Assassination

Journalist targeted.

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- An American freelance journalist and blogger was found dead in the southern Iraqi city of Basra, the U.S. Embassy said Wednesday.

Police said Steven Vincent had been shot multiple times after he and his Iraqi translator were abducted at gunpoint hours earlier. Police said Mr. Vincent, a blogger who had been living in New York, had been staying in Basra for several months working on a book.

"I can confirm to you that officials in Basra have recovered the body of journalist Steven Vincent," said embassy spokesman Pete Mitchell. [SNIP]

Mr. Vincent's blog describes him as a freelance investigative journalist and art critic whose work had appeared in major newspapers and magazines including Harper's and the Christian Science Monitor. He worked briefly for The Wall Street Journal in 1998, writing about art, and was the author of "In the Red Zone: A Journey Into the Soul of Iraq,'' a recently published book that was an account of life in a post-Saddam Hussein Iraq. [SNIP]

I did not know of this gentleman’s efforts and am very sorry to learn of them this way. God rest him.

(Thanks to Roger Simon)

Comments

[Bill O..]

Since no one is commenting here on this story I am posting the some statemnets by the murdered journalist spoken at a panel hosted by frontpagemag in Basra a few days before his Death. Keep in mind he supported the invasion before he got to Iraq:

"With respects to you and Karl, Jamie, I have to give the war effort a B-. Judging the conflict by Saddam's removal--and thank Allah the monster is gone--is setting a pretty low bar. I mean, let's face it: military-wise Iraq was not Nazi Germany or the Soviet Union. Then you have to factor in U.S failures, such as not sealing the borders or halting the looting--not to mention the fact that American military tactics have widely alienated the very people we liberated. Something's not working right."

"But the important point is this: this conflict is not just about killing bad guys, but building a nation. True, maaku Saddam, and yes, there is a democratically-elected government, but when Baghdad lacks power and water, and the road to the airport is life-threatening crap shoot, and I can't leave my hotel here in Basra without Iraqi protection--I can't see much nation building going on."

"Insurgents win by not losing. If they keep Iraqis living in misery, then no matter how many "insurgents" we dispatch to Paradise, Amir Zarqawi gets the prize. In assessing the war effort, then, we must also include the quality of Iraqis's lives. Want a grade for that? F. "

after some sour reactions....

"Jamie, before pulling the rhetorical wagons around the Bush Administration, go back and look over my first response. I'll try it again:"

"We are at war in Iraq. The criteria for success in this conflict--whether we like it or not--is the quality of Iraqis' life. (Never again should the U.S. get involved in a war where victory is determined by a third party.) Terrorists know this. Therefore, they strive to insure that the quality of Iraqi life is miserable. Miserable Iraqis = failing war effort. (I gave our effort a B- because of Saddam's capture, and the hope Iraqis still maintain for the future.)"

"And forgive me Karl, but praising America's undeniable military prowess is a bit like the old saw involving the doctor who crows that "the operation was a success, but the patient died." Sure, the surgery was brilliant, the surgery team removed the cancer, but all manner of infectious diseases afflicted the patient in the post-op period. (And again, forgive me, but here in Basra, Mookie Sadr is hands-down the most popular public figure outside of Sistani.)"

"It must be frustrating to the Punditry to realize that even with all the American blood and treasure expended in this war, the effort hinges on whether an Iraqi housewife feels safe enough to walk to the market. Or parents can let their children go to school without fear of kidnappers. Or businessmen can bid on a construction project without bribing the local elected authorities, religious party members and tribal gangs. Not all these issues are America's responsibility, but all of them are our problems."

"You can blame terrorists all you want for ruining Iraq, but at the end of the day, it's our responsibility to make things right--or at least get Iraqis to do the job themselves. Oh, and Jamie? You damn well better feel sorry I can't leave my Basra hotel without Iraqi protection--because last year I could. Six months after the January 30th elections, lawlessness in this city is on the rise, whether by Iranian agents, rouge policemen or opportunistic tribal gangs. Hmmm, considering the bang-up job the Brits are doing here, I think I'll lower my estimation of the war effort to a C+."

[StinKerr]

I hadn't posted on this thread because I wasn't aware of Mr. Vincent before learning of his kidnapping and subsequent murder.

I've since visited his blog and have been reading some of his stuff as well as the nasty posts made in the thread announcing his death. [sigh] Some people's children. :eyeroll:

I've made a shortcut to his blog and expect to read the rest of his writing.

It is sad that I already know that there will be no more.

[wayne]

Apparently it has come out that the reason for his assassination was that he was about to marry the interpreter that he was with and this was considered to be an abomination by members of her tribe/family.