“At Baalbek Nuts I bought pistachios from the Lebanese owners, who answered my request for their thoughts on the war with the typically Lebanese response of no problem. It's a lie, as we all knew.” WarProblemLyingResponseOwnersNutsNo ProblemRequestLebanesePistachios Author:Robert Fisk
“The bin Laden I met each time was in a simple Saudi white robe, with a simple, cheap kafiya and very cheap plastic sandals. But a videotape released before September 11, which I saw on Lebanese television, had him in a gold embroidered robe. When I saw this, I thought, whoa, has this guy changed? I wouldn't have imagined him ever appearing in such golden robes when I met him.” GuySimpleWhiteSawsChangedTelevisionMetsGoldGoldenPlasticSeptemberThis GuyBin LadenSeptember 11AppearingSaudisRobesSandalsLebanese Author:Robert Fisk
“Even my landlord, who is a moderate Lebanese guy, says, "But bin Laden says what we think." These people believe that bin Laden is being targeted not because of the World Trade Center and Washington; they are not convinced by the evidence that has been produced. They believe he's being targeted because he tells the truth.” PeopleThinkingWorldBelieveHas BeensGuyEvidenceTradeConvincedTelling The TruthModeratesBin LadenWorld TradeLandlordWorld Trade CenterLebanese Author:Robert Fisk
“When I arrived in Beirut from Europe, I felt the oppressive, damp heat, saw the unkempt palm trees and smelt the Arabic coffee, the fruit stalls and the over-spiced meat. It was the beginning of the Orient. And when I flew back to Beirut from Iran, I could pick up the British papers, ask for a gin and tonic at any bar, choose a French, Italian, or German restaurant for dinner. It was the beginning of the West. All things to all people, the Lebanese rarely questioned their own identity.” PeopleAsksFeltSawsTreeIdentityPaperPicksEuropeAll ThingsWestFruitDinnerBritishCoffeeBarsMeatHeatRestaurantsIranItalianPalmsPapersFlewGinDampPalm TreesBeirutLebaneseGin And Tonic Book:Pity the Nation: Lebanon at War Source: Pity the Nation: Lebanon at War
“The [Israelis] believed - they were possessed of an absolute certainty and conviction - that 'terrorists' were in Chatila. How could I explain to them that the terrorists had left, that the terrorists had worn Israeli uniforms, that the terrorists had been sent into Chatila by Israeli officers, that the victims of the terrorists were not Israelis but Palestinians and Lebanese?” LeftAbsolutesVictimConvictionTerroristCertaintyOfficersPossessedPalestinianWornUniformsIsraeliAbsolute CertaintyLebanese Author:Robert Fisk
