Pity the Nation: Lebanon at War

Robert Fisk's extensive account of the Lebanese civil war is an amazing mosaic of events and stories that in its entirety paint a pretty good picture of the horrors that took place from 1976 to 1996. Mr Fisk has an almost unparalleled ability to be on the spot as events are either unfolding or have just happened. Pity the Nation is the story of a journalist working in pretty dire conditions and a first account witness statement to the atrocities of civil war, Israeli invasion, more Israeli invasion and involvement by Syria, France, USA, Italy and many other countries that have somehow seemed to get involved in the destiny of Lebanon. Fisk, along with Norwegian journalist Karsten Tveit, were the first to enter Sabra and Shatila after the massacre and recounts in graphic detail the sheer horror of the systematic extermination by the Christian Lebanese Forces and under the watchful eye of the occupying Israeli Defence Force. Fisk also found himself passing through Hama in Syria in 1982 when President Assad's forces killed between 10,000 and 25.000 civilians in an attempt to oust Muslim Brotherhood influence on Syrian politics. Lastly, he worked with Terry Andersson who was later to be kidnapped and held hostage for over 5 years. It is these stories, along with many more, that combine to give a full and fairly clear picture of war and politics in the Levant over a 20 year period. Unfortunately the book does not work as a historical account and there are a number of omissions in the book that would need to be included for it to work. More attention would need to be given to the bombing of the US Embassy (such as motive and speculation / evidence as to who was involved), the kidnappings would need to be elaborated and especially the kidnapping of Terry Waite, which I think is dealt with very superficially. Fisk never pretends that Pity the Nation is a historical description of war in Lebanon. Fisk is a brave man (you would have to be to have lived in Lebanon through the war) and has made himself controversial by writing the book. There is a multitude of very critical reviews by people who in one way or another find it difficult to deal with the very gory and almost unbelievable facts of the conflict. I, for one, believe Fisk's account to be reasonably truthful and precise, as he does not seem to be pushing any one sided agenda. But judge for yourself and be prepared for some stomach churning stuff . Anyone who went through what he did and was prepared to put it on paper afterwards deserves much more than a 5 Star Rating on Amazon!

A bit early for a review request of a 700 page book, but it arrived promptly, in excellent condition, looking to be unread. I am looking forward to reading it, and will update this review then. Fisk is an excellent writer, but while very readable, I find his flowery prose can be overly embellished. In respect of the Damour 'massacre', for example, Fisk wasn't there, and his two sources are suspect. One is a Phalangist sympathiser who also wasn't present, and the other is a defrocked priest, on the run from Interpol for multiple crimes of paedophilia and rape. I was surprised to read that every building in the town was destroyed, since I was living there 18 months after the alleged massacre. I'd hoped to find an eye-witness account of events, and since it's unclear whether the ex-priest was present or not, and his account reads like nonsense anyway, there isn't one to be found here.

I read this book back in the 20th Century, and it has always stuck in my mind. Reading it again because it is still highly relevant to the mess the Middle East is now, and also because it seems like a warning as to what can happen when a country cannot control it's borders, is riven by internal divisions, and cannot defend itself adequately.

This is an essential book to understand the recent history of Lebanon. There are no good and bad, but as it says in the book they are all bad in some aspect, their reading in addition to broadening the knowledge of that part of the Middle East, produces sadness because the solution is very far if it exists. Fisk often introduces his feelings and personal stories, which is very interesting because with great value he wants to always be on the front line and see everything with his own eyes. In his reading we see a great compassion for those who suffer and an interest in reaching the ultimate consequences of his research that is commendable. It may be an appreciation of mine but logically devotes a lot of space to the suffering of the Palestinians, which is fair, but the suffering of Christians may not be as highlighted as it would deserve, in the long term Christians will be expelled from their lands if they do not had been yet. In short, an essential book and made with great knowledge in the field and above all, impartial. I don't knew Mr Fisk after this book I try to read everything he writes.

