ZGram - 12/9/2001 - "Robert Fisk nearly killed..."

[irimland@zundelsite.org]

Copyright (c) 2001 - Ingrid A. Rimland

ZGram - Where Truth is Destiny

December 9, 2001

Good Morning from the Zundelsite:

MID-EAST REALITIES - better known as MER - has been back on the Internet in
a rather limited, truncated way after what many consider a mysterious
black-out of their service, never fully explained, to my knowledge.

In the past, MER has provided timely, valuable information, breaking news,
and commentary sympathetic to the Palestinian people - and, in their quest
for freedom and justice, critical of the Israeli government.

Many on the Right as well as leading Arab writers mistrust MER's motives,
since the organization is headed by one Mark Bruzonsky - who has not,
incidentally, always been in sympathy with things said on the Zundelsite.
But all in all, I have found MER to be very useful.  The daily missives
sent out via e-mail showed a keen understanding of the Middle East problems
and complexities.

I missed MER when it was off the air and was relieved when it was back in
cyberspace.  After all, it takes real guts to speak out forcefully in
opposition to the Israelis' (man)handling of the Palestinians and policies
of repression by the Israeli government - and go, even in spirit, where
angels fear to tread.

Within our lapdog media, that is a rare, rare trait.

One who goes physically, not just in spirit, where angels fear to tread,
risking freedom, life and limb is Robert Fisk, a UK Independent journalist
who I consider to be incorruptible and even-handed.  If a respected,
well-known journalist reports what Fisk reports about a military front in
times of intense warfare, there is always the danger of "being rubbed out"
- sometimes by "friendly fire".

Whether the incident below was engineered or not - who is to say?  Some of
us wonder quietly.  At any rate, this morning I received the following from
MER:

[START]

 http://www.MiddleEast.Org

 ROBERT FISK NEARLY KILLED... SAVED BY MUSLIM RELIGIOUS LEADER

 Robert Fisk is one of the world's preeminent experts about the Middle East
and world affairs.  He is the longest serving Western correspondent in the
region. 

He is also an extraordinarily courageous person who always conducts himself
with great determination, fortitude, and professionalism.  For many years
now Fisk has provided tremendous insight to people throughout the world by
going where few others have dared and by writing as few others are able. 
He has been both the eyes and the conscience for so many.  

Yesterday Robert Fisk was nearly beaten to death in Pakistan by Afghan
refugees who have suffered terribly at the hands of so many for so long,
including of course the U.S. and Great Britain -- the very people Fisk has
so thoughtfully tried to tell to the world. 

True to his deep convictions and profound awareness, Fisk said after his
beating:

"They had every reason to be angry... If I had been them, I would have
attacked me.  ...There was a real reason why they should hate Westerners so
much."

=====

 BBC NEWS - Sunday, 9 December, 2001

 UK journalist beaten, nearly killed, by Afghan mob

   A British journalist is recovering after being beaten and pelted with
stones by Afghan refugees in Pakistan.

  Veteran foreign correspondent Robert Fisk, 55, who writes for The
Independent newspaper, was set upon after his car broke down as he drove
near the border city of Quetta.

  Mr Fisk, who suffered facial, hand and head injuries, said: "It was a
very frightening experience and I am in a lot of pain but I am glad to be
alive. 

 "I'm going to bear the scars for the rest of my life - sadly I broke down
in the wrong place at the wrong time."

 The Middle East correspondent was attacked when his car overheated and
broke down close to a village housing refugees from Afghanistan. 

 He got out of the vehicle and was attempting to push it to the side of the
road when a group of 40 to 50 people gathered. 

  "At first they were reasonably friendly but then a little kid threw a
stone at me. More stones followed and then I find myself being punched and
beaten in the face. 

 "My glasses were smashed and my spare glasses were ripped away from me. I
was covered in blood and couldn't see anything. I was obviously
frightened." 

  Mr Fisk said he fought back and began lashing out at the mob, whose
numbers had now swelled to about 100. 

 He knocked a couple of his attackers to the ground but was then rescued by
a Muslim religious leader, who forced the mob back and guided him to a
police wagon.

  "Without his intervention I would now be dead," he said. 

 'I can understand'

  But Mr Fisk said he could understand the refugees' anger, as many had
relatives who had been killed by the US bombing of Afghan city Kandahar
last week.

  "It doesn't excuse them for beating me up so badly but there was a real
reason why they should hate Westerners so much. 

 "I don't want this to be seen as a Muslim mob attacking a Westerner for no
reason. They had every reason to be angry - I've been an outspoken critic
of the US actions myself. If I had been them, I would have attacked me." 

  Mr Fisk is not the first UK journalist to be injured since the US-led
action in Afghanistan began.

 Last month ITV news correspondent Andrea Catherwood sustained minor
injuries in a Taleban suicide attack near the Afghan city of Kunduz, which
killed three people and seriously wounded a Northern Alliance commander. 

  Eight killed

  BBC reporter William Reeve escaped unhurt when a bomb landed in the
building next to his Kabul office.

 And eight journalists have been killed - the latest a Swedish TV cameraman
shot dead in a believed robbery attempt on his home.

 Two French and one German reporter were killed in northern Afghanistan in
a Taleban ambush on an opposition convoy.

 An Australian, Afghan, Italian and Spanish press group were shot dead in
an ambush on the road to Jalalabad.

 =====

 In 1995 Mark Bruzonsky had a lengthy two-hour exclusive interview with
Robert Fisk which then became a series of four MERTV programs, 117-120. 
These are among the limited MERTV programs available to be watched at this
time at  http://www.mertv.org>MERTV.Org. 

[END]

=====

Thought for the Day:

"Nothing can come out of the artist that is not in the man."

(H.L. Mencken)