Foreigners who speak Arabic in the Middle East are often assumed to be working for the C.I.A. or Israel's intelligence agency, the Mossad. -Richard Engel Intelligence
Kidnapping is always a threat in this life of reporting on men hurting one another because of religion and politics. -Richard Engel Politics
In 2009, Hamas was relatively new to power. It had won elections just three years earlier and was flexing its newfound strength via a war with its old enemy, Israel, which it officially wants destroyed. -Richard Engel Strength
When I first arrived in Baghdad in January 2003, I thought I would soon rent a house and envisioned myself swimming in the Tigris to cool off after reporting in the city the caliphs called Madinit al-Salam, the City of Peace. A year later, I realized I wouldn't be taking any midnight dips - Madinat al-Salam no more. -Richard Engel Cool
We know that al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula has some very dangerous, very important leaders who are tied directly to the top leadership of al Qaeda central, including a man who was formerly Osama bin Laden's secretary. -Richard Engel Leadership
Kidnapping is always a threat in this life of reporting on men hurting one another because of religion and politics. -Richard Engel Religion