Report: Hitchens beaten by pro-Syrian thugs in Beirut? Update: “I was on the ground and getting it in the head”
posted at 4:54 pm on February 18, 2009 by Allahpundit
Look on the bright side: This’ll make for one hell of a Slate column once he gets back.
I can only assume they didn’t recognize him, as the opportunity to scalp one of the world’s foremost atheists surely would have been irresistible.
I dont know if you find this as news worthy or not, but Christopher Hitchens is currently in Beirut sponsored by the same group that owns that crap NOW Lebanon. He got in a few nights ago and surprisingly went out drinking. On his way out of the bar he saw an SSNP poster and wrote on it “Fuck the SSNP”. There just happened to be some SSNP thugs near by–most likely asking people for their ID, and most likely to no avail–and saw him write on the poster and kicked his ass. He is still walking with a limp.
Abu Muqawama says he’s confirmed the story. The SSNP is, of course, a Hezbollah ally that advocates a Syrian anschluss of Lebanon (and Israel, natch). Consider Hitch a minor martyr to the cause of the Cedar Revolution here. Exit question one: More or less unpleasant than being waterboarded? Exit question two: Er, isn’t Ace there with him? Has anyone heard from Ace recently?
Update: Belated exit question three: Is it time for me to organize a mighty atheist army and lead it on a march to Damascus for justice? Yes.
Update: Forbes says Totten was in the mix.
But later that night, three of our “scoop” brigade–Jonathan Foreman, Michael Totten and Christopher Hitchens–got involved in a street brawl with some thugs of a Syria-loving skinhead party called the SNPN after Hitchens rather gallantly insulted their swastika flag. On our way to a meeting with Minister of State Nissib Lahoud, Hitchens showed me the gashed knuckles and bruises suffered during the punch up. The attackers had apparently come out of nowhere on posh Hamda Street, where they had gone to buy shoes. “I was on the ground,” Hitchens said, “and getting it in the head.” It was a miracle they didn’t pull Kalashnikovs.
Note: I changed the headline to reflect that the attackers were pro-Syrian, but not necessarily Syrian in origin.
Update: Ace sets the record straight.
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Can we remove religion completely out of the picture and simply take a little pleasure in seeing a jerkwad get his butt kicked?
Bishop on February 18, 2009 at 5:26 PM
Heh, Allah, you sure kno how to stir the shiite pot don’t you…hehe.
Liberty or Death on February 18, 2009 at 5:26 PM
The guy has the stuff running through his veins. I don’t think he gets drunk anymore unless he’s chugging everclear.
MadisonConservative on February 18, 2009 at 5:26 PM
Old saying, Fine line between hardcore and stupid.
You need to always make sure which side of that line you are on.
Just A Grunt on February 18, 2009 at 5:26 PM
Let’s hope he’s okay.
Richard Romano on February 18, 2009 at 5:26 PM
I have the impression you’ve never been to Beirut. You get killed there for being at certain political protests, like last week.
TTheoLogan on February 18, 2009 at 5:27 PM
Richard Dawkins would get beat in Beirut?
I’m telling you, AP really needs to be replaced with someone(not me) that knows more of what they are talking about.
TTheoLogan on February 18, 2009 at 5:28 PM
I can’t know what he’d do sober. However, religious beliefs aside, this is the guy who, at the risk of his family, kids included, hid Salman Rushdie in his apartment, with no security protection, even though he was offered such, until that dumb chick from the NYT, Maureen Dowd wrote about it. At that point they had to move Rushdie.
It’s so sad that otherwise smart people can’t separate logic from belief or emotion. We’re no better, sadly. I always accuse the left of such nonsense.
Entelechy on February 18, 2009 at 5:28 PM
That’s because you’re a pious, narcissistic oaf and a fundamentalist, which is a wunnnnderful combination to win people to your side. You’re no different than a militant atheist.
