They finally let him go.

[JBrunner]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080416/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_photographer_freed

 

[keeds]

-deleted- I promised myself not to be so cynical...

 

[Michel Hardy-Vallée]

It's a bad season for those named Hussein.

 

[Kino]

Good news.

 

[mark]

The last paragraph sums it up.

Unless the "journalist" is "embedded" and towing the party line they are suspect.

 

[JBrunner]

I don't actually mind them suspecting somebody. I don't mind them arresting somebody.

The atrocity, and it is an outright atrocity, is holding somebody for two years without process. Americans should be rioting in the streets, oh, but Dancing with the Stars is on, so maybe later.

 

[patrickjames]

I find the whole thing disgusting. It is only a matter of time before it starts happening here.

 

[mark]

I don't actually mind them suspecting somebody. I don't mind them arresting somebody.

The atrocity, and it is an outright atrocity, is holding somebody for two years without process. Americans should be rioting in the streets, oh, but Dancing with the Stars is on, so maybe later.

who is winning?......Oh wait, were we talking about something?

 

[sausage100uk]

In the words of Bill Hicks "Go back to sleep America...here's more American Gladiators! you are free......free to do what we tell you!" Unfortunately we in Blighty seem to be going the same way.....not that I would dissaprove....me being a model citizen and all.....(BBIWY)

 

[middy]

People being arrested by the military and held without trial in a war zone during a war?

Say it isn't so! What is the world coming to?

I think we need some perspective here. From what I know of military history, almost any other army in any other time in history would have simply shot him out of hand just on suspicion of collaborating with illegal combatants.

 

[jkittelberger]

People being arrested by the military and held without trial in a war zone during a war?

Say it isn't so! What is the world coming to?

I think we need some perspective here. From what I know of military history, almost any other army in any other time in history would have simply shot him out of hand just on suspicion of collaborating with illegal combatants.

Yeah that's right, let's get some perspective. The guy was an AP photographer and he was held for two years without a trial. And it's not like this was an isolated incident.

If you're going to arrest him fine. Then charge him with something and put him on trial.

The perspective will come when it's not him, but you or your family.

 

[walter23]

Yes. Obviously a journalist, to cover a war story properly, is going to maintain contacts with the other side. It only makes sense.

Holding him prisioner was clearly politically motivated rather than an issue of security.

I don't actually mind them suspecting somebody. I don't mind them arresting somebody.

The atrocity, and it is an outright atrocity, is holding somebody for two years without process. Americans should be rioting in the streets, oh, but Dancing with the Stars is on, so maybe later.

 

[haris]

So, they held him in prison for 2 years, never put him on trial, and then freed him as nothing happened. And it was done by country who love to call itself democracy. Nothing new from land of the brave and home of the free. Altough, I am glad for Bilal and his familly finally it is over.

 

[middy]

haris, are you some kind of comedian? Because you're not very funny.

 

[jd callow]

I know its a fine line with subjects like this one, but please try to keep the thread on topic and out of thr soap box.

 

[gr82bart]

I think we need some perspective here. From what I know of military history, almost any other army in any other time in history would have simply shot him out of hand just on suspicion of collaborating with illegal combatants.

Yeah, let's get some perspective here. He was a credentialed Associated Press photographer. And you're right, some other banana republic would have shot him outright. Is that where we should be heading?

Regards, Art.

 

[Ray Heath]

g'day all

Jason i must agree with Art's comments and ask is this how the "civilized" world has to behave to combat terrorism?

here in Australia many are critical of the treatment of our countryman David Hooks who was (illegally?) kept prisoner for 5 years, this latest case was 2 years, do the American authorities actually treat their own citizens this way or just unlucky foreigners?

Ray

 

[middy]

Oops! My buddies left their IED triggers in my house... I didn't know they were making bombs, they told me they were running a toaster repair shop. Ummmm, I'm a credentialed AP photographer, your laws don't apply to me!

 

[tim_walls]

middy - do you not think in that case some kind of, you know, charge followed by trial might be in order?

The issue is not whether he's a photographer. It's not even whether he's a terrorist. It's whether or not any
so-called civilised society can consider it acceptable to incarcerate someone indefinitely without charging them with any crime.
I believe some of the more recently formed countries even have things they call 'constitutions' which say that sort of thing is bad, but I could be wrong.

 

[Vonder]

Expecting Americans to do anything...

I don't actually mind them suspecting somebody. I don't mind them arresting somebody.

The atrocity, and it is an outright atrocity, is holding somebody for two years without process. Americans should be rioting in the streets, oh, but Dancing with the Stars is on, so maybe later.

...is folly. Apathy rules. Nobody cares as long as it doesn't affect them or their family directly. There's no passion to change anything. America has an internal sickness, that way, where individuality is prized over the common good, or even the logical.

 

[gr82bart]

Oops! My buddies left their IED triggers in my house... I didn't know they were making bombs, they told me they were running a toaster repair shop. Ummmm, I'm a credentialed AP photographer, your laws don't apply to me!

Oh I get it now. Because my friends and family are bad, the government can think I'm bad too and jail me without ever charging me, investigating or giving me due process. Suspicion based on association is enough. Ok, now I understand the law. To think i thought the perspective was innocent until proven guilty. My bad.

In my case then, I should be locked up forever!

Regards, Art. (The terrorist have won big time)

 

[gr82bart]

...is folly. Apathy rules.

Plus look at that guy's moustache. Anyone with a visage like that (or Mini Me's) should be jailed on principle.

Regards, Art.

 

[walter23]

You *need* press in wartime to make friends with and present the story of the other side. Otherwise you've got nothing but biased reporting, towing the party line. I'd like to read stories about the enemies, from their perspective, and if that means press has to mingle with them, good.

Of course this presents logistical problems and causes press to become highly suspicious to both sides of the war. Is he press, or is he a spy? I guess these difficulties make the activities of legitimate press even more laudable. These guys risk life, limb, and liberty to get the story out and they should be celebrated as heroes until proven otherwise.

Oops! My buddies left their IED triggers in my house... I didn't know they were making bombs, they told me they were running a toaster repair shop. Ummmm, I'm a credentialed AP photographer, your laws don't apply to me!

 

[arigram]

Don't feed the trolls please.
This is a photography forum, excuse me for being biased towards an innocent photographer who was unlawfully detained for two years.
I have no sympathy for enemies of freedom and justice to speak your trollish language.

 

[Andy K]

Oh I get it now. Because my friends and family are bad, the government can think I'm bad too and jail me without ever charging me, investigating or giving me due process. Suspicion based on association is enough. Ok, now I understand the law. To think i thought the perspective was innocent until proven guilty. My bad.

In my case then, I should be locked up forever!

Regards, Art. (The terrorist have won big time)

Art, I am amazed you have not noticed this behaviour before now in the US. It is extremely common. I see arguments dismissed all the time by Americans, based purely on who has been associated with the argument. Many, supposedly intelligent, Americans will completely ignore the actual argument and base their opinion purely on personalities.