-
ObamaCare Rate Spikes Revealed
May 13, 2013 | 5 comments
-
Quick CISPA Survey
April 18, 2013 | 1 comment
-
To Each His Own Audience (…or Enemy)
March 29, 2013 | 11 comments
-
They Say They Want a Revolution
March 20, 2013 | 5 comments
-
Senate Access Shutdown
March 12, 2013 | 1 comment
The Spectacle Blog
A dear friend of mine here in the District recently informed me that her cousin, photojournalist Robert King, had traveled to some of the most dangerous parts of Syria to document the Free Syrian Army’s battle against the Assad regime.
Getting into the war-torn country was difficult enough — getting out was damn near impossible. Still, the veteran war correspondent (who has provided front-line footage from such places as Chechnya and Kosovo) emerged with a digital reel that provides solid context to the situation on the ground. It ain’t pretty, but his work breathes life into a conflict where sterile casualty counts often obfuscate the horror of it all.
Having escaped the violence in Syria by the skin of his teeth — a harrowing exodus through Levantine olive groves, lit by moonlight and mortar-fire — King made the media rounds with Christiane Amanpour, Anderson Cooper, and Hala Gorani from Beirut. He reported: “In twenty years, I’ve not photographed so many wounded kids.” He suggested the attacks weren’t random; rather regime loyalists appeared to be targeting children and using them as human shields. I’m stymied to adequately describe an action so woefully, equally craven and revolting.
Knowing this, the usual suspects will continue to beat the war drums in the halls of Congress, while folks like me will remind you that “even the ‘best’ American interventions are not particularly good, like Bosnia, Haiti, Kosovo, and Somalia, which left ethnic cleansing, violence, instability, and terrorism in their wake.”
Regardless, Robert King deserves a listen.
He’s been to some of the worst places on the planet — and back again — and his words and pictures humanize the horrendous. Take them as you will.
View all comments (9) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Reid Smith
http://spectator.org/blog/2012/06/13/humanizing-the-horror-in-syria
Follow us:
ADVERTISEMENT
Current Issue
- Her Unrequited Letter
- Inside the Gates of Eden
- The (Real) Great Divide
SPONSORED LINKS
FLASHBACK TO: 1995
-
Pope Culture
A man of faith in a godless age is hitting Americans where it hurts.
-
Why the GOP Does Not, Like, Totally Suck
Mr. and Mrs. American Spectator Reader, let P.J. O’Rourke talk sense to your kids.
-
Dames at Sea
-
In the Absence of Guns
In Britain, defending your property can get you life.
-
The Metaphysical Martini
-
Counting the Costs of Clintonism
The debacle of this president’s administration is both a cause and a symptom of the decline of American values. Unless Congress impeaches him, that decline will go on unchecked. An eminent jurist surveys the damage and assesses the chances for the recovery of our culture.
-
Chuck McHagel
It won’t take long for conservatives to scratch this presidential wannabe off their 2008 scorecard.
-
The Legacy of Old John and Mother Fresh-Roasted
-
It’s the Best Time of the Year
The American Christmas, like the songs that celebrate it, makes room for everybody under the rainbow. Is that why so many people seem to be hostile to it?
-
The Bush Crack-Up
Was the President done in by the economy, or by the politics of the economy?
Clip of the Day
H/T to National Review Online
ADVERTISEMENT
Dimitry_Aleksandrovich| 6.13.12 @ 6:25PM
Thank God the American Spectator has some fairminded voices. The liberal interventionists and neo-cons are beating the drums of war against Assad, but if Assad is toppled it is Syria's Christians, Alawites and Druze who will suffer.
Occam's Tool| 6.13.12 @ 6:49PM
Dmitry: you despise me. Please see my comments on intervention. Some things are just stupid: both sides are child molesting and murdering scumbags. Kind of like Russians.
Occam's Tool| 6.13.12 @ 6:57PM
Part of the problem with the kid injuries is that Islam fundamentalists care nothing for child safety. Raping little girls is another day in the office to them. Strapping bombs on little boys is fine and sanctioned. Both sides are Islamic vermin. But Israel is the bad guy for defending Jewish kids from these maniacs according to Dmitry, and Reid thinks a one-state solution is dandy.
Sorry, Reid, but I wouldn't let you within 100 miles of the levers of power. Of course, I expect that you will have a lovely State Dept. job one day, but Keith Laumer defined the State Department best, as a former case officer.
Bob K| 6.14.12 @ 1:00AM
The problem here, despite the writers protestations to the contrary, is that CNN, Amanpour and Anderson are doing this to make the "usual suspects" who "beat the war drums in the Halls of Congress" look good.
A war cannot simply be drummed up without a coordinated effort from the media to get support from the electorate. All competent political leaders in Democracies know that. The recent history of our conflicts in this region and in the Balkans is evidence of that.
There is clearly a reluctance by the American people to become engaged in any more wars, or conflicts if you will, in these regions and Mr. Smith and CNN are doing their part to change this mind set.
Reid Smith| 6.14.12 @ 9:13AM
Quite the contrary. If you take another look at what I wrote -- and frankly, what I've written in every single blog post and article about the conflict in Syria -- you'll see I urge restraint.
In this case: "...while folks like me will remind you that even the 'best' American interventions are not particularly good, like Bosnia, Haiti, Kosovo, and Somalia, which left ethnic cleansing, violence, instability, and terrorism in their wake." I even included a link to Doug Bandow. Not sure how I could have been much clearer.
For the record, I have never once, at AmSpec or otherwise, advocated the use of force post-Arab Spring. Not in Libya, nor Syria...
cali| 6.14.12 @ 6:17AM
After the recent murder of 30+ children in this senseless war within Syria, it was reported that not only were these children murdered, but also sexually assaulted.
If indeed that is the case; I just say that humanity is at the abyss; children are the most innocent among us!
AllAmericanAmerican| 6.14.12 @ 8:18AM
Islam is a satanic death cult which does not value life. Seeming it values nothing except death and destruction and misery.
However I can't say I am moved by any pictures or videos. Islam is still islam---the life you save today will be the one who plants a roadside bomb tomorrow. Or drives a truckload of explosives into an embassy or pizza parlor tomorrow. Or smuggles a bomb onto a plane tomorrow. Or launches a mortar into Jerusalem tomorrow.
You get the picture. If not, see here:
http://www.theblaze.com/storie.....nt-3559992
Occam's Tool| 6.14.12 @ 12:08PM
Apparently, Bibi thinks removing Assad would be "better." Given that they are the poor shlubs who have to live next door to these scumbags, and that Iranian power may be diminished (and Russian power) should Assad fall, that viewpoint should be given due consideration.
However, I would urge caution on any intervention, as both sides in Syria are loathsome swine.
Sean| 6.14.12 @ 12:19PM
This is just a battle between Sunni and non Sunnis. If the rebels win the Christians suffer.