Slain Reporter Is Recalled as Intrepid on Art or War (Stephen Vincent)

New York Times ^ | August 4, 2005 | ANTHONY RAMIREZ

[68skylark]

For much of his career, Mr. Vincent, 49, a freelance writer, had covered the art world, including museums, auction houses and the antiquities trade. But in September 2001, when he scrambled to the roof of his apartment building in the East Village and saw the second airliner strike the World Trade Center, "I saw the face of evil in that moment," he later told a friend.

Mr. Vincent resolved to go to Iraq, where he lived a hardscrabble life in a $15-a-day hotel and wrote articles about what he regarded as Islamic fascism. He compared his two trips to Iraq to the tours taken by journalists covering the rise of fascism in Europe during the Spanish Civil War.

Mr. Vincent wrote an account of his experience in Iraq after the American invasion titled "In the Red Zone: A Journey Into the Soul of Iraq" (Spence Publishing, 2004) and was at work on a contemporary history of the southern port city of Basra. He had planned to leave Iraq soon.

Mr. Vincent and his Iraqi interpreter were kidnapped on Tuesday evening in Basra, Iraqi and American authorities said yesterday. His body was found north of the city center hours later, and a hospital official said he had been shot three times in the chest. The interpreter, who was also shot, was hospitalized in serious condition.

On Sunday, Mr. Vincent wrote in an Op-Ed column for The New York Times that British military forces in the Basra region had turned a blind eye to large numbers of insurgents infiltrating the Basra police force. That force, he asserted, was becoming a roaming death squad.

Lisa R. Ramaci, 49, Mr. Vincent's wife, released a brief biographical sketch and a statement yesterday. She said her husband was "a brave, honorable, decent and moral person who was murdered...

[68skylark]

I'm really sorry about this news -- just as I was sorry about the death in combat of the writer Michael Kelly, another hero of mine.

Stephen Vincent's wife has asked for donations in lieu of flowers to www.spiritofamerica.net.

[Puppage]

"In the Red Zone: A Journey Into the Soul of Iraq"

A fantastic book about the real Iraqi people & how they feel about the war, etc. How a man goes from writing about art to going into a war zone dressed as a local is beyond me. He was a truly inspired person.

God bless his soul.

[68skylark]

. . . when he . . . saw the second airliner strike the World Trade Center, "I saw the face of evil in that moment," he later told a friend.

This sounds like Vincent. Most journalists don't write about "evil" (unless they're writing an op-ed about the Bush Administration).

But Vincent was one journalist with an actual moral compass. There aren't many like him.

[68skylark]

A fantastic book about the real Iraqi people & how they feel about the war, etc. How a man goes from writing about art to going into a war zone dressed as a local is beyond me. He was a truly inspired person.

I agree. Someone here at FR recommended Vincent's book In the Red Zone. I don't know who it was, but I really appreciate the tip -- it's a great book.

I think Vincent has a lot of messages -- and not always pleasant messages -- for both supporters and opponents of the liberation of Iraq.

[68skylark]

...wrote articles about what he regarded as Islamic fascism.

This "he regarded" phrase from the Times is really snarky. I guess the Times isn't sure about whether the radical, murderous brand of Islam should be called "fascism." Most normal people don't have any problem with the label.

[ChewedGum]

Back in January, I read Vincent's book and it is, in my opinion, a must read book for anyone who has an opinion on Iraq. A review is available here: In the Red Zone.

So sad to see another person who 'gets it' mowed down.

Gum