Robert Fowler was born in Canada in 1944. He was well educated, attending several really good schools. For a time, he taught English at the National University of Rwanda. He left that job, and became involved in diplomatic affairs. In 1969, he took on the role of Foreign Service Officer in the Department of External Affairs, which was his first diplomatic job. He had several other diplomatic positions until his fateful position as the United Nations Secretary General's Special Envoy to Niger.

He was captured by Al Qaeda on December 14, 2008, along with his coworker and the person who was driving their car. Publications were made online that stated that this group was targeting politicians and diplomats who supported the government of Niger and President Mamadou Tandja. Al Qaeda formally accepted responsibility for the kidnappings in February 2009. (These three were not the only people captured and held hostage. I remember a lot of this kind of talk in the news, but I cannot remember any names.) Regardless of why they were kidnapped, they were held in the Saharan desert for 130 days. I do not want to be kidnapped and held hostage for even one day, and certainly not in the desert. I cannot even imagine it, but I will say it wore me out reading about all of the frantic movements, driving around aimlessly and erratically. That would be terrifying, not knowing if you were going to be killed or tortured in some brutal way would be terrifying, and not knowing if you would make it back to your home would be terrifying and depressing.

I have to say, it was very interesting to read about how these people that are involved in terrorist cells live and operate. I cannot imagine why that lifestyle and those activities appeal to them, but I am sure that indoctrination and opportunity have a lot to do with it. I cannot say that I would have had the same mindset that Robert Fowler and his coworker did, but I am glad they were able to survive and handle their situation. This was a very eye opening read.