Abdel Bari Atwan was born in Gaza, Palestine but has lived in London since 1979. He has been the editor of London-based al-Quds al-Arabi, an independent, pan-Arab daily newspaper since 1989. He is the author of The Secret History of al-Qa'ida, and A Country of Words, his memoir. His often controversial  opinions are frequently sought by print and broadcast journalists the world over and he is well-known for his lively and passionate debating style. A frequent guest on television shows in the west and the middle-east, Atwan also lectures worldwide and contributes to international conferences on a regular basis.