MadisonConservative on February 18, 2009 at 5:28 PM
I don’t see any parallels between the story you offer and Hitchen’s episode, save they both happened at night. Hitchens wasn’t randomly mugged. He might as well have brought a spotlight with him.
Look, I’m not wishing Hitchey ill. I think he’s a great writer, but a puzzling sort. However, had he just stumbled on home sans magic marker, none of this would have happened.
I wish him well, hope he heals quickly, gets home safe, and doesn’t do stupid shit like this ever again.
wccawa on February 18, 2009 at 5:28 PM
Woops, read that wrong.
Beirut is far more dangerous than Texas. They regularly assassinate people over political matters.
TTheoLogan on February 18, 2009 at 5:29 PM
Oh no Not Hitchens “For the Love Of God” There that should cover you all LOL!
Dr Evil on February 18, 2009 at 5:29 PM
I did not read thru all the posts so I hope I am not repeating but AP, please realize that the Road to Damascus may cause you to find religion. You would not be the first
dentalque on February 18, 2009 at 5:29 PM
Too funny….
It’s all some big theoretical concept to some people until they get a nice cold bite of a reality sandwich.
You are either a woman or a man who has never been really drunk. The call it, “liquid courage” for a reason.
TheBigOldDog on February 18, 2009 at 5:30 PM
Sorry AP, but what Hitchens did WAS asking for it. In fact, I don’t think any better way to ask for it exists…even walking over to them and literally asking them to beat him would have drawn some raised eyebrows instead of the intended beating.
James on February 18, 2009 at 5:30 PM
Win.
John_Locke on February 18, 2009 at 5:30 PM
If Christ were here there is one thing he would not be — a Christian.
- Mark Twain
MB4 on February 18, 2009 at 5:31 PM
No, because she’s civilized. Would Wilders get this treatment? No. Would Madalyn Murray O’Hair? YES.
Dawkins is as much of a psycho as Hitchens. I think it’s pretty sad that you can’t even think of an example of a decent atheist on your own.
Darth Executor on February 18, 2009 at 5:31 PM
It seems to me that the folks who think Hitchens behaved foolishly did not bring up the religion stuff, the people criticizing them did. And, of course, Allah did.
Personally, I had no idea about Hitchens’ religious beliefs until I re-read AP’s post and saw the reference to him being a famous atheist.
Hitchens has his moments, but I think he was a tool about the water boarding stuff so I really don’t take him that seriously.
Y-not on February 18, 2009 at 5:31 PM
Hasn’t Obama smacked “islamofascism” a few times?
TTheoLogan on February 18, 2009 at 5:31 PM
Thank you for your admission of defeat, it’s not often I run into an opponent as gracious as you are.
Darth Executor on February 18, 2009 at 5:32 PM
And the irony of all this?
If any of you that are chuckling like middle schoolers were in the same situation as Hitch, dips***s that you are, I’d still be more pissed that an American, particularly a conservative one, was beaten by a bunch of Syrian Hezbollah-licking creeps.
MadisonConservative on February 18, 2009 at 5:32 PM
I hope he’s okay… But seriously getting drunk at a bar and defacing posters of a facist Islamic group in the Middle East is many things, but brave isn’t one of it… I’d think more along the lines of moronic, boneheaded, something you’d expect from a twenty year old frat guy.
Illinidiva on February 18, 2009 at 5:32 PM
It’s so sad that otherwise smart people can’t separate logic from belief or emotion. We’re no better, sadly. I always accuse the left of such nonsense.
Entelechy on February 18, 2009 at 5:28 PM
I’m not going to put the guy on a pedestal for doing something stupid; hiding Rushdie was STOOOPID for putting his family at risk when real security was available.
Hitchy did something dumb and paid the price, it happens all the time.
Bishop on February 18, 2009 at 5:32 PM
Ha. Do you believe him?
John_Locke on February 18, 2009 at 5:33 PM
He’s not really conservative.
John_Locke on February 18, 2009 at 5:34 PM
You can’t be serious.
