Simon MayallSimon Mayall is a former soldier in the British Army. Much of his 40-year professional career was focussed on the Middle East, and he has strong family and academic interests in the region. His last appointments were as the British Government’s Defene Senior Adviser for the Middle East, and the Prime Minister’s Security Envoy to Iraq and the Kurdish Region. As well as The House of War, he is the author of a book on Turkey’s post-Cold War security policy, a thesis on Jihadist ideology, and Soldier in the Sand – A Personal History of the Modern Middle East. He is a regular media contributor on Middle East and defence and security issues. Read More Read Less