Washington Post – November 24, 2007:
At long last, prize-winning Associated Press photographer Bilal Hussein may get his day in court. The trouble is, justice won’t be blind in this case — his lawyer will be.
Bilal has been imprisoned by the U.S. military in Iraq since he was picked up April 12, 2006, in Ramadi, a violent town in a turbulent province where few Western journalists dared go. The military claimed then that he had suspicious links to insurgents. This week, Editor & Publisher magazine reported the military has amended that to say he is, in fact, a “terrorist” who had “infiltrated the AP.”
We believe Bilal’s crime was taking photographs the U.S. government did not want its citizens to see. That he was part of a team of AP photographers who had just won a Pulitzer Prize for work in Iraq may have made Bilal even more of a marked man.
In the 19 months since he was picked up, Bilal has not been charged with any crime, although the military has sent out a flurry of ever-changing claims. Every claim we’ve checked out has proved to be false, overblown or microscopic in significance. Now, suddenly, the military plans to seek a criminal case against Bilal in the Iraqi court system in just days. But the military won’t tell us what the charges are, what evidence it will be submitting or even when the hearing will be held.
You vill sign ze papers.
But I cannot sign ze papers!!
You vill sign ze papers.
But I cannot sign ze papers!!
You vill sign ze papers.
But I cannot sign ze papers!!
And vy can you not sign ze papers???
Because you have broken all of my fingers!
The fact that he can walk around in a place where others dare not go, tells me that he’s probably providing intel for the insurgents and they give him protection.
Even if not, sorry, but there are places where taking pictures can get you in trouble.
Take pictures at a rock concert and you’ll get your ass beat by security and they’ll break your equipment.
Try going to Area 51 and take pictures. They’ll just arrest you (if you’re lucky), and shoot you if you don’t comply with their orders.
I’ll bet there’s more to this story than just some innocent journalist being picked on by the big bad American military.
That’s right Big A, give the military and our government the benefit of doubt even though they have proven time and again all they are all lairs. I wouldn’t trust anyone associated with our government farther than I could throw them.
So let me see if I understand this:
This guy is a journalist, therefore, he must by definition be innocent of anything the government charges him with?
Is that what you are saying?
lol #1
@Paperweight
There are charges? The government won’t say what the charges are or what the evidence is. Sounds above board … doesn’t it? Hmmmmm?
Is is the guy that would mysteriously show up at an incident ahead of even the first responders? The charge is that he had inside knowledge of the attacks before they happened. And, whether planted or not, the army found explosives in his apartment.
Regardless, it took too long to more him into the Iraqi judicial system. But, it may have been that the system was not yet up and running fully.
#7, Angus;
I don’t suppose you have any sources for your claims? After all, it’s so secret that you’ve figured it out but the media hasn’t?
I won’t hold my breath…
#2, #4;
Frickin’ sheeple. Go back to the hole you crawled out of and watch your Fox news.
Yeah journalists would never take sides in a war. And this guy was probably a stringer hired by AP, not a regular journalist they flew in.
We already have the case of Israel allegedly murdering Mohammed Al-Dura, with video to prove it. Except it turns out the French TV company was taken to court, and the whole thing was staged. They wanted to create anti-Israeli propaganda.
when journalism itself is outlawed, how will we find who won monday night football?
#8 The claims have been covered in detail on Little Green Footballs. Google is your friend. Try researching before opening your trap next time.
natefrog –
It’s sad that the best “argument” that you and your ilk can come up with is “Fox News!” Yawn.
I wonder why Bilal Hussein was storing bomb making materials and terrorist propaganda papers in his house?
I wonder why Bilal Hussein was storing bomb making materials and terrorist propaganda papers in his house?
Planted evidence much? You seem to think that our government or individual soldiers would not stoop to planting evidence. You just take them at their word that what they say is true.
And you seem to think that news photographers would not do such things, either.
I guess it depends on whom you give the benefit of the doubt, doesn’t it?
paperweight said, >> This guy is a journalist, therefore, he must by definition be innocent of anything the government charges him with? Is that what you are saying?
Let me get this straight: just because this guy MIGHT be guilty of something, he can be jailed for 18 months without charges? Is that why you’re saying?
#11, JJ,
#8 The claims have been covered in detail on Little Green Footballs. Google is your friend. Try researching before opening your trap next time.
Little Green Footballs ranks among the most right wing, Bush supporting, inventive, racist, hate filled sites on the web. The two things they dislike the most are independent journalists and Arabs.
Why don’t you try a little research before spewing your vile accusations. No one knows outside a few in the military what the guy is being held for.
Effen moran.
#15, Frank,
The military held this guy for 1 ½ years. Every time the Associated Press asked they were given a different reason. The idea of subversive material is only the latest thought, but the actual charges haven’t even bee revealed. I wonder, how do all these right wing nuts KNOW the charges when the lawyers representing the guy don’t? Given that, the military does not have much credibility.
POWs generally don’t get lawyers.
#12, Frank;
It’s sad that the best “argument” that you and your ilk can come up with is “Trust our government! Terror, terror! 9/11, 9/11!” Yawn.
I hardly ever post a comment – after all, many of the “comments” I’ve read in response to news stories sound like a Jerry Springer-meets-Judge Judy audience: they’re either judging or ranting at one another. I am very concerned with our responsibility to maintain our freedom AND our civil rights and the imprisonment of Mr. Bilal Hussein is a mere scratch at the surface of the shamefull actions our current government leaders have made in response to the 9/11 attacks. Prime example: extraordinary rendition. My prayers are with Mr. Hussein and his family and I would encourage other readers (particularly those who have commented before me) to continue to review the facts as they are presented. The “alleged” bomb making material found in his apartment were in a storage room adjoining an electrician’s shop located downstairs from his second-story apartment which he did not have access to and the military soldiers needed to, literally, break into. The “insurgent propaganda” was photos he had taken of Iraqi citizens for AP stories. Please take the time to read Paul G. Gardephe’s report posted on the AP web site. Maybe we’re missing the biggest lesson 9/11 ever could have taught us: if it can happen over there, it can most certainly happen right here – to us.