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Alexander Cockburn (pronounced coburn) (born June, 1941) is a radical Irish journalist well-known for his eloquently-worded polemics. He has lived in the United States for many years. Together with Jeffrey St. Clair he edits the political newsletter Counterpunch. He also writes the "Beat the Devil" column for The Nation, and a weekly syndicated column for the Los Angeles Times.

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, he worked in London as a reporter and commentator, writing extensively for The Village Voice, The New York Review of BooksThe New York Review of Books (or NYRB is a biweekly magazine on literature, culture, and current affairs published in New York which takes as its point of departure that the discussion of important books is itself an indispensable literary activity. The N, Esquire, and Harper'sHarper's Magazine (frequently referred to as just Harper's is a monthly magazine, published in the United States. Harper's made its debut in June 1850, the brainchild of the prominent New York City book-publishing firm Harper & Brothers. The initial press. Cockburn is a strident opponent of the wars in AfghanistanThe United States, with support from the United Kingdom, Australia and the Northern Alliance, invaded Afghanistan in October 2001 as part of its " War on Terrorism" campaign. The military campaign, led by U. general Tommy Franks, was initially dubbed Oper and Iraq2003 Invasion of Iraq Date 02:30 UTC March 20, 2003 April 15, 2003 Place Iraq, Southwest Asia Asia Prelude Iraq disarmament crisis Stated Mission neutralizing alleged weapons of mass destruction, overthrow of Saddam Hussein. Targets alleged weapons of mas that followed the September 11, 2001 attacksThe attacks of September 11, 2001 were a series of coordinated terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001. Nineteen members of the al-Qaida militant Islamist group hijacked four aircraft. They crashed two into the two towers of the (even going so far as to cite them as evidence of a Tenth CrusadeTenth Crusade is a rhetorical device denoting the US-led War on Terrorism in Afghanistan and Iraq that followed the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. The term suggests an analogy between the recent conflict and the his).

Cockburn has two brothers, Andrew CockburnAndrew Cockburn (pronounced coburn is an Irish journalist who has lived in the United States for many years. He is the author of a number of books on defense and international affairs and contributes regularly to Counterpunch''. Cockburn was born in Scotl 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.[1], [2] But perhaps Cockburn's biggest rival is former Nation contributor Christopher Hitchens.[3], [4]

Despite his radicalism, 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.[5]

He is a regular contributor to the Anderson Valley Advertiser.