Since you are in NYC, the next time you ride the subway, walk up to one of the transit cops, and loudly tell him you have rights, he is not going to look in your back pack. Call him a nazi thug, the give him a good hard shove.
Because, by god, you have rights, and no one is going to take them away from you….
and if you want to spray a little graffiti on the walls, well, go ahead, you have the right to free speech,and free expression. Do you have a good lawyer?
Skandia Recluse on February 18, 2009 at 5:34 PM
It’s all John McCain’s fault, I’m sure. Or perhaps it’s because GW Bush just “used” the religiocons for 8 years. Thank God the Obamassiah is ready to enter into a dialog with them, or something. That will help them to properly express those Fruits of the Spirit that Paul discussed.
funky chicken on February 18, 2009 at 5:34 PM
That story is not a good parallel.
Spirit of 1776 on February 18, 2009 at 5:34 PM
I like Hitch, met him a couple of times and I hope he is OK but I have to admit this news made me chuckle a bit.
It will indeed make a memorable column.
RobCon on February 18, 2009 at 5:34 PM
Not really joiners, are you?
Jim Treacher on February 18, 2009 at 5:35 PM
Conservative doesn’t mean a person isn’t a nitwit.
I’ll still take my countrymen over theirs.
MadisonConservative on February 18, 2009 at 5:35 PM
The size of the ego is not a good measure of a man…
d1carter on February 18, 2009 at 5:35 PM
Update: Belated exit question three: Is it time for me to organize a mighty atheist army and lead it on a march to Damascus for justice? Yes.
Yeah, defo, AP. Wear a uniform that is befitting of the position, too.
Seriously, though, I have real disagreements with Hitch on many issues, but I’m sorry to hear about this.
Don’t Drink and
DriveScribble!Cody1991 on February 18, 2009 at 5:35 PM
Don’t drink & draw.
MDWNJ on February 18, 2009 at 5:35 PM
You’re joking, but it’s more serious than you realize. Take that CBN lemming Brody for example, whining about how Bush did nothing for evangelicals(bull), but at least Obama wants a serious dialog.
TTheoLogan on February 18, 2009 at 5:35 PM
Hitchens is a pathetic little man who somehow think his actions should not have consequences. Maybe this will teach him a valuable lesson.
And I hope they catch and punish his attackers for the same reason.
AaronGuzman on February 18, 2009 at 5:35 PM
I’m no fundamentalist, but I had to laugh at the last line:
“Belated exit question three: Is it time for me to organize a mighty atheist army and lead it on a march to Damascus for justice? Yes.”
Remind me what happened last time an atheist was marching to Damascus? ;p
ashleymatt on February 18, 2009 at 5:35 PM
wccawa on February 18, 2009 at 5:28 PM
Also, nothing would have happened to him if he would have stayed here, and not have gone on this trip…
Entelechy on February 18, 2009 at 5:35 PM
Nice choice of words. Looks like the SSNP thugs weren’t as impressed with his command of vocabulary, and apparent intellect, as most Americans are. Let’s hope the old boy is alright, atheist or not, does it really matter?
Acrobat on February 18, 2009 at 5:36 PM
Dawkins probably “sympathizes” with the Syrian thugs’ supposed “political goals,” so he wouldn’t be defacing their posters.
Illinidiva on February 18, 2009 at 5:36 PM
Hitchens was asking for it. It’s just a good thing for him that he did not further provoke them by wearing a short skirt and stockings.
MB4 on February 18, 2009 at 5:36 PM
Nor American.
Beo on February 18, 2009 at 5:36 PM
Yes, because all of that is comparable to taking a Sharpie to a poster.
*groan*
MadisonConservative on February 18, 2009 at 5:36 PM
I’m with you on the American part. Even if he is a liberal he doesn’t deserve to get his @ss kicked.
John_Locke on February 18, 2009 at 5:37 PM
Fine. Just don’t be for beating me up.
