Six SEALs sue AP, reporter

Washington Times ^ | 12/29/04 | Jennifer Harper

[kattracks]

Six Navy SEALs filed a lawsuit against the Associated Press and one of its reporters yesterday, saying the news organization revealed their identities, compromised their security and invaded their privacy by publishing personal photographs in a Dec. 4 story.
    The complaint says AP reporter Seth Hettena used about 40 images from the personal photo-storage Web site of a Navy SEAL wife.

[snip]

 The images were picked up by the Arab press, including Al Jazeera, and have made their way onto a billboard outside U.S. Naval Base Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where detainees from the war on terror are being kept. The billboard design includes swastika symbols and accuses the SEALs of "being Nazis," according to the suit.
    "It was totally reckless. These photos clearly show the guys' faces, which now put their lives at risk, and the lives of their families," said James W. Hutton, an attorney for the SEALs who filed the complaint in the Superior Court of San Diego.

    AP insisted yesterday that there had been no wrongdoing.

    "We believe AP's use of the photos and the manner in which they were obtained were entirely lawful and proper," said Dave Tomlin, assistant general counsel for the organization.
    Mr. Hutton takes issue with AP's implication that the SEAL photos were on par with pictures showing ill treatment of prisoners by U.S. Army personnel in Iraq's Abu Ghraib facility.
    "These photos do not show any prisoner abuse," Mr. Hutton said, but depict "standard procedures during covert actions."

[snip]

"The SEAL photos had obscured the faces of the insurgents. But when the AP published them, they did not bother to obscure the faces of the SEALs. They did not give the Americans the same respect as the insurgents.

[risk]

For your files.

[KneelBeforeZod]

thanks wife!

[Army Air Corps]

Ah, the AP caught with its hand in the Treason cookie jar once again.

[Gunslingr3]

thanks wife!

How did the AP get the photos from her photo storage site? Google Image Search crawl them or something?

[Blowtorch]

media + terrorists vs. America. The Seals are pearls before the media swine.

Between this and the incident where AP photographers just stood around taking pictures while Iraqi poll workers were being murdered in the street, it is clear whose side these devils are on. I hope they string these terrorist helpers up. This makes my blood boil. There is a war going on between the US and the AP and other media outlets. It's high time Uncle Sam fights back. Charges of treason must be filed in these cases and the guilty must pay.

[SAJ]

In the fashion of Alfred, Lord Tennyson:

''Some treason, half treason, more treason onward
''Into betrayal of troops
''ARE the six hundred.''

Or, perhaps even more so-called ''journalists''.

Will someone tell me, PLEASE, when our young men are putting their asses on the line FOR this nation, why the LSM can't even BOTHER to respect these men's efforts? (and to hell with the first alleged FReeper who objects to my non-reference to females, in this context.)

[Auntie Dem]

Why are these SEALS bothering with a lawsuit? They could handle the reporter and the entire AP in a much more effective and personal way....if you get my drift.


Either way, they should end up owning everything the reporter and AP has.

[malia]

What about the call the newspeople received to be at a certain corner at a certain time - they did and witnessed murder by the terrorists.

To get the story they kept quiet!!!

[El Gato]

The images were picked up by the Arab press, including Al Jazeera, and have made their way onto a billboard outside U.S. Naval Base Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where detainees from the war on terror are being kept. The billboard design includes swastika symbols and accuses the SEALs of "being Nazis," according to the suit.

Sounds to me like the Marines at GitMo could use some target practice. With mortars and maybe tube artillery.

[freepatriot32]

They did not give the Americans the same respect as the insurgents.

When have the presstitutes at ap ever given americans the same respect as the insurgents?This shouldnt suprise anyone. I can almost guarantee you that the reporter was hoping and praying to whatever tree or animal he idolatrously worships that all the navy seals he showed would be murdered by what he no doubt considers freedom fighters. If any pictured seal is killed anywhere the reporter should be charged with murder and executed.

[Ruth A.]

I hope this breaks AP's back.

[Prophet in the wilderness]

Me too,,,, I hope the SEALS take them to the bank, maybe ? it's a SNOW BALL effect that will bankrupt the whole MSM.
Why does not these MSM get prosecuted for TRESION ?

[GeronL]

we need to get photo's of AP reporters and put them on billboards with swastika's and see how they like it

[wireplay]

Didn't the USSC recently rule that abortion doctors with targets on their heads were not subject to 1st amendment rights? I think that the a similar ruling would apply here which is that the life of the person trumps the freedom of the press.

BTW, I agree with the ruling and I hope it applies here as well.

[Elle Bee]

insurgents ?????

.

[Susannah]

we need to get photo's of AP reporters and put them on billboards with swastika's and see how they like it

Sounds reasonable to me :^)
And, assuming Scott Ritter is still a citizen of the USA while working for aljazeera, shouldn't he be picked up for treason (according to the Constitution: aiding an enemy during wartime)?

[piasa]

Are AP reporters among those raising a stink over the exposure of Joseph Wilson's CIA wife Valerie Plame - who wasn't even an active covert operative?

[piasa]

The complaint says AP reporter Seth Hettena used about 40 images from the personal photo-storage Web site of a Navy SEAL wife. ... The images were picked up by the Arab press, including Al Jazeera, and have made their way onto a billboard outside U.S. Naval Base Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where detainees from the war on terror are being kept. The billboard design includes swastika symbols and accuses the SEALs of "being Nazis," according to the suit.

[piasa]

Related- US Diplomat puts up Christmas diplay to highlight the persecution of Cuban dissidents, Castro retaliates by putting up Abu Ghraib photos...

Cuba Libre! US Diplomat Makes Castro Squirm