The French history behind Lebanon’s problems; challenging the prisoners of war narrative; remembering Brent Scowcroft

Joshua Landis: The French mandate and Lebanese history

Lebanon was once a model for the Middle East. Today, it looks more like Syria or Iraq. Why? And should the French be held accountable?

Joshua Landis, Director: Centre for Middle East Studies and Associate Professor, University of Oklahoma

Japan’s POWs: systematic mistreatment?

During World War Two more Australians died in Japanese prisoner of war camps than were killed in combat. Conventional wisdom says they were systematically mistreated.

Sarah Kovner argues that the story is more complex than that.

Sarah Kovner, Senior Research Scholar in the Arnold A. Saltzman Institute of War and Peace Studies and Adjunct Professor of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University. Author: Prisoners of the Empire: POWs and Their Captors in the Pacific.

Vale Brent Scowcroft: US foreign policy veteran

Two-time US national security adviser Brent Scowcroft was an architect of the Gulf War, and a leading opponent of the Iraq war. He died recently aged 95.