Robert Fisk, Middle East correspondent of the British newspaper The Independent, visited Michigan State University at 3pm on Monday to deliver a lecture about the state of affairs in the Middle East as well as to promote his recent novel, The Great War for Civilisation.
The lecture was the second in a three-part series, “Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine: Patterns of War and Peace in the Middle East” sponsored by MSU’s Muslim Studies Program.
Fisk is a highly-decorated journalist, having received the British Press Awards’ International Journalist of the Year award seven times. The New York Times referred to Fisk as “probably the most famous foreign correspondent in Britain.” He has over 30 years’ experience in international reporting and has lived in the Middle East almost as long.
During the lecture, Fisk warned Israel against any illusions it may have about its adversaries. “Don’t be romantic about Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad or any other opponents,” he said, declaring, “they are not romantic people.”
He went on to criticize Britain and the United States for their attitude toward Israel and other countries in the Middle East. “I don’t think we care about Iraqis or any of the people in the Middle East, not even the Israelis,” he said, adding “and we should.”