Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Phoney AP Journalist Faces Charges in Iraq


New York AP- The US military says it 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."

On the morning of April 12, 2006, Hussein was out buying bread for breakfast when he heard a blast on a nearby street in Ramadi, according to the AP investigation. He dashed home and allowed several strangers to follow—as was customary to offer shelter during unrest in the city. Marines later arrived and used Bilal's apartment as a temporary observation post.

Hussein told the AP he was later taken into custody by the Marines who also confiscated equipment including a laptop and satellite phone. The guests he invited into his apartment amid the chaos were also detained.

On Monday, Geoff Morrell, the Pentagon press secretary said two guests in the apartment that day were "suspected insurgents" and that one of them later was convicted in a court of having a phony ID. It was unclear whether he remained in custody or was released.

"We believe Bilal Hussein was a terrorist media operative who infiltrated the AP," he said. "MNF-I possesses convincing and irrefutable evidence that Bilal Hussein is a threat to security and stability as a link to insurgent activity."

Morrell said an investigative hearing into the case by the court is scheduled to begin on or after November 28.

Hussein was detained April 12, 2006 after marines entered his house in Ramadi to establish a temporary observation post and found bomb-making materials, insurgent propaganda and a surveillance photograph of a US military installation.

Morrell said Hussein, who was part of an AP photo team that won a Pulitzer Prize in 2005, had previously aroused suspicion because he was often at the scene insurgent attacks as they occurred.

He said other evidence, which he would not describe, came to light after his detention "that makes it clear that Mr. Hussein is a terrorist media operative who infiltrated the AP."

Maybe Mr Hussein can provide information on the whereabouts of one Jamil Hussein who was suspected about a year ago of providing phoney news reports on unsubstantiated bombings and attacks to the Associated Press and other media outlets who used those stories to bolster claims of a 'civil war' in Iraq.
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1 Comments:

Blogger RD said...

When will America wake up to the fact that the news media is working for the enemy of America...any enemy, every enemy.

5:19 PM  

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