Iraq PRT firsthand experience, Bedouin proverbs reflection, and diplomacy essays — dispatches from a diplomat author on history, memoir, and the craft of storytelling.
Six essays on Iraq PRT service, Bedouin wisdom, historical fiction, and the lessons Iraq taught about resilience and faith.
An Iraq PRT firsthand experience: daily life inside a Provincial Reconstruction Team, the people who made it work, and the lessons that shaped a diplomat’s perspective on service.
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A Bedouin proverbs reflection on the timeless wisdom of Arabia — sayings about patience, hospitality, honor, and resilience that still speak to modern life.
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An essay on why personal stories of Iraq matter, and how writing can preserve voices and experiences that rarely make the news.
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One of the most personal diplomacy essays on the site: a journey from Miami to Iraq, reflecting on diplomacy, unexpected paths, and a life abroad.
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How real events, oral history, and imagination came together to shape Sheikh Alawi: The Black Scorpion — a behind-the-scenes look at writing Middle East historical fiction.
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Reflecting on years in Iraq and the lessons of resilience, faith, and hope that emerged from some of the most challenging experiences of a diplomatic career.
Read articleThe full diplomatic memoir of Iraq, 2007–2009 — companion to the journal essays.
The Middle East historical fiction epic inspired by Iraq and Bedouin oral history.
The full Joseph R. Pinon biography — diplomat, Miami homeland security, and author.