Author Archives: Tex

About Tex

Retired artillery colonel, many years in a number of positions in the Arab world. Graduate of the US Military Academy and the American University of Beirut. MA in Arab studies from the American University in Beirut along with 18 years as Middle East Seminar Director at the JFK Special Warfare Center and School, Served in Vietnam with 1st Inf Division, Assignments in Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt, plus service with Trucial Oman Scouts in the Persian Gulf. Traveled to every Arab country on the map including Iraq, Syria, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco.

Middle Eastern Academic Amnesia on Imperialism

Posted on August 13, 2020 by Tex

Some years ago I attended a conference in Washington attended by Middle East Scholars –  or at least those who imagined themselves in that category. After the usual number of erudite talks by various scholars, one being a favorite  of … Continue reading →

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Q.When did the Beginning of the End for Lebanon Begin? A. When it was Pushed and Pulled into the Morass of Middle East Politics

Posted on August 7, 2020 by Tex

The slide of Lebanon to disaster and chaos began when the Lebanese corrupt and weak leadership were pushed and pulled into the morass of Middle Eastern politics. When I was there from 1967 to 1970 it was an oasis of … Continue reading →

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Education as the Answer to the Mess in the Middle East?

Posted on August 4, 2020 by Tex

The idea that that education, as so many western academics believe, is an answer to   creating a progressive society  in the Middle East is a nonstarter. Among other things it necessitates forgetting that Germany with the highest cultural and … Continue reading →

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Iran: The Enemy that Refuses to Follow the Rules

Posted on July 13, 2020 by Tex

The article below in the Business Insider set me to write this blog. Actually it is the conclusion to a 9000 word presentation I plan to give at the ASMEA conference in Rosslyn VA. at the end of Oct. Association … Continue reading →

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Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units (PMU): Can they be integrated into the Iraqi security forces?

Posted on June 11, 2020 by Tex

Introduction On June 3, 2020, several Iraqi media outlets reported that the Chairman of the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), Falih Al-Fayyadh, issued a circular letter that included a series of instructions addressed to all PMU factions, obligating them to terminate … Continue reading →

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My report in Erudite.com Iranian Way of War

Posted on May 30, 2020 by Tex

DeAtkine: The Iranian Way of War: The Father of Hybrid Warfare  By Norvell “Tex” DeAtkine, for Erudite.report. May, 2020.  for the article with graphics go to http://www.erudite.report/reports/report.006.pdf The academic and media angst at the early January killing of Qassem Al-Soleimani, … Continue reading →

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What if the Iranians get too big for their Britches?

Posted on May 29, 2020 by Tex

  Recently there  have been suggestions that the Iranians are hoping to provoke an all-out conflict with United States,  ostentatiously harassing our warships in the Gulf,  ( Iran today bragged that they have 112 new speed boats to  harass our … Continue reading →

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Iran: ” Better to Kill Thousands Now than Millions later” Saddam Hussein.

Posted on May 22, 2020 by Tex

  For past few weeks Ive been reading books on Iran, specifically those concerned with the fall of the Shah in 1978. The one above is a gem..the best and most informative and readable of the many I have read. … Continue reading →

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The Muslim Brotherhood

Posted on April 27, 2020 by Tex
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The Iranians lose one… in Iraq

Posted on April 20, 2020 by Tex

Despite massive problems with their faltering economy and uncontrolled COVID-19 spread,  Iran continues its quest to become the Middle Eastern regional power.  The  ruling Mullahs have a pathological hatred and fear of the United States , which. has not, nor … Continue reading →

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