August 27, 2007
The Accidental War Correspondent
I'm almost finished with my next dispatch from Iraq and should have it published later today. While I'm wrapping that up, take a look at food journalist Anthony Bourdain's hour-long TV episode from Beirut last year. Someone did us the favor of uploading it to You Tube. Bourdain went to Lebanon to film a show about restaurants, but he went in July and ended up as a war correspondent of sorts on accident until he was rescued by the Marines.
He did a better job covering Lebanon than many, if not most, foreign correspondents even though he's "only" a food journalist. Somebody should give him a prize.
Posted by Michael J. Totten at August 27, 2007 12:32 PMThis is off topic, but does anyone have an opinion of the following breaking story:
http://patdollard.com/2007/08/27/consensus-on-key-areas-of-national-reconciliation/#more-2823
Is this good news or public relations posturing?
Tom in South Texas
Posted by: Tom at August 27, 2007 02:05 PMHis experience, the way the expressed what he went thru, and the manner in which he was treated by the Marines, was extraordinary. Hmmm, reminds me of someone else .
I am not certain exactly what he is, but agree that it is not just "only a chef/food critic".
Thanks for increasing the exposure to Mr. Bourdain (who writes a rather good book himself).
Posted by: Ron Snyder at August 27, 2007 05:35 PMBourdain rocks. I've been a fan of his since I read "Kitchen Confidential" a couple of years ago... and his Travel Network program never fails to enthrall (and this, from a dedicated non-TV watcher).
It's funny, I was discussing this very program with my wife tonight. This was journalism at its absolute best, and the usually gruff and semi-macho Bourdain does nothing to try to cloak his fear or his gratitude upon being rescued by the Marines. And the lack of anti-Israeli propaganda was refreshing too.
I heard that Bourdain won an Emmy for this show. He deserves it (and so do you, Michael).
Posted by: Pete (Alois) at August 27, 2007 06:17 PMBourdain is excellent TV. I haven't read his book, which by all accounts is pretty good, but on TV he's turned food exploration into an artform.
Posted by: anon at August 28, 2007 11:40 AMThat was the best TV reporting I've seen from Lebanon on the war. And the lamb stew looked good too.
Posted by: Bruno at August 28, 2007 07:02 PM
