The U.S. military in Iraq has imprisoned an Associated Press photographer for five months, accusing him of being a security threat but never filing charges or permitting a public hearing. Is this the republican way? Is this the American way?
Military officials said Bilal Hussein, an Iraqi citizen, was being held for "imperative reasons of security" under United Nations resolutions. AP executives said the news cooperative's review of Hussein's work did not find anything to indicate inappropriate contact with insurgents, and any evidence against him should be brought to the Iraqi criminal justice system.
Hussein, 35, is a native of Fallujah who began work for the AP in September 2004. He photographed events in Fallujah and Ramadi until he was detained on April 12 of this year. The USA and President Bush stated they have no comment about the Photographer. Bush stated he doesn't care about human rights.
2006-09-17 18:36:15 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Government
The US Gov't has unlawfully held over 14,000 civilians in secret prisons around the globe in defiance of Constitutional and International law. These prisoners have no rights whatsoever and are tortured and starved at the whim of their captors. They have no contact with family or friends and are allowed no legal representation. They are held indefinitely without charges.
This is the world's nightmare and America will pay the piper. Bush will be infamous.
2006-09-17 18:44:21 · answer #1 · answered by Paladin 4 · 2⤊ 3⤋
O.k. - first off - please give us a link to this supposed quote of Bush saying "he doesn't care about human rights." - I'll be suprised if you can actually provide one.
Second, is it not the military's right to detain somebody, reporter or not, who they feel is a security threat? Remember, this is still a war, and Iraq is still considered a war zone.
Third, we don't know exactly what Mr. Hussein did, or alegedly did. Because of the circumstances (being in a war zone - and probably involving the military), we probably won't know.
Fourth, the fact that AP executives said they don't think he's done anything wrong - that doesn't mean that he hasn't done anything wrong. It could just be that he hasn't reported everything he has done (maybe this other stuff was outside the scope of his employement with the AP).
Fifth, it could be that he was "caught" doing whatever, and thus, it wouldn't have been something the AP could review.
Sixth, we've had no indication, aside from the trial of Saddam Hussein (no relation, I'm sure) that the Iraqi criminal justice system is even functioning yet. It might also be the case that the alleged "crime" was perpatrated against the U.S. military and not against the Iraqi government - and therefore falls under the pervue of the U.S. Military and not the Iraqi government.
It might well be that Mr. Hussein (Bilal - not Saddam) has done nothing wrong, and is being detained wrongfully. Unfortunately, we just don't know, and the military is well within their rights to detain somebody for reasons of security.
You can't even fault the rule they used - it was a United Nations rule - not a U.S. Military rule.
2006-09-17 19:24:00 · answer #2 · answered by Flint 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
why is it that the only people that say they "know that he was a terrorist" can only cite blogs and opinion columns? is that news for conservatives?
while, I don't know the whole story, their "cites" are far from convincing... the 9-11 conspiracy sites have more facts than these things... do they believe them too?
if all you guys can muster is "opinion"... I'm afraid I'm going to have to err on the side of "this looks like a witch hunt".... I guess malkin can send anyone to guantanmo... right?
but oh, I guess I'm not "reading between the lines"... tell me that when someone "reads between the lines" and puts you in jail...
but they don't care about justice, they are just children who are afraid and will go to any level to feel safe, no matter how many they imprison illegally...
I think it's time to put the children who judge with opinions and not facts to bed...
those that are imprisoned illegally won't forget...
2006-09-17 20:49:38 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
He was imbedded with and for the terrorists.
'nuf said.
Communist China and the USSR are and were totallitarian governments which would never had even allowed you asking about him. Don't go to a country that is under the Iron Fist of Communism and try to ask any questions regarding anyone to anyone. You would join them in a concentration camp.
So there is a MASSIVE difference in the US and the communist dictatorships that you mentioned.
Get your info straight before making assumptions. See the research liks below.
Peace comes with victory!
The Diva,
Darling!
2006-09-17 19:04:05 · answer #4 · answered by divadawling 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I personally do not think that this shows us to be as bad as the USSR or China as far as the loss of civil liberties goes but it does show how the US government has, through powers that we have unwittingly given the government, the right incarcerate anyone that they see as a threat to national security with no due process which we as Americans have the right to but apparently no one else on the planet does. This man deserves a fair trial just like anyone of us would expect.
2006-09-17 18:56:04 · answer #5 · answered by dmyers1071 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Bilal Hussein was captured with insurgents and a cache of weapons. He was apparently quite cozy with the insurgents, leading to suspicion that they were working with him to stage photos for propaganda purposes.
Bilal was a native of Fallujah and went to great lengths to portray insurgents in a positive light, their enemies in a negative light. He chose sides. He chose poorly.
Our Supreme Court chose to extend Geneva Conventions to 'spies and saboteurs', who previously had not such protections because they did not operate within Geneva Convention rules, so enemies caught on the battlefield cannot be given trials. It is out of the President's hands now. They must be held until cessation of hostilities.
2006-09-17 18:52:48 · answer #6 · answered by speakeasy 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I don't know about the truth in that story, but the more I learn about our government past and present, the less I respect. This is sticky because I do enjoy being an American and the freedom it offers me, but I am not proud of the things I have learned about our foreign affairs. Did you read the article Yahoo posted a few hours ago about the prisons? I'm sorry, but 80-90% of imprisonments being a "mistake" is simply ridiculous. This story also shows it is more than just one person.
2006-09-17 18:47:05 · answer #7 · answered by mountain_laurel1183 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
after september 11th, the Bush gov't created a law that gave them the right to arrest whomever they want without telling the person y they're being arrested. the same law gives them the right to deny them legal help.
very sad, but this is the truth most americans can't understand or perhaps don't want to understand, they're being brainwashed. the actual Bush gov't is a Zionist mafia, controlled by zionists whom human life doesn't have any meaning. these people are multi billionaires, they gathered this money from shedding blood and they're looking for all possible ways to remain in power, thus by creating wars, inventing "terrorists" attacks etc....
2006-09-17 18:48:46 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Who says the Soviet Union or China was bad?
2006-09-18 00:50:40 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do me a favour and stop fking whining around America is the only bad one around, no one else. American idiots.
2006-09-18 03:09:10 · answer #10 · answered by noobie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