In “The Big Picture(s),†I noted the case of Bilal Hussein, an Iraqi stringer working for the Associated Press with a history of taking staged photographs of Islamic terrorists, who was detained by the US military as a security threat in April 2006.
While the AP’s coverage of the case has often demonstrated the wisdom of the AP policy regarding conflicts of interest — a policy the AP seems to have forgotten — the latest story on the case from The New York Times is surprisingly even-handed, especially given the temptation for the journalistic community to show solidarity against the US military and Iraqi judiciary. This may be only due to it being covered in the Media & Advertising section, but we will take what we can get.
The NYT covers the case in its larger context:
Several editors and reporters overseeing Iraqi coverage for Western news organizations said they worked hard to vet their local hires for sectarian and political ties that could slant their coverage, and offered extensive training in the rules of Western journalism. But there are no official background checks that can be conducted, as American and European companies routinely do when making domestic hires. Rather, news organizations try to get to know their prospective Iraqi hires in person and then judge them by the work they produce.
Like seemingly staged photographs of insurgents pointing their weapons at a wall on an empty street. But back to the NYT:
The reporters and editors said that they often had to filter out obvious sectarian biases from news copy, and, as a matter of policy, would not run statistics like death counts from the field without official confirmation from the military. But, these journalists emphasized, there is a big difference between bias seeping into news copy and insurgents infiltrating news organizations.
Indeed there is, which is why the AP’s hiring, retention and vociferous defense of Bilal Hussein will remain problematic, even if Hussein is acquitted or not charged.
I don’t know how even-handed that is really. It reads like they’re anticipating a conviction and some damaging information to come out of this, and they want to make the case that not every stringer is a terrorist infiltrator.
They kinda fail to mention that of those 102, about 3/4 of them did not work for “Western news organizations” … 75 of the 124 journalists who have died in total worked for Iraqi news organizations…
102 – 75 = 27 dead Iraqi journalists working for “Western news organizations.”
124 – 102 = 22 dead non-Iraqi journalists.
27 vs. 22 doesn’t really make the case that “the dangers they face working for Western news organizations” are really a whole lot more pronounced for Iraqis than for the average bloke working for one of these “Western news organizations,” and given that Iraqis probably greatly outnumber the Western journalists, statistically they’re safer.
So this is one of those herring thingers I think.
Where have you been, haps?
First off, I dod agree that the AP has a conflict of interest here ipso facto of the circumstance – and they ought to at least acknowledge that in the form of a caveat to their coverage. I completely agree with that part.
But the photos? They’re aiming at an empty wall? One can just as easily see those photos as guys HIDING behind a wall waiting to ambush. You can’t see what it is they may be looking at – maybe a square in the distance? Who knows
These photos are completely and utterly meaningless.
If there’s evedence against him, I’ll kick the box out form under his feet. But when I see ‘evidence’ like this…wow.
D – I sent you an email – all is well in happyfeetland. I’m glad to be back.
That’s “nearly” 50 photographs a month, which is not even 2 photographs a day.
Nice work if you can get it.
And also…
I’m not really sure how to read that, but “even-handed” isn’t it I don’t think.
Not even the nudging of a giant Western news organization was enough, says Tim. Tim is going to end up very very disillusioned I think.
steve,
I invite you to re-eaxmine those photos and explain how Hussein gets that array of poses if someone is shooting at them (and him).
Nor are those the only problematic photos in Hussein’s portfolio, as detailed in Neil Munro’s piece for the National Journal.
happyfeet,
1. Good to see you again;
2. I wrote “surprisingly even-handed,” which is perhaps a reflection of my generally low regard for the NYT. I don’t expect any MSM outlet to cover this case without the boilerplate about dead journalists in Iraq and the US detaining people without charge — which apparently should give us the vapors, despite the fact that there’s a war on.
I gotcha Karl, and thanks. Mostly I just wanted to make fun of Tim, not so much to disagree with your characterization.
Really? How could we tell? Perhaps it would be lovingly crafted photos of the enemy, possibly in fighting positions, possibly staged – but most certainly taken with their approval.
Steve,
Make sure you use steel-toed boots when you kick that box out.
Anyone else think “nudged by a giant western media” sounds dirty?
Bilal might not be a terrorist himself, but there cannot be that many people that go take naps while actual terrorists hang out in your living room.
Hi,Achmed. Welcome to my cave. I am going to go take a nap. Put down that RPG, hang the suicide vest on the chair, take your sandals off, and relax. After my siesta we will pass the hooka, and speak of the infidels. Then, you owe me some pictures. I am thinking IED’s or killing a civilian.
“Iinvite you to re-eaxmine those photos and explain how Hussein gets that array of poses if someone is shooting at them (and him).”
I never said that anyone was shooting at them. I said that they could be looking out for somone to come around a corner for an ambush…I don’tknow, but my point is neither do you. It’s very easy to read in what one wants with this sort of evidence.
Again, though: if there is evidence that his actions led to Americans being killed, do whatever you want to the guy. My issue on alot stuff like the renditions, Gunatanamo, etc. is the same: if someone’s planning another 9/11 type event, I don’t care about them in the least. But can we make sure the person’s actually guilty first? The same people who want to hang these people from the highest tree also want to water down alot of the methods by which we determine if actual guilt is present in the first place, so I feel the need to be a skeptic with issues like this.
“Make sure you use steel-toed boots when you kick that box out.”
I’m more of a Tony Franklin kind of guy myself….
steve – how would you explain the terrorists hanging out in his front room while he was napping when he was taken into custody? Cultivating a