Robert Fisk

Dr Robert Fisk (born 1946, Maidstone, Kent) is a prominent British journalist who currently serves as Middle East correspondent for The Independent newspaper in London.

Related Topics:
1946 - Maidstone - Kent - British - Journalist - Middle East - The Independent - London

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Fisk gained a BA in English and Classics at Lancaster University and a PhD in Political Science, awarded by Trinity College, Dublin in 1985.

Related Topics:
Lancaster - PhD - Trinity College, Dublin - 1985

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From 1972 - 1975 Fisk served as Belfast correspondent for The Times. From 1976 - 1988 he was that newspaper's Middle East correspondent. His first report for The Independent was published on 28 April 1989.

Related Topics:
1972 - 1975 - Belfast - The Times - 1976 - 1988

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During the 2003 Invasion of Iraq and the ensuing U.S.-led occupation of Iraq, Fisk, who speaks fluent Arabic, was stationed in Baghdad and filed many eyewitness reports. He has criticized other journalists based in Iraq for their "hotel journalism", arguing that they were out of touch with the events and atmosphere of the Baghdad streets http://www.robert-fisk.com/articles450.htm.

Related Topics:
2003 Invasion of Iraq - U.S.-led occupation of Iraq - Arabic - Baghdad

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Fisk also covered the Iranian revolution, the Iran-Iraq war, the Persian Gulf War, and the conflict in Algeria. He was one of two Western journalists to stay in Beirut during the Lebanese civil war. His book on the conflict, Pity The Nation, was first published in 1990. Fisk has also reported the Arab-Israeli conflict. He is one of the few Western journalists to have interviewed Bin Laden - three times (all published by The Independent: 6 December 1993; 10 July 1996; 22 March 1997).

Related Topics:
Iranian revolution - Iran-Iraq war - Persian Gulf War - Algeria - Beirut - Lebanese - Arab-Israeli conflict - Bin Laden

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After the U.S. launched its attack on Afghanistan shortly following the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attacks, Fisk was transferred to Pakistan to provide coverage of that conflict. His graphic account of his own beating at the hands of Afghan refugees was published in The Independent of 10 December 2001 http://www.independent.co.uk//eceRedirect?articleId=148210&pubId=55.

Related Topics:
Attack on Afghanistan - September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attack - Pakistan

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On September 20, 2005 Fisk was barred from entering the United States. According to the daily New Mexican, "Fisk was on his way to Santa Fe for a sold-out appearance in the Lannan Foundation?s readings-and-conversations series". Fisk was reportedly told that his papers were not in order (Fisk has subsequently stated that he was using his old passport which did not allow him entry under the waiver system granted to UK citizens).

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