David Ignatius, photo by Diane Walker
Best commentary on international news in any medium
AWARD DATE: 2012
AWARD NAME: Best Commentary 2012
AWARD RECIPIENT: David Ignatius
AWARD RECIPIENT AFFILIATION: The Washington Post
AWARD HONORED WORK: Foreign Affairs
David Ignatius’s insightful writing about the Middle East, informed by his original reporting, was refreshing and illuminating. The judges were especially impressed by his brave visits inside Syria to see first-hand the struggles of the rebel movement. Ignatius’s “48 hours in Syria” is not only a compelling narrative about the rebels, but also an impassioned argument for more direct US support, which might prevent Islamic fundamentalists from gaining an upper hand should Assad fall. “The shower of cash and weapons coming from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and other Arab nations is helping extremist fighters and undercutting any orderly chain of command through the Free Syrian Army,” he warns. In another column, Ignatius reports first hand from Syria on the growing influence of an Al Qaeda-affiliated group. Whether writing about Syria, Egypt or Lebanon, Ignatius provides a level-headed view of the world, while uncovering new information that enhances our understanding. As one judge said, this columnist is “an expert guide” for navigating a complex world full of characters whose motives may be anything but obvious.
Citation for Excellence:
Nicholas D. Kristof
The New York Times
Columns on Human Rights