Milton Viorst: A Career in Journalism and Middle Eastern Policy
Milton Viorst has maintained a long and multifaceted career as a writer and journalist, contributing to some of the most prestigious publications in the United States. Spanning several decades, his work has evolved from general political commentary and social protest to a deep specialization in the complex geopolitical landscape of the Middle East.
Journalistic Contributions and Political Activism
Between 1956 and 1993, Viorst established himself as a versatile contributor to a wide array of high-profile media outlets. His writing appeared in The New Yorker, Foreign Affairs, Harper's Magazine, The Atlantic, and The New York Times Magazine, as well as major newspapers including the New York Post, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal.
Beyond his professional reporting, Viorst was active in political dissent during the 1960s. In 1968, he joined the "Writers and Editors War Tax Protest," a pledge in which participants refused to pay taxes to protest the Vietnam War. This activism led to his inclusion on the master list of political opponents maintained by the Nixon administration.
Specialization in Middle Eastern Affairs
Viorst's focus shifted toward Middle Eastern policy in the early 1980s. This transition was supported by an Alicia Patterson Journalism Fellowship awarded to him in 1979, which he used to research Islamic and Zionist ideas and the ongoing Mideast crisis.
He eventually became a recognized specialist in the field, authoring six books on the subject, including In the Shadow of The Prophet. His most recent major work, Zionism: The Birth and Transformation of an Ideal, was published by St. Martin's Press in April 2016.
Controversy Regarding the Kurdish Genocide
One of the most contentious moments of Viorst's career occurred on October 5, 1988, when he published an op-ed in The Washington Post. In the piece, Viorst cast doubt on whether the regime of Saddam Hussein had utilized chemical weapons during the genocide of Iraq's Kurdish population.
This stance contradicted a confirmation provided a month earlier by Secretary of State George Shultz, who stated that poison gas had been used to kill thousands of civilians, including children. Viorst argued that the events "may never have taken place" and urged Congress to reject the Prevention of Genocide Act, which ultimately failed to pass. The campaign of extermination against the Kurds resulted in up to 100,000 casualties. Viorst's misleading reporting was later criticized in the publication A Problem from Hell.
Key Facts
- Career Span: Contributed to major publications from 1956 to 1993.
- Political Activism: Signed the 1968 Writers and Editors War Tax Protest against the Vietnam War.
- Academic Recognition: Received an Alicia Patterson Journalism Fellowship in 1979.
- Expertise: Author of six books on Middle Eastern policy.
- Notable Controversy: Questioned the use of chemical weapons in the Kurdish genocide in a 1988 op-ed.
| Year/Period | Event/Achievement | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1956–1993 | Publication Contributions | Wrote for The New Yorker, The Atlantic, and The Washington Post, among others. |
| 1968 | War Tax Protest | Refused tax payments to protest the Vietnam War. |
| 1979 | Journalism Fellowship | Awarded Alicia Patterson Fellowship for Mideast research. |
| 1988 | Washington Post Op-ed | Controversially questioned the Kurdish genocide. |
| 2016 | Book Publication | Published "Zionism: The Birth and Transformation of an Ideal". |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which publications did Milton Viorst write for?
Viorst contributed to a variety of outlets, including The New Yorker, Foreign Affairs, Harper's Magazine, The Atlantic, The New York Times Magazine, the New York Post, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal.
Why was Viorst placed on Nixon's list of political opponents?
He was targeted by the Nixon administration after signing the "Writers and Editors War Tax Protest" pledge in 1968, vowing to refuse tax payments to protest the Vietnam War.
What is Viorst's area of specialization?
Viorst is a specialist in Middle Eastern policy, a field he entered in the early 1980s following a research fellowship on Zionist and Islamic ideas.
What was the controversy surrounding his 1988 op-ed?
Viorst wrote an article suggesting that Saddam Hussein's use of chemical weapons against the Kurds may not have happened, despite confirmation from the U.S. Secretary of State. This led to criticism for misleading the public during a genocide that claimed up to 100,000 lives.
How many books has Milton Viorst written on the Middle East?
He has authored six books on the subject, including "In the Shadow of The Prophet" and "Zionism: The Birth and Transformation of an Ideal".