Samir Atallah

There are countries, institutions, and individuals whose records suggest that they are above reproach. Countries that are not tempted by corruption, bribery, or moral weakness. Among these are the Scandinavian countries, with Norway at the forefront. Norway has emerged as one of the most highly…

When I first met Dr. Mustafa El-Feki at the home of Ahmed Bahaa El-Din, he had just begun his duties as president of the British University in Egypt. The next time I met him, he had become secretary-general of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, without giving up his position at the university. Alongside…

The United Nations thrives on fear and devastation. You hear about it only when a problem becomes serious. Then the secretary-general moves into action, and so does the Security Council. As for the General Assembly, it has little to offer beyond speeches and statements. As for its president, or its…

I used to look forward to this occasion every year: an unparalleled United Nations festival. September would arrive, and with it the annual session of the United Nations General Assembly. Delegates from nearly 200 countries, large, medium-sized, and small, would come from around the world because…

Talk of a federal system has once again returned loudly in Lebanon. In other words, an undeclared partition. The campaign is now being led by men of considerable refinement and integrity. But everyone knows that federalism, decentralization, and other such labels are attempts to soften the…

On September 11, 2001, the men of al-Qaeda wanted to break the West. Not through a prolonged war, but in a single battle. Not on the ground, but high above the earth. One spectacular assault, and the myth of the West and its towers would come to an end. It would suffer its losses in the richest…

In military language, when a town "falls," it means that it is no longer a place where people can live safely. The latest town declared fallen in the South Lebanon war is Ali al-Taher. Since the fighting began, it has been referred to by several names and descriptions, including the facility, the…

There are many nightmares a writer would prefer, or try, to avoid. The worst is to repeat himself, especially when crises drag on and the men at their center lose themselves in their statements and positions, and the world becomes lost along with them. No global crisis has evolved, spread, and…

The political surprises emerging from Damascus are far greater than our ability to absorb or anticipate them. Every time we imagine we have seen the final surprise, it becomes clear that there is no end to the republic President Ahmad al-Sharaa is building over the remnants of Syria's past. Day…

Why do we remember Ahmed Bahaa El-Din three decades after his death? Because, above all, he was a good, humble Egyptian man. Set aside his importance as a writer and thinker and his stature as a leading journalist. What people loved about him first was that he was gentle and kind, one of them. They…