Anthony Shadid: Journalists’ nightmare in Libya
New York Times reporter Anthony Shadid talks to CNN’s Wolf Blitzer about his harrowing experience as a captive in Libya for six days. This full interview aired during the 6 p.m. ET hour of The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer on CNN today. A highlight and video from the interview are available after the jump; and the full transcript will be posted on CNN.com.
Please credit all usage of the interview to CNN’s The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer
HIGHLIGHT FROM FULL INTERVIEW
THIS IS A RUSH FDCH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, HOST: I know you’re getting ready to go back to the Middle East. Are you ready to go back to Libya?
ANTHONY SHADID, “NEW YORK TIMES”: You know, I don’t think I am, to be honest, Wolf. I think, you know, I very much want to — to continue covering these unbelievable events, I mean events that, you know, a gen — a generation or perhaps more haven’t witnessed in the Arab world. I do want to see that.
But — and I don’t want to — I want to cover that. But I think — I think Libya, at this point, it would probably be taking a few too many risks, at this point, to go back.
BLITZER: I think your family is happy to hear that.
How are they — how are they dealing with the fact that you’re going back to the Middle East?
SHADID: Well, I think my father still wishes that I went to law school. But I think at this point, after — after 15 years of doing this, he’s — he’s kind of resigned himself that — that I’ll be going back, you know, probably sooner rather than later.
BLITZER: Are you going to go to Beirut?
SHADID: I am. I’m the bureau chief in Beirut. And I hope to get to Egypt soon after. I think, you know, a lot of us who — who cover the region just realize that, you know, as — as dramatic as events are elsewhere in the Arab world, Egypt still is the fulcrum in a lot of ways over — over where these rebellions, uprisings and revolutions are going to end up.
BLITZER: Well, thank you very much for joining us.
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