U.S. Will File Criminal Charges Against AP Photographer In Iraq

AP:

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.

Read the whole story: AP

Comments

[christonabike]

The AP needs to set up a public relations campaign similar to the one the BBC set up for their reporter, Alan Johnston, who was held captive in Gaza. A reporter or photographer in a war zone deserves to be respected -- even if they aren't from the West.

If the military or the Iraqi government has evidence then let them show it. After 19 months it can't be so hot that the gov't would fall if it is is revealed in a court. This war has revealed the worst side of our nature, this disrespect for everyone except those who parrot exactly the Bush administration's party line. What would the American public think if our embedded reporters were tried as partisan fighters?

[Ginzaman]

How much you wanna bet that this guys been tortured? Also, will anybody give a s**t if he goes insane like Padilla did?

[thunderwolf]

Some thoughts.
Why does not the US military try him as they have other detyainees? Maybe the evidence they have was produced under 'rigorous interrogation' that would be inadmissible, or controversial in a US based court, even a military one, but would be allowable under Iraqi law?

[politicalreacharound]

What if he is guilty. No wonder the right calls some of you people America Haters. You claim to hate everything America stands for but most of you still live here, go to McDonalds, watch dancing with the stars and are basically overreacting hypocrites. Lets see how this turns out before you start calling it a kangaroo court. And quit acting like terrorist and terrorist sympathizers are good people, you want to cuddle them when they want to blow you up.

[timregler]

Hussein

[timregler]

"Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell explained the decision to bring charges now by saying "new evidence has come to light"

After imprisoning Morrell for 19 months without formal charges or evidence of a crime. This is unbelievably fucked up, and as UNAMERICAN as it gets.

[ftprairiedog]

The only terrorists in Iraq are the merceniary army of Blackwater and the United States military.

[vippy]

I remember the incident with that Italian Photographer who was in Fallujah and she had
evidence and the Army had orders to take her out. Sooner or later that evidence will materialize if the Army has not gotten them all.
She got away with her life, her protector did not. Remember, we used the horrifying white powder in Fallujah and I am sure lots of innocent children got the brunt of it.

[Macready]

so much for justice and rule of law . . . fascist state america . . . the accused is kept incarcerated for crimes . . . what crimes . . .well we will tell you at the trial . . .duh . . .

Impeach Congress . . . get some balls this is yet another blow to the Constitution and rule of law by this corrupt regime.

[RushLimbaughsPutz]

I'm sure he did something bad--that bad Libbbbuurrral reporter--are there any other kind? Who needs news? The White House will tell us what to think from now on. Freedom from truth and justice--its the New American WAy!

[Stormbone]

I love the smell of outrage in the morning. Unfortunately none of it will help this AP photographer. The Cheney has spoken. The will of the Cheney is known. The Cheney leads us all unto a land of prosperity and really swell Kool-Aid. All praise the Cheney. Verily.

[in4success]

soon it will be olberman, stewart, miller, colbert, moyers, and maher (naw, he's a spineless douche and he'll make a deal to peddle their propaganda) --

get ready folks . . .

false-flag terror attack
martial law
suspension of constitution
suspension of elections
and
hail to the great leader: KING GEORGE

i feel it in my bones.
hope i'm wrong.

[paige]

What mushroom have most of you been sitting under? Or rather, which side pays your salary? Sheeeshhhh...Insurgents? Who are they? If this govt. (very credible govt. as we all know) says Iraq has insurgents you all are going to believe this? Ignorant.

I would say MsLiz hit it on the head. Most likely he photographed something he wasn't supposed to because he would know the country better than an American and knew what to photograph. God forbid if the truth would get out. Who knows what the truth is? Only this govt. because, more than any other war in history, too many journalists and photographers are being killed or detained as whatever the govt. can come up with. Give them time, like 19 months, and they will come up with something.

[AKJM]

And our four Senate presidential candidates could not go on record as opposing the Mucasey confirmation.

[Synoia]

Clearly they've copied the Star Chamber, down to its proceedures.