 the superpowers let alone a small and powerless country like Lebanon to be the `hub' for training `terrorism' fed by rusty ideologies?
Didn't they know that `terrorism' couldn't be localised?

The author provides a first hand account on the civil war that ravaged Lebanon for more than 15 years. Having been a journalist for the British Times and now the Independent in London, he lived and reported from the part of the country that suffered most, West Beirut. Robert Fisk provides detailed analysis of the war, the politics, and describes the gruesome attacks and massacres on civilians by the Israelis and their allies. He witnesses the kidnapping of his fellow journalists and narrowly escapes it himself. He discusses both the Syrian and Israeli invasions of Lebanon. The author maintains, as humanly possible, objectivism as he reports on this war with no winners. Excellent reading. Cynical writing. Good history book for non-lebanese and for those with little knowledge on the war.

This book an account of the author's experience as a reporter in Lebanon during the Civil War. It is essentially journalism, in the sense that it covers the day to day experience of the author. As the author says in the beginning, it is not a history (even though you can follow historical events pretty closely through Fisk's eyes), it is more an account of the daily life of ordinary citizens. For example, there are no statistics, not much on politics and no economic consideration. I personally suspect that studying the economics could help understand the conflict. The good thing is that Fisk has been to a lot of places. He keeps running around the Muslim parts of Lebanon and speaking with everyone: Israelis, Syrians, Palestinians, Muslims, Christians, Druzes, Americans, French, Italians.... He always seems to be near to where the bombs fall, which makes it possible for the reader to learn about the many different ways of being discombobulated or burnt alive (phosphorus or normal burns ?). That can be a little depressing. There are some very interesting comments on the role of journalism and the importance of words, in particular the issue of whether to call someone a terrorist or a freedom fighter, as there is no official definition of terrorism. I also liked the almost poetic way of describing how all foreign armies lose their way in the mystery that is Lebanon.

Be aware that the author is often considered to be strongly biased against Israel and against the Lebanese Christians. To me, it is not clear-cut, but it's the reason why I cannot give it 5 stars. The impression I have is that the author does his best to try and remain objective despite his relatively obvious feelings. The book is factual and probably sincere, but facts as seen by one individual give a necessarily incomplete, and possibly misleading, view of the events. Besides, the religious questions (Muslims vs Christians vs Jews) is intertwined with political issues, which complicates the matter: for example Robert Fisk keeps implying that the Christian Phalange party are nothing but modern-day Fascists. Some comments are clearly unfair or inappropriate: for example when leaving the home of a Christian, he notes that "two Christian children where plucking out the wings of a living bird". What about an interview with Hitler ending with "leaving Chancellor Hitler, I noticed two Austrian children gouging out the eyes of a living cat" ? If you disagree with someone, there are more honest ways to make your point than suggesting that he belongs to an essentially evil people - even if the incident is factually true. It is still a worthwhile read, if only because in the West we tend to get only the pro-Israeli view of the events.