Tower of the Sun Quotes

“The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is what happens when an irresistible force meets an immovable object. Both Israelis and Palestinians are irresistible forces, and they’re both immovable objects.”
― Michael J. Totten, Tower of the Sun: Stories From the Middle East and North Africa

“Essam el-Erian: When congressmen stood up 30 times to salute Netanyahu when he gave his speech in the Congress, it destroyed any dream for peace. MJT:”
― Michael J. Totten, Tower of the Sun: Stories From the Middle East and North Africa

“What they didn’t know—what no one could know and what may in the end matter most—is how much damage a fanatical minority can do in Iran after it’s thrown out of power. It may not matter if most Iranians want a normal life in a quiet country. Most Iraqis were not insurgents, but the insurgency raged on.”
― Michael J. Totten, Tower of the Sun: Stories From the Middle East and North Africa

“Do you know why America does not understand Egypt? Because they do not understand the meaning of the word Maaleesh. In English, Maaleesh means ‘doesn’t matter,’ and it is the one word you need to understand Egypt. In America everything is now, now, now—make the money now, make the career now. But in Egypt, everybody believes in life after death, so everything in life is Maaleesh.”
― Michael J. Totten, Tower of the Sun: Stories From the Middle East and North Africa