Nir Rosen
Encyclopedia
Nir Rosen is an American journalist and chronicler of the Iraq War, who resides in Lebanon. Rosen writes on current and international affairs.
, which form the basis of his first book, In the Belly of the Green Bird
(2006). He spent more than two years in Iraq reporting on the Coalition occupation, the relationship between Americans and Iraqis, the development of postwar Iraqi religious and political movements, inter-ethnic and sectarian relations, and the Iraqi civil war.
He has regularly contributed to leading periodicals, such as Atlantic Monthly, the Washington Post, the New York Times Magazine, the Boston Review
, and Harper's. He contributed to the footage of Iraq in Charles Ferguson
's documentary No End In Sight
and was also interviewed for the film. Rosen has written extensively against the surge in Iraq, notably in a March 2008 article for Rolling Stone
.
From 2005 to 2008, Rosen was a fellow at the New America Foundation
. In September 2007, he was the C.V. Starr Distinguished Visitor at The American Academy in Berlin
. On April 2, 2008, Rosen testified before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee
at their hearings on political prospects in Iraq after the surge.
From 2008 to 2011, Rosen was a fellow at the Center on Law and Security at the New York University School of Law
, until his resignation in the wake of his controversial statements about Lara Logan
's sexual assault in Egypt.
In March 2011, Mary Kaldor
, Co-Director at the Center for Global Governance at the London School of Economics had hired Rosen as a research fellow to work on North Africa.. This created controversy due to Mary Kaldor's involvement in the LSE Libya Links
affair. After two days, Rosen resigned from his position as a fellow at the London School of Economics. An LSE spokesman said, “Nir Rosen today resigned his temporary visiting fellowship at LSE—which was an unpaid position.”
account regarding Lara Logan
, Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent for CBS News
, who was beaten and sexually assaulted in the February riots in Egypt. "Jesus Christ, at a moment when she is going to become a martyr and glorified we should at least remember her role as a major war monger," wrote Rosen. Rosen suggested that she was trying to outdo Anderson Cooper
, who was attacked but not sexually assaulted just days before, and that it would have been humorous had Cooper suffered a similar assault, saying "it would have been funny if it happened to Anderson too." Rosen later posted an apology on Twitter and resigned his position as a fellow at New York University
's Center on Law and Security. Rosen stated that he did not read the CBS News press release to which he had linked, and that at the time of his comments he did not know Logan's assault had been sexual.
Journalistic and academic work
Nir Rosen is an American journalist of Israeli origin known for his writings on the rise of violence in Iraq following the 2003 invasion2003 invasion of Iraq
The 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...
, which form the basis of his first book, In the Belly of the Green Bird
In the Belly of the Green Bird
In the Belly of the Green Bird is a 2006 book by Nir Rosen which describes the events in Iraq after the U.S. invasion and the fall of Saddam Hussein. The book builds on nearly three years spent in Iraq observing ordinary life and talking with a wide range of people involved in and affected by the...
(2006). He spent more than two years in Iraq reporting on the Coalition occupation, the relationship between Americans and Iraqis, the development of postwar Iraqi religious and political movements, inter-ethnic and sectarian relations, and the Iraqi civil war.
He has regularly contributed to leading periodicals, such as Atlantic Monthly, the Washington Post, the New York Times Magazine, the Boston Review
Boston Review
Boston Review is a bimonthly American political and literary magazine. The magazine covers, specifically, political debates, literature, and poetry...
, and Harper's. He contributed to the footage of Iraq in Charles Ferguson
Charles H. Ferguson
Charles Henry Ferguson is the founder and president of Representational Pictures, Inc., director and producer of No End In Sight: The American Occupation of Iraq and Inside Job , which won the Academy Award for Best Documentary...
's documentary No End In Sight
No End in Sight
No End in Sight is a 2007 documentary film about the American occupation of Iraq. The film marks the directorial debut of Academy Award winning documentary film producer Charles H. Ferguson. The film premiered January 22, 2007 at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. The film opened in limited release...
and was also interviewed for the film. Rosen has written extensively against the surge in Iraq, notably in a March 2008 article for Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
.
From 2005 to 2008, Rosen was a fellow at the New America Foundation
New America Foundation
The New America Foundation is a non-profit public policy institute and think tank with offices in Washington, D.C. and Sacramento, CA. It was founded in 1999 by Ted Halstead, Sherle Schwenninger, Michael Lind and Walter Russell Mead....
. In September 2007, he was the C.V. Starr Distinguished Visitor at The American Academy in Berlin
American Academy in Berlin
The American Academy in Berlin is a research and cultural institution in Berlin whose stated mission is to foster a greater understanding and dialogue between the people of the United States and the people of Germany.The American Academy was founded in September 1994 by a group of prominent...
. On April 2, 2008, Rosen testified before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee
United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
The United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations is a standing committee of the United States Senate. It is charged with leading foreign-policy legislation and debate in the Senate. The Foreign Relations Committee is generally responsible for overseeing and funding foreign aid programs as...
at their hearings on political prospects in Iraq after the surge.
From 2008 to 2011, Rosen was a fellow at the Center on Law and Security at the New York University School of Law
New York University School of Law
The New York University School of Law is the law school of New York University. Established in 1835, the school offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in law, and is located in Greenwich Village, in the New York City borough of Manhattan....
, until his resignation in the wake of his controversial statements about Lara Logan
Lara Logan
Lara Logan is a South African television and radio journalist, and war correspondent. She is the chief foreign affairs correspondent for CBS News, and a correspondent for CBS's 60 Minutes.-Personal life:...
's sexual assault in Egypt.
In March 2011, Mary Kaldor
Mary Kaldor
Mary Kaldor is a British academic, currently Professor of Global Governance at the London School of Economics, where she is also the Director of its Centre for the Study of Global Governance. She has been a key figure in the development of cosmopolitan democracy...
, Co-Director at the Center for Global Governance at the London School of Economics had hired Rosen as a research fellow to work on North Africa.. This created controversy due to Mary Kaldor's involvement in the LSE Libya Links
LSE Libya Links
The affair of the LSE Libya Links refers to the various connections that existed between the London School of Economics and Political Science and the Libyan government and its leader Muammar Gaddafi and his son Saif al-Islam Gaddafi. The NGO Gaddafi Foundation pledged to donate £1.5 million over...
affair. After two days, Rosen resigned from his position as a fellow at the London School of Economics. An LSE spokesman said, “Nir Rosen today resigned his temporary visiting fellowship at LSE—which was an unpaid position.”
Controversy
In February, 2011 Rosen commented to his TwitterTwitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
account regarding Lara Logan
Lara Logan
Lara Logan is a South African television and radio journalist, and war correspondent. She is the chief foreign affairs correspondent for CBS News, and a correspondent for CBS's 60 Minutes.-Personal life:...
, Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent for CBS News
CBS News
CBS News is the news division of American television and radio network CBS. The current chairman is Jeff Fager who is also the executive producer of 60 Minutes, while the current president of CBS News is David Rhodes. CBS News' flagship program is the CBS Evening News, hosted by the network's main...
, who was beaten and sexually assaulted in the February riots in Egypt. "Jesus Christ, at a moment when she is going to become a martyr and glorified we should at least remember her role as a major war monger," wrote Rosen. Rosen suggested that she was trying to outdo Anderson Cooper
Anderson Cooper
Anderson Hays Cooper is an American journalist, author, and television personality. He is the primary anchor of the CNN news show Anderson Cooper 360°. The program is normally broadcast live from a New York City studio; however, Cooper often broadcasts live on location for breaking news stories...
, who was attacked but not sexually assaulted just days before, and that it would have been humorous had Cooper suffered a similar assault, saying "it would have been funny if it happened to Anderson too." Rosen later posted an apology on Twitter and resigned his position as a fellow at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
's Center on Law and Security. Rosen stated that he did not read the CBS News press release to which he had linked, and that at the time of his comments he did not know Logan's assault had been sexual.
Beliefs & views
Rosen believes that Hezbollah is not a terrorist organization, but rather a "widely popular and legitimate political and resistance movement". In April 2008, when asked by then-Senator Joe Biden what could be done to improve the situation in Iraq, Rosen replied, "As a journalist, I’m uncomfortable advising an imperialist power about how to be a more efficient imperialist power. I don’t think we’re there for the interests of the Iraqi people. I don’t think that’s ever been a motivation."External links
- Nir Rosen's personal blog
- Former Fellow at New America FoundationNew America FoundationThe New America Foundation is a non-profit public policy institute and think tank with offices in Washington, D.C. and Sacramento, CA. It was founded in 1999 by Ted Halstead, Sherle Schwenninger, Michael Lind and Walter Russell Mead....