A Country of Words

The book by the publisher of Al-Quds Al-`Arabi, `Abdul-Bari Atwan, A Country of Words, fails miserably.  It is as if it was rushed to print: and as if it was dictated to a secretary and then transcribed.  The author clearly held back, a lot.  It was as if it was written by diplomat or a politician and not a journalist.  As if the author does not want to get the book banned in any Arab country.  He did not even tell us much about the experience of working for decades for Saudi media.  Yes, he would say that there was censorship and intervention but then be reserved.  Even the lousy `Uthman `Umayr: he would not criticize him after he admitted that the guy preferred football news on the front page to news of Palestinian suffering--he adds: and `Umayr remains a close friend.  It is an odd book really.  Even the profile of `Arafat was not very candid, except about his private life and secret marriages.  It was most disappointing because Atwan is an interesting writer.  And while Qatar funds Al-Quds Al-`Arabi, the author said almost nothing about Qatar.  I can't recommend the book to readers.