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Left Foot Forward > Published by Alex Hern, December 16th 2011 at 10:33 am

Christopher Hitchens 1949 – 2011

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Christopher Hitchens has died at the age of 62. He was a man who made his decisions based on what he believed the evidence showed rather than following perceived wisdom or adopting off-the-peg ideologies.

This led to his outspoken support of the Iraq war, but also his equally passionate condemnation of torture, and firm belief that waterboarding falls in that category.

He was so determined in his quest for understanding that he even underwent waterboarding himself in an “effort to understand the human cost of America’s use of harsh tactics at Guantánamo and elsewhere.”

His courage and integrity were a lesson to all journalists, and he will be missed.

See also:

• How the 9/11 response changed Britain – Ben Mitchell, September 11th 2011

• Here’s to Reagan: his kind light up our political world – Anthony Painter, July 4th 2011

• How Cameron is already undermining his NHS pledges – Trevor Cheeseman, June 7th 2011

• George W Bush is wrong – waterboarding only helps our enemies – George Readings, November 10th 2010

• Today give platform to climate denier – Joss Garman, September 16th 2009

  • http://twitter.com/cutchswife/status/147625423684108289 cutchswife

    Christopher Hitchens 1949 – 2011: http://t.co/rwsMTtpM

  • http://twitter.com/samsimonnorris/status/147626435543179264 Sam Simon-Norris

    Christopher Hitchens 1949 – 2011: http://t.co/rwsMTtpM

  • http://twitter.com/politicalplanet/status/147627399616540672 Political Planet

    Christopher Hitchens 1949 – 2011: Alex Hern highlights the courage and conviction of Christopher Hitchens who di… http://t.co/TpDw3Hch

  • http://twitter.com/cyborgdave/status/147627660342861824 Dave

    Christopher Hitchens 1949 – 2011: http://t.co/rwsMTtpM

  • http://twitter.com/alpercelikel/status/147628033317158912 Alper Celikel

    Christopher Hitchens 1949 – 2011: http://t.co/rwsMTtpM

  • http://twitter.com/psmirn/status/147628513141325825 PeterSmirniotopoulos

    Christopher Hitchens 1949 – 2011: Alex Hern highlights the courage and conviction of Christopher Hitchens who di… http://t.co/TpDw3Hch

  • http://twitter.com/greenmavis/status/147632999540854785 Mavis Green

    Christopher Hitchens 1949 – 2011: http://t.co/rwsMTtpM

  • http://twitter.com/carolinaw9/status/147635368215326720 carolina murdoch

    RT @leftfootfwd: Christopher Hitchens 1949 – 2011: http://t.co/UxzmhOtw

  • Anonymous

    ‘…and he will be missed.’

    Include me out!

  • http://twitter.com/patronpress/status/147658974739701760 Patron Press – #P2

    #UK : Christopher Hitchens 1949 – 2011 http://t.co/FrNqXYUU

  • Mellie Agon

    “Include me out!” Agreed. Why should I miss someone who supported the murder of hundreds of thousands of people in Iraq?

  • http://twitter.com/georgiemark/status/147660995576332288 georgiemark

    #UK : Christopher Hitchens 1949 – 2011 http://t.co/FrNqXYUU

  • Anonymous

    If I’m correct was he not kicked out of labour for his well strong views.

    P

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Joe-Cottrell-Boyce/223201221 Joe Cottrell-Boyce

    I’m sorry but his support for Iraq had nothing to do with evidence and everything to do with adopting the off-the peg ideologies of Paul Wolfowitz and his neocon chums.

  • http://twitter.com/jakesurrey/status/147709440374747137 Jake Surrey

    Beyond the quips: Christopher Hitchens was a journalist of integrity and courage http://t.co/rwsMTtpM

  • http://twitter.com/georgereadings/status/147729436035399680 George Readings

    Beyond the quips: Christopher Hitchens was a journalist of integrity and courage http://t.co/rwsMTtpM