Precious testimony of an eye witness on a turning point of the history of the middle east. Details given makes you feel you are walking beside Fisky down those roads and paths he walked Highly recommended

Robert fisk pulls no punches in this first hand account of they long Lebanese civil war his analysis is brilliant

Read this if you are in any doubt about Lebanon. Many stories here that will shock you, all written with intelligence and passion. Absolutely beyond belief, what has been done in that region, and with the West choosing to look the other way. No wonder there is still so much hatred, and the story is far from over. We never seem to learn and really try to change things. A fantastic book, and I look forward to reading more by Robert Fisk.

Robert Fisk writes superbly well and reports at first hand his experiences in Lebanon. He witnessed many horrors and reported the brutal facts with clarity and passion. He is in tune with the people and gives the reader a thoughtful insight into the reality of the region's conflict. This book is required reading for anyone who wishes to see through the propaganda and mythology which typifies Israeli style occupation and indiscriminate punishment of civilians who dare to resist. This purchase replaced an earlier copy which had become worn out through rereading so many brilliantly written chapters.

Brilliant and necessary background The rehearsal for current genocide in Gaza. It is heartbreaking and terrifying. It show how important it is to stop such wars because they are a prelude of things to come.

… der seit 1976 vor Ort lebt. Erst als Korrespondent von The Times. Später dann für den Independent. In dem vorliegenden Buch beschreibt er erst die weiter zurückliegende Geschichte des Libanon bevor er die Ereignisse der letzten Jahrzehnte aus seiner persönlichen Perspektive beschreibt. Also das, was er selber erlebt hat. Beispiel: Die Entführung von Terry Anderson, dem Beiruter Bürochef von AP. Robert Fisk war am letzten Abend vor der Entführung mit Terry zusammen. Die Unterhaltung drehte sich um die Berufsrisiken eines Journalisten in Beirut. Fisky, you only drove away from those guys last year because you happen to be crazy and because you drive like a maniac anyway (583). Mit Fisky ist natürlich Robert Fisk gemeint. Anderson war der Meinung, dass man gegen die Waffen der Entführer ohnehin keine Chance habe. These guys have guns. You don't have a chance. You were just lucky last time. If they come, it's better to let them take you. (583) Richtig oder falsch? Sie kamen am nächsten Morgen. Terry Anderson sollte lange, sehr lange von der Bildfläche verschwinden. Weitere Geiseln folgten. Robert Fisk hatte zwar Glück, musste sein Leben aber völlig umstellen. Verkleidungen. Er vermied es auf den Balkon zu gehen. Wenn er abends ausser Haus essen ging, übernachtete er bei Freunden. I felt as though I was climbing down a long tunnel whose diameter was constantly shrinking until its walls pressed against my shoulders, so Robert Fisk über sein damaliges Leben (621). Irgendwie gelang es ihm daneben noch seine Arbeit zu tun. Sein Freund wurde hingegen nahezu sieben Jahre festgehalten bis er als letzter der amerikanischen Geiseln freikam. Bemerkenswert: Terry hatte in all den Jahren seinen Humor nicht verloren. I missed a lot of things. I don't understand what a CD player is and I missed out on Ninja Turtles (662). Beispiel: Qana, eine UN Basis, wo 560 libanesische Flüchtlinge Schutz gesucht hatten. Am 18. April 1996 wurde viele von ihnen getötet. Ein Amateurfilmer hatte das Massaker für die Ewigkeit festgehalten. Gut sichtbar: die israelische Drone. Absicht also, kein Zufall. Es war Robert Fisk, dem der Film zugespielt wurde, und es war sein Arbeitgeber, der Independent, der den Mut hatte, die Bilder in einem dreiseitigen Artikel zu veröffentlichen. Das Bemerkenswerte hier: die Aussage eines Überlebenden, der seine ganze Familie verloren hatte. You must not blame all jews. Es gibt Gute unter ihnen, die immer schon die Wahrheit gesagt haben, und es gibt welche in Amerika, die uns helfen. Eine erstaunlich differenzierte Sichtweise von jemanden, dem viel Leid zugefügt worden ist, und ein typisches Merkmal für den Erzählstil von Robert Fisk. Er zitiert nicht nur einfach Fakten und offizielle Aussagen, sondern er lässt die Betroffenen zu Wort kommen. Sehr bildhaft, sehr persönlich und sehr berührend. Daneben setzt er sich mit der Rolle der Medien, die über die Ereignisse im Nahen Osten berichten, auseinander. Wie unabhängig ist die Berichterstattung? Wie werden Journalisten beeinflusst? The Israelis deluged reporters with information and offers for assistance, while many Arab nations regarded Western journalists as spies, refusing to respond to the simplest of enquiries or to produce even the most junior of ministers for interviews. (407) In Kriegszeiten nahmen die Israelis die Journalisten mit an die Front im Gegensatz zu den arabischen Nachbarländern. Die Ereignisse im Libanon – erst in 1978 während der ersten israelischen Invasion, dann in 1982 – sollten dies jedoch ändern. Auf einmal hatten die Israelis kein Monopol auf die „Wahrheit“ mehr. Die alten Worthülsen funktionierten nicht mehr. In der Folge wurden diejenigen Reporter, die eine eigene Meinung vertraten, dämonisiert. Robert Fisk musste das selber erfahren. Der Preis für seine Unabhängigkeit. Er beschreibt das sehr anschaulich. And yet – there should always be an „and yet“ in reporting the Middle East. Robert Fisk hinterfragt die offizielle Rhetorik. Warum werden westliche Geiseln in der Presse als „Geiseln“ bezeichnet während die schiitischen Gefangenen im Südlibanon „Gefangene“ sind. Ähnlich der oben erwähnte Terry Anderson. Er war es, der seine Mitarbeiter in Beirut anwies, den Begriff Terrorist nicht zu verwenden. It is a pejorative out here (435), so Anderson. Die doppelten Standards in der Berichterstattung. Fisk lässt sich ausführlich darüber aus. Erinnert immer wieder daran. Hat mich an Gabriele Krone-Schmalz erinnert. Zum weiteren Inhalt des Buches: Einfach die Blick-ins-Buch-Funktion nutzen. Dort kann man das Inhaltsverzeichnis, Kartenmaterial, einen Teil des Textes, das Register und mehr sehen. --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- Der Titel des Buches stammt aus der Feder des libanesisch-maronitischen Dichters Khalil Gibran, veröffentlicht in THE GARDEN OF THE PROPHET, London, Heinemann, 1934: Pity the nation that is full of beliefs and empty of religion. Pity the nation that …. (gekürzt) ... Pity the nation divided into fragments, each fragment deeming itself a nation. --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- Mein Fazit: Unbedingt lesenswert, wenn man mehr über den Libanon wissen will Ein Kapitel des Buches ist zwischen zeitlich in deutscher Sprache erschienen: Sabra und Schatila: Ein Augenzeugenbericht. Libanon 1982 . Ansonsten wurde noch nichts übersetzt. Ich würde mir wünschen, dass sich dies ändert, damit noch mehr Leser erfahren, was Robert Fisk zu sagen hat.

Timely delivery. Product as described and expected. Nothing more nothing less than declared. Good seller good product totally satisfied. Full stop

As Israeli with maternal roots in Mandate Lebanon, and an active participant in the invasion into Beirut following Bashir Gemeil murder, It has opened my eyes to sides of this endless war and Lebanese inhuman suffering. Well written and very knowledgeable. A must read for anyone willing to understand Lebanon’s tragic situation.

Fisk combines horrifying and amazing accounts of direct experience, first rate investigations and careful compilation of evidence, with succinct introspection, consideration and humility of perspective. Ranging from personal heart-warming narratives of journalistic comradery and the absurd clash between our messy reality and clean pronouncements from global actors, to fearless and meticulous documentation of war crimes and erudite political analysis in the broader context of history. Less tangential and more focused than Fisk's "The Great War for Civilization", Pity the Nation is of value to any reader interested in journalism, modern politics/history or Lebanon itself. I laughed and I cried. Mostly cried.