Marie Colvin killed in Homs
Discussion
RIP Marie Colvin - an amazing woman and brave journalist snuffed out by that b
d Assad for reporting the murderous truth from Homs.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleea...
d Assad for reporting the murderous truth from Homs.http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleea...
Digga said:
I'd heard western jouralists were among casualties. it's a terrible shame - what's happened to her and what's going on in Syria.
ETA: RIP.
She was in a building hit by around ten rockets with her French photographer Remi Ochlik. Apparently their bodies are trapped under the rubble and can't even be retrieved.ETA: RIP.
The whole situation is sickening and just reminds me of Bosnia 10 years ago, we sit and wait while the killing goes on. The regime is slowly being drained through sanctions and I'm sure there's only one outcome, but I cannot get my head around the Russian and Chinese position, they know what's going on and how it's going to end, what's their problem?
Blue62 said:
The whole situation is sickening and just reminds me of Bosnia 10 years ago, we sit and wait while the killing goes on. The regime is slowly being drained through sanctions and I'm sure there's only one outcome, but I cannot get my head around the Russian and Chinese position, they know what's going on and how it's going to end, what's their problem?
They are putting their own national interests first.Eric Mc said:
Blue62 said:
The whole situation is sickening and just reminds me of Bosnia 10 years ago, we sit and wait while the killing goes on. The regime is slowly being drained through sanctions and I'm sure there's only one outcome, but I cannot get my head around the Russian and Chinese position, they know what's going on and how it's going to end, what's their problem?
They are putting their own national interests first.It is very much in their interests to set (or try to) precedents to allow countries a free hand to police themselves without intervention.
What was most shocking about last night's report which involved her was the baby struggling for it's last breaths after being gravely injured in the bombardment. The impression I get is that if we act militarily we have to have foreign feet on the ground afterwards as elements of the rebel forces will only go and try to wipe out supporters of Assad. It seems a deeply divided country with a lot of people either massively in favour of him or totally against him. Expect to see more dying babies if we fail to act soon enough OR if we act quickly but without a decent (UN/AL) peacekeeping force at the ready.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
It's a theme which recurrs in the Arab world with depressing familiarity; Iraq and Libya for example. This sort of totalitarian regime seems to polarise the political landscape to a point where you have to question whether peace is an option; either festering warfare or oppressive rule.Obviously a terrible thing to happen, but these journalists do put themselves right in the middle of these conflicts, so surely not unexpected?
I almost feel like it's part of what appeals to them, they love being in the middle of a situation that could potentially lead to their end, and occassionaly it does.
There's only so long you can stay in the middle of a war zone, beaming back images of explosions and battles going on right around you, before you become a casualty. It's how it goes, risk your life deliberately and often and accept that you're doing so, and unfortunately it will catch up to you eventually.
I dont know how much what they report back changes the eventual outcome of any of these conflicts, they've been raging for hundreds of years and most likely will continue too. The civilian cost is terrible, and very sad, but nothing seems to change by it being reported. Unless the country has some natural resource the UK or USA need, they arent going to step in enough to make a difference.
I almost feel like it's part of what appeals to them, they love being in the middle of a situation that could potentially lead to their end, and occassionaly it does.
There's only so long you can stay in the middle of a war zone, beaming back images of explosions and battles going on right around you, before you become a casualty. It's how it goes, risk your life deliberately and often and accept that you're doing so, and unfortunately it will catch up to you eventually.
I dont know how much what they report back changes the eventual outcome of any of these conflicts, they've been raging for hundreds of years and most likely will continue too. The civilian cost is terrible, and very sad, but nothing seems to change by it being reported. Unless the country has some natural resource the UK or USA need, they arent going to step in enough to make a difference.
Blue62 said:
The whole situation is sickening and just reminds me of Bosnia 10 years ago, we sit and wait while the killing goes on. The regime is slowly being drained through sanctions and I'm sure there's only one outcome, but I cannot get my head around the Russian and Chinese position, they know what's going on and how it's going to end, what's their problem?
Indeed. She mentions the apparent failure to learn the lessons of Srebrenica in her final, chilling report:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-171204...
BananaBok said:
Obviously a terrible thing to happen, but these journalists do put themselves right in the middle of these conflicts, so surely not unexpected?
People like her make me feel like a proper wimp really.BananaBok said:
I dont know how much what they report back changes the eventual outcome of any of these conflicts, they've been raging for hundreds of years and most likely will continue too. The civilian cost is terrible, and very sad, but nothing seems to change by it being reported.
FWIW I do think it very important that whatever the conflict, those on all sides know they are being watched and their actions are being documented by impartial reporters. Their presence cannot prevent - how would it - but it can at least help to raise awareness and also provide further evidence should international sanctions follow. They do a very tough job and are often underappreciated.Edited by Digga on Wednesday 22 February 14:39
only reacting when it involves your national interest is standard operating procedures. the russian and chinese aren`t doing anything *insert your country`s government here* hasn`t been doing for decades. she was a brave woman but that kind of reporting is not like reading the news, they deploy knowing there is a high chance they might not come back. r.i.p.
Gassing Station | News, Politics & Economics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff