Posted on 11/19/2007 5:18:12 PM PST by period end of story
NEW YORK - The U.S. military plans to seek a criminal case in an Iraqi court against an award-winning Associated Press photographer but is refusing to disclose what evidence or accusations would be presented.
An AP attorney on Monday strongly protested the decision, calling the U.S. military plans a "sham of due process." The journalist, Bilal Hussein, has already been imprisoned without charges for more than 19 months.
In Washington, Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell explained the decision to bring charges now by saying "new evidence has come to light" about Hussein, but said the information would remain in government hands until the formal complaint is filed with Iraqi authorities.
Morrell asserted the military has "convincing and irrefutable evidence that Bilal Hussein is a threat to stability and security in Iraq as a link to insurgent activity" and called Hussein "a terrorist operative who infiltrated the AP."
AP Associate General Counsel Dave Tomlin rejected the claim: "That's what the military has been saying for 19 months, but whenever we ask to see what's so convincing we get back something that isn't convincing at all."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Add the publishers of the Post-Intelligencer and the NY Times and you have a good start.
Hang him high...
Morrell asserted the military has "convincing and irrefutable evidence that Bilal Hussein is a threat to stability and security in Iraq as a link to insurgent activity" and called Hussein "a terrorist operative who infiltrated the AP."
There must be some serious dirt on this guy...I wonder if his name popped up on a terrorist laptop.
No activist journalism here...
Hmmmmm, AP or the military? That’s a tough call. Can we expand the AP defendant(s) list at a later date? I don’t think this charge should be limited to the AP employees in Iraq.
Ping of interest.
Sounds like a fair and balanced plan.
Since Bilal is from Fallujah, my guess would be that some of his former insurgent buddies are among those who have come over to the allies, and they have provided the goods on him. If that is the case, it could be serious indeed.
Bloggers have also played a major role in exposing Bilal and his AP handlers:
The Jawa Report: AP Photog & Terrorist Propagandist Bilal Hussein to be Charged
Sweetness & Light: US To Charge AP Photographer Collaborator
Michelle Malkin: Bilal Hussein case update: Military to bring charges, AP complains
He shares a name with a certain presidential candidate and a late murderous dictator.
Next thing we'll hear are accusations that Red Crescent ambulances are being used to haul explosives, weapons and ammunition!
Has the US government no shame?
Perhaps his Al Zarqawi reference letter and Osama Bin Laden day school experience on his resume finally surfaced (both big plusses for getting hired by the AP...though Reuters no doubt made a play for such a candidate, as well).
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