And Then All Hell Broke Loose
| Company type | Publication |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founder | Richard Engel |
| Products | Book |
And Then All Hell Broke Loose: Two Decades in the Middle East is a publication by Richard Engel that chronicles his experiences as an independent journalist reporting on terrorism and conflicts throughout the Middle East, with coverage spanning countries like Egypt, Iraq, and Lebanon.
About the author
Richard Engel, born on September 16, 1973, in New York, is an American journalist holding a Bachelor of Arts degree in foreign relations from Stanford University. Early in his professional journey, he decided to concentrate on the Middle East, anticipating significant developments there. Engel operated as a freelance correspondent for various media organizations including ABC, USA Today, and BBC World Service, residing in Egypt, Iraq, and Syria to obtain direct exposure. He is distinguished as the sole American television correspondent to report continuously throughout the Iraq war. Additionally, Engel covered conflicts in Afghanistan and Libya. Proficient in multiple Arabic dialects, as well as Spanish and Italian, he has endured numerous perilous circumstances such as improvised explosive device attacks and kidnappings. In 2008, he was appointed chief foreign correspondent for NBC News and has received seven Emmy awards. Engel is also the author of three books.
Synopsis
After completing his studies at Stanford, Engel embarked on his career by relocating to the Middle East in 1996 during the rule of leaders like Saddam Hussein, Gadhafi, and Mubarak. He lived in Cairo where stringent media restrictions and limited civil liberties were prevalent. His early encounters with violence included witnessing an attack on a bus in Tahrir Square, one of the region’s initial assaults resembling Al-Qaeda tactics. Engel examines the tenets of Islam alongside the post-World War I division of Middle Eastern territories by European colonial powers, emphasizing how American involvement influenced regional dynamics following World War II. After the events of 9/11, his journalistic focus shifted primarily to Iraq.
Beginning his reporting in Egypt, Engel broadened his scope to include Israel and Palestine, covering escalating tensions during the period of the Oslo II Accord and the second intifada. The conflict intensified until Israeli military forces subdued Palestinian urban centers following the detention of leader Yasser Arafat. Subsequent to 9/11, Engel concentrated on Iraq, delivering extensive reports over a three-year span amid Sunni-Shiite rivalries. The Sunni-dominated regime under Saddam Hussein was overthrown by Shiite factions backed by the United States aiming to establish democracy. This transition unleashed extremist Sunni groups led by individuals such as Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who introduced savage methods including beheadings of Western captives like Nick Berg. Zarqawi’s elimination by U.S. troops represented a critical juncture before Engel redirected his attention toward Iran.