15 FEBRUARY 2012

He was the most insightful witness of the Arab Spring, and the quickest to pick up the cracks when it eventually happened in Libya. Amongst all the international reporters covering the Middle East, Anthony was by far one of the most informed and best connected. A perceptive analyst, experienced, professional, and talented writer, he first worked for the Boston Globe, went to The Washington Post where he won TWO Pulitzer Prizes in 2002 and 2010, then moved to the New York Times, where his second wife, Nada Bakri works. His Lebanese heritage drove him to search deeper into upcoming developments, gaining more affection for ordinary hardworking innocent people who become undeserving victims of calculating opportunistic politicians.

Anthony Shadid was born in Oklahoma City 43 years ago. He picked up Arabic as he grew interested in Journalism. While his work for the Post gave him an entry in the U.S. Capitol, his Lebanese-sounding family name gave him an entry to Middle East political circles. Most important, his creative talent and professional commitment made him the most prominent international reporter of the Arab Spring. He was recently covering Syria from Beirut. Anthony was actually inside Syria secretly and was moving near the town of Idlib on horseback when he got a lethal asthma attack. His colleagues carried his body back. Besides his wife, he is survived by his son from an earlier marriage, Malik, and his daughter from Nada Bakri, Leila.

At this time, when the Middle East requires balanced insightful coverage most, when the media needs more credible representatives to portray an accurate image of their work, and when people in the United States of America are in dire need to get realistic down-to-earth feedback about a strategically crucial region, the passing away of Anthony Shadid is a very tragic loss. Above all, our heartfelt condolences go to his family, to his friends, and to his media colleagues. We truly mourn him, with heart-broken sadness, as we recognize our human frailty. Farewell, dear Anthony. May the Angels guard you.