Entelechy on February 18, 2009 at 5:37 PM
That might have worked well for Hannibal, but he was an alpha-type. Might elgeneralisimo suggest unleashing a deadly swarm of modified hump-bots prior to your triumphant entrance…
elgeneralisimo on February 18, 2009 at 5:37 PM
Actually I think he’s naturalized now.
John_Locke on February 18, 2009 at 5:37 PM
That is admirable. To say the least.
Spirit of 1776 on February 18, 2009 at 5:37 PM
FTFY
wccawa on February 18, 2009 at 5:38 PM
Y-not on February 18, 2009 at 5:31 PM
If you take the religion out of if, this could be a drunk dude getting kicked around in Liverpool for yelling out the name of Manchester United, or a Red Sox fan defacing a Yankees logo in NYC.
A man should know his limitations and Hitchy either forgot or never knew his in this situation.
Bishop on February 18, 2009 at 5:38 PM
All of these posts and not one person has brought up a “fire” and “crowded theater” reference yet.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on February 18, 2009 at 5:39 PM
Are you crazy? He became a citizen, after 9/11.
Look, I abhor the fact that he went for Obama, but I can’t wish anyone to be beaten up, or killed, unless he’s Osama bin Laden, or his adherents, or a hard core criminal.
Entelechy on February 18, 2009 at 5:39 PM
because all who engage in outrageous acts of rebellion against fascists deserve to get that beating, and deserve to be mocked for their foolishness?
hopefully Americans won’t have the opportunity to be mocked for opposing fascism on our own soil any time soon.
funky chicken on February 18, 2009 at 5:39 PM
He’s been dead to me since the Slate article smacking down Palin. When you are in a foreign country you have no business writing anything on their posters on walls. I have no sympathy.
BrideOfRove on February 18, 2009 at 5:40 PM
Having spent a lot of time in Lebanon, I don’t think this had much if anything to do with religion. There are plenty of religious parties, it’s just that hezbollah has the most guns. The syrian parties are secular, and aligned with hezbollah. The Lebanese are violent about politics, and Christopher Hitchens would have gotten the same exact response if he was shiite, sunni, hindu, christian, catholic, etc.
TTheoLogan on February 18, 2009 at 5:40 PM
Hitchens got his ass kicked for committing vandalism. Not quite the same as some chick in skimpy clothes getting raped without instigating it.
Darth Executor on February 18, 2009 at 5:40 PM
Against true fascism?
+1
MadisonConservative on February 18, 2009 at 5:40 PM
Yes it is. If you don’t believe me, feel free to
insultdiss your local gang banger.Skandia Recluse on February 18, 2009 at 5:40 PM
HA! Love it.
Topsecretk9 on February 18, 2009 at 5:40 PM
Naw, that’s not what I meant. Look, I wish him well. But having traveled overseas myself, I make it an absolute not to purposefully act like a douchebag.
What amazes me is that he even remotely considered doing such a thing. What kind of booze was he drinking? lol
wccawa on February 18, 2009 at 5:40 PM
What if it was Boston (say Southie), and he walked into a bah and he wrote “Bostons sucks”. Discuss.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on February 18, 2009 at 5:40 PM
My bad on the naturalization. Your bad on the notion that I or anybody else on here “wish” for him to be beaten. HE is the one who made that wish, and experienced its fulfillment.
Beo on February 18, 2009 at 5:41 PM
Oh, well that makes it all right then.
MadisonConservative on February 18, 2009 at 5:41 PM
Never.
I’m not for him getting beaten up (of course), he just didn’t show discretion at all. When in Rome, and all that. Hopefully he’ll be right as rain soon.
Spirit of 1776 on February 18, 2009 at 5:41 PM
Should all who’re not be beaten?
Entelechy on February 18, 2009 at 5:41 PM
It’s easy to have stones when you’re drunk, backing it up is a much different story.
I have a phrase “get drunk and be someone” that I use whenever I see someone drunk trying to be a bad-azz and end up getting their azz kicked! In othr words, their drunk mouth is writing checks their body can’t cash!
