This page is on the journalist Alexander Cockburn. For the Lord Chief Justice of that name, see Sir Alexander Cockburn, 12th Baronet.
Alexander Cockburn (pronounced coburn) (born June 1941) is a radical Irish commentator. He has lived in the United States for many years. Together with Jeffrey St. Clair he edits the political newsletter Counterpunch. Alexander Cockburn also writes the "Beat the Devil" column for The Nation, and a weekly syndicated column for the Los Angeles Times.
Alexander Cockburn was born in Scotland and grew up in County Cork, Ireland. His father was the well-known socialist author and journalist Claud Cockburn. After studying at Oxford, Alexander worked in London as a reporter and commentator, writing extensively for numerous publications, including, the The Nation, The New York Review of Books, Esquire, and Harper's. Alexander Cockburn was asked to leave the The Village Voice after it had emerged that he had accepted money from Palestinian organizations without disclosing this in his middle east commentary. Cockburn is a strident opponent of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq that followed the September 11, 2001 attacks (even going so far as to cite them as evidence of a Tenth Crusade).
Alexander Cockburn has two brothers, Andrew Cockburn and Patrick Cockburn who are also journalists. Cockburn's views have often put him at odds with other writers, especially fellow Nation columnists Eric Alterman and Katha Pollitt. But perhaps Cockburn's biggest rival is former Nation contributor Christopher Hitchens.
Despite his radicalism, Alexander Cockburn seems to have a bemused, almost laid-back tone in his writing, once declaring Gerald Ford America's greatest president for doing the least damage, and also writing about the Lewinsky scandal's entertainment value.
Alexander Cockburn is a regular contributor to the Anderson Valley Advertiser.
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