Marie Colvin, Another Western Journalist Die in Syria

The deaths of Marie Colvin of the London Sunday Times and of a French photographer in Syria, coming so soon after the unexpected death of Anthony Shadid (though he died of an asthma attack, not from gunfire), naturally helps focus attention on the carnage in Syria. One can, of course, and should, note that over 5,000 Syrians have died at the hands of the Asad government (and probably many more), and that their names have not made the headlines. But the role of the foreign media in calling attention to what is going on despite Syrian government determination to keep the media out is an example of the role foreign correspondents can play, despite the risks. Journalists operating in Syria without government sanction are risking all to get the story out, and are a credit to their profession.