He deserved it

Last updated on July 24th, 2017 at 11:42 am

Robert Fisk has been brutally delayed by a hostile gang of American airport officials:

U.S. immigration officials refused Tuesday to allow Robert Fisk, longtime Middle East correspondent for the London newspaper, The Independent, to board a plane from Toronto to Denver. Fisk was on his way to Santa Fe for a sold-out appearance in the Lannan Foundation’s readings-and-conversations series Wednesday night.

According to Christie Mazuera Davis, a Lannan program officer, Fisk was told that his papers were not in order.

Well, at least they didn’t beat him and pelt him with rocks … although Robert sometimes prefers that.

The controversial British journalist, who is based in Beirut, filed many eyewitness reports on the U.S. invasion of Iraq and criticized Western reporters for “hotel journalism ,” a phrase he coined to describe correspondents who covered the war from heavily fortified hotel suites and offices.

A lot of Fisk fans credit their hero with that phrase. In fact, it pre-dates Fisk by some years.

1. OT joke, but I think it’s a funny one:

   Q: What is George W. Bush’s position on Roe vs. Wade?

   A: He really doesn’t care how people get out of New Orleans.

   Posted by James Waterton on 09/23 at 03:28 AM • permalink

1. LOL! I read Tim’s first sentence as “Robert Fisk has been brutally SLAYED”. (ah well, I live in hope).

   Posted by Deo Vindice on 09/23 at 04:09 AM • permalink

1. Is it true that he was refused an “I” visa on the grounds that he was not a professional journalist?

   Posted by 2dogs on 09/23 at 05:03 AM • permalink

1. Well congratulations Robert you took the road less travelled and always remember it’s the journey that counts not the destination…I’m sure you see it that way when your ego recovers.

   Posted by crash on 09/23 at 05:42 AM • permalink

1. 2dogs – it is probably the “Molly Meldrum” problem.  Although we are on Visa Waiver, the Immigration Dept. (US) insists on a visa (which must be obtained prior to arrival) for scum journalists.  But you are right, he is really the propaganda minister for the terrorists.

   Posted by SezaGeoff on 09/23 at 05:53 AM • permalink

1. Is it too late to hold him in Guantanamo for a while?  He could read Harry Potter to the terrorists.

   Posted by AST on 09/23 at 06:04 AM • permalink

1. Ace CNN reporter, Bernard Shaw and his side kick Peter Arnett, perfected the art during desert storm when they were reporting not only from an hotel room, but from under the bed in the hotel room. 

   Only highly trained professionals with crack editors and fact checkers should try this.

   Posted by blerp on 09/23 at 06:44 AM • permalink

1. If I read the articles correctly Fisk did eventually get through, in that people saw an albino vulture around.
   Bart

   Posted by BCNemmers on 09/23 at 08:50 AM • permalink

1. “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.”

   Glad to know that even Fisk would randomly attack someone because they are a foreigner, hell we all do that from time to time.

   On another note, saw this quote on Boogle, thought you guys would like it 😉

   “I would rather have a German division in front of me than a French one behind me.”
   General George S. Patton.

   Posted by anthony27 on 09/23 at 09:24 AM • permalink

1. Well, Lannan had plenty of other lefty nitwits to go around, so I’m sure they didn’t miss him all that much.

   Posted by RebeccaH on 09/23 at 09:31 AM • permalink

1. Waaaaaiiiit a minnit.  Didn’t fisk invent the internet?  Why are people saying he coined the term hotel reporter?  Was he one?  And dint he invent the term ‘fisking’ for the brisk going over he gives people who confuse opinions with facts?  Innt he the guy who persists in correcting idiot statements by people pretending to be ‘journalists?’ Innt he the guy who first wore a Burberry to identify as an international correpsondent?  Are you trying to confuse me and/or the issue?

   Posted by JorgXMcKie on 09/23 at 12:35 PM • permalink

1. I would comment, but I gotta go take a fisk.

   Posted by joe bagadonuts on 09/23 at 01:44 PM • permalink

1. P. J. O’Rourke introduced me to the phrase ‘reporting from Mahogany Ridge’ – that is, filing your story from the hotel bar.

   This still seems to be a favored approach in Iraq…

   Posted by Parker on 09/23 at 02:03 PM • permalink

1. Fisk can honestly report ‘the beatings will continue until my morale improves’.  And since he’s so obviously unhappy, let slip the punkawallahs of war.

   Posted by Carl H on 09/23 at 08:02 PM • permalink

1. I would comment, but I gotta go take a fisk.

   Shouldn’t that be “…pinch a fisk”????

   Posted by The_Real_JeffS on 09/24 at 03:22 AM • permalink

1. Fisky what a meeting of minds- if I had been them I would have attacked you too…

   Posted by crash on 09/24 at 04:01 AM • permalink

1. Fisk has been in Lebanon so long he is identifying with the mindset.

   Posted by blogstrop on 09/24 at 07:58 AM • permalink

1. Is there any chance at all that we could get together as a group and give him a good drubbing?  He could cry and admit that if he were us, he’d beat him up too?  It might be fun.  I suggest we get a few panty-hose and tie bars of soap in the feet then use those on him.  It worked in boot camp.

   Posted by JorgXMcKie on 09/24 at 01:46 PM • permalink

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