I don’t particularly like Hitchens and the only thing I agree with him on are his views about fascist Islam, but I do not wish him any ill will and I hope he and ACE are ok.
Liberty or Death on February 18, 2009 at 5:42 PM
Thank you, dear….you’re too good to me.
Patrick S on February 18, 2009 at 5:42 PM
He got drunk, did something stupid and got his a$$ beat. It happens here everyday. And it doesn’t matter who you are Alcohol + Stupidity = a$$ whooping
Guest1.1 on February 18, 2009 at 5:42 PM
Should be filed under Stupid Things Alcoholics Do.
snaggletoothie on February 18, 2009 at 5:42 PM
He would be beaten and then his grammar would be mocked.
Beo on February 18, 2009 at 5:43 PM
Yeah. I think we’re in agreement.
I can endure the injection of religion into some of the threads (although I think it gets out of hand and takes discussions way off topic), but doing it on this one seems silly and merely designed to poke a stick at some of our more fervent Christians at HA. And I think that in this case it’s undeserved. For once, the people who are supposedly not religious (but strangely fixated on religion) started it.
Y-not on February 18, 2009 at 5:43 PM
A man should know his limitations and Hitchy either forgot or never knew his in this situation.
Bishop on February 18, 2009 at 5:38 PM
Yeah, well… he was drinking. Not very smart. But I would be very interested to know if, in Hitch’s opinion, this experience was worse than being water-boarded.
Seriously.
Cody1991 on February 18, 2009 at 5:43 PM
Dittos.
How about we try to set a better example?
The ultimate Pot meets Kettle moment.
Buy Danish on February 18, 2009 at 5:43 PM
Actually, how about I go do the same thing, and deface a political sign? Maybe I’ll hold up a poster with blood dripping from Bush’s mouth.
Hey, not only can I get away with it, I’ll be featured on tons of websites as a hero!(not saying this is a good thing…it’s sarcasm)
Now let’s go over there and do the same thing. Oops, I got beat up.
Well, it was over there, so that makes it all right.
MadisonConservative on February 18, 2009 at 5:44 PM
Many of us applauded the man that electrified his McCain/Palin signs because he got tired of them getting defaced and stolen.
Now we’re supposed to cheer Hitchens for defacing a poster simply because the poster he defaced is an ideology we disagree with?
Either it’s wrong or it’s not.
He was a guest in another country and took that opportunity to deface the property of some of their citizens with a profanity.
While I do not think he should have been beaten, I do believe that he should be subject to any anti-vandalism and anti-obscenity laws that they have.
I wish him the best and hope he recovers quickly; however, I will not glorify his actions as if they were anything more than petty vandalism (whether I agree with his sentiments or not).
JadeNYU on February 18, 2009 at 5:44 PM
Or Charles Johnson.
/sarc
Y-not on February 18, 2009 at 5:45 PM
Hitch was just speaking truth to power.
I agree with him sometimes, disagree other times. “Vandalism” or not is no reason to get beaten up.
rbj on February 18, 2009 at 5:45 PM
Since nobody else will say it, I will: The thugs shouldn’t have beaten the drunken man for publicly disrespecting them on their own turf. It was a bad thing they did.
Jim Treacher on February 18, 2009 at 5:45 PM
Hitchens still asking for proof of the existence of God? Or if God just has a sense of humor LOL!
Dr Evil on February 18, 2009 at 5:45 PM
because all who engage in outrageous acts of rebellion against fascists deserve to get that beating, and deserve to be mocked for their foolishness?
hopefully Americans won’t have the opportunity to be mocked for opposing fascism on our own soil any time soon.
funky chicken on February 18, 2009 at 5:39 PM
No, because Hitch can be a first-class jerkwad outside of engaging in “outrageous acts of rebellion against fascists.”
Like I said, it was a stupid move on his part and he paid the price, lesson learned. I’m not going to make the man a martyr because he was dumb enough to deface a poster in a neighborhood that contained people who might take offense to his actions, regardless of how moronic they are too.
Bishop on February 18, 2009 at 5:46 PM
Hitchens is limping around today well that’s some kind of proof of something he is still sucking air.
Dr Evil on February 18, 2009 at 5:46 PM
Since nobody else will say it, I will: The thugs shouldn’t have beaten the drunken man for publicly disrespecting them on their own turf. It was a bad thing they did.
Jim Treacher on February 18, 2009 at 5:45 PM
wccawa on February 18, 2009 at 5:47 PM
Beo, I understand your comment. Here’s a thought – some Obamaite displays a Lenin-like picture. You, or I, walk over and scribble “foxtrott yankee” on it – should we be beaten up?
I find it amazing that with his history he even went there.
1. He should have been guarded.
2. He should not drink, alone, and then do stupid things.
3. No one should condone beating or killing in this case, no matter what his political or religious views are.
4. All can at any time disagree with him.
Entelechy on February 18, 2009 at 5:47 PM
You’re missing the point. This has nothing to do with jihadists.
TTheoLogan on February 18, 2009 at 5:47 PM
No, that makes you a fool for not knowing when and where to keep your big mouth shut. Is this so hard to understand? You poke a bear in a cage or you poke a bear in the woods. Same actions, different levels of idiocy, different results.
Beo on February 18, 2009 at 5:47 PM
The Supreme Court would not uphold the argument that vandalism of property = protected free speech, so yeah, AP, he was asking for it.
Does that make it any less screwed up? No. This is a hellhole, and the fact that it wasn’t some redneck jackass, but rather a Brit intellectual that got beat up probably will help illuminate that fact to people who otherwise would have ignore the news.
jimmy the notable on February 18, 2009 at 5:47 PM
Buy Danish,
Again, my comment was a response to Allahpundits’ comment that Christians wanted him beaten up because he’s an atheist. He was stereotyping again. I was in no way saying I wished Hitchens had gotten beaten up. Of course, that’s not something I agree with.
terryannonline on February 18, 2009 at 5:48 PM
You just hate him because he’s an atheist, or something!
Jim Treacher on February 18, 2009 at 5:49 PM
Mr. Madison, I know you. You are smarter than this, and you are just being willfully silly.
Have you ever been outside the United States? You must know that what we can do here is much different that what you can do in other countries. You have to know that.
Skandia Recluse on February 18, 2009 at 5:49 PM
Its not that he’s an atheist, its that he’s (probably) a Palin-hater! That’s the real reason I wanted him beat up!
jimmy the notable on February 18, 2009 at 5:49 PM
Should you be beaten? No. Should you be surprised if you are? No. Shouting Foxtrot Yankee at anyone at anytime will likely produce a Whiskey Tango Foxtrot response followed quickly by a fist sandwich. Regardless.
Beo on February 18, 2009 at 5:50 PM
Am I really that transparent?
Damn!
wccawa on February 18, 2009 at 5:50 PM
Plenty were. The more rational posters said it was a stupid choice to make. The rest simply giggled in glee because they hate his stance on religion. The latter is appalling.
MadisonConservative on February 18, 2009 at 5:50 PM
A God-hating drunk get’s what he deserves.
The only disappointment is that no Christian had the guts to do it.
YAAARRRGGHHHH on February 18, 2009 at 5:50 PM
Grizzly Man 2: Dipsomaniac Boogaloo
Jim Treacher on February 18, 2009 at 5:50 PM
He’s got plenty of them when he’s not drunk, religion and political views aside. So much written against the terrorists and see this
Entelechy on February 18, 2009 at 5:28 PM
Entelechy on February 18, 2009 at 5:51 PM
Dude, you’re saying exactly what Allahpundit wants to hear. Quit it.
jimmy the notable on February 18, 2009 at 5:51 PM
Guess I missed those.
Jim Treacher on February 18, 2009 at 5:51 PM
How christian of you.
Entelechy on February 18, 2009 at 5:52 PM
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