Marie Colvin: Death of a truth-teller

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http://madmikesamerica.com — Marie Colvin

Marie Colvin, award winning journalist, was killed in Syria Wednesday. Marie Colvin had spoken with Anderson Cooper the day before her death about the attacks on civilians by the Assad regime, calling them “merciless” and “sickening.” Also killed was French photo-journalist Remi Ochlik.

Marie Colvin began her career in journalism a year after her graduation from Yale as a police reporter with United Press International. In 1984, Ms. Colvin became the Paris bureau chief for UPI, and in 1985, moved to The Sunday Times. Ms. Colvin covered some of the most violent regions in the world, including Kosovo and Chechnya, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka. Marie Colvin lost an eye to shrapnel in Sri Lanka, but not even an eye patch could not deter her from telling the world the truth about war and violence. In fact, some think it made her stronger.

The day before her death, she spoke with Anderson Copper of CNN, and detailed the horrors she and other journalists and civilians were witnessing. Cooper asked Ms. Colvin why she was still there, asking her why she felt the images of the attacks needed to be seen. He added that the CNN team had recently left Syria. Marie Colvin spoke of a baby who had been killed by shrapnel and said “Yes, I had a discussion with your people, Anderson. I feel very strongly they should be shown. Something like that, I think, is actually stronger for an audience-for someone who is not here, for an audience for which the conflict, any conflict is very far away. That’s the reality. These are 28,000 civilians-men, women and children-hiding, being shelled defenseless. That little baby was one of two children who died today, one of children being injured every day, That baby will probably move more people to think, what is going on and why is no one stopping this murder in Homs that is happening every day?”

Cooper responded by sharing the Assad regime’s claim that they are not hitting civilians. The regime states there is no armed conflict, no war within Syria; the government is going after armed gangs. Marie Colvin disputed that claim, stating “Every civilian house has been hit, we’re talking a poor popular neighborhood. The top floor of the building I’m in has been hit, in fact, totally destroyed. There are no military targets here. This is the free Syrian army. Heavily outnumbered and outgunned only Kalashnikovs and rocket propelled grenades. They don’t have a base. There a lot of young men killed, teenaged young men, and they’re trying to get the wounded to some kind of medical treatment. It’s a complete and utter lie that they’re only going after terrorists.”

Anderson Cooper thanked Colvin for “using the word ‘lie’.” He then asked Ms. Colvin how the conflict in Syria compared to others she had covered. She answered, “This is the worst, Anderson, for many reasons. I think the last time we talked when I was in Misrata. It’s partly personal safety, I guess, there’s nowhere to run.” This interview with Anderson Cooper would be Marie Colvin’s last public statements. She and Remi Ochlik would be killed the next day.

Communications between Syrian army officers, intercepted by Lebanese intelligence, indicates that Marie Colvin, Remi Ochilk and other journalists staying in the makeshift press center were targeted directly. Quotes, allegedly from the intercepted communication, show that the Syrian army knew if they destroyed that press center, there would be “no further information coming out of Homs.” If this intelligence is accurate, the Syrian army planned the murder of Marie Colvin and Ochilk. There were no “armed gangs” within the press center, only journalists, journalists who stayed after many of their associates left Homs.

Marie Colvin was a heroine to many journalists, and one of her friends, speaking to CNN this morning, called her a “teller of truth.” Marie Colvin told the truth in the face of great personal danger, and her desire to show the world what the Assad regime is doing in Syria-the murdered children, the starving and freezing civilians being bombed by the Syrian army-is what may have led to her death.

Marie Colvin was, and will always be, an amazingly brave and honest woman, a gifted journalist and above all else, a truth teller. Her words, her voice, her iconic eye patch and her talent will be greatly missed by those who were fortunate to know her, and those of us lucky enough to think of her as a heroine and am inspiration.

Thanks to MSNBC, Wikipedia, Mediate and The Daily Mail for contributions to this article.

Personal note: I admired Marie Colvin, and always thought if I ever become a journalist, I would ask to borrow a cup of courage from her seemingly endless supply. I will miss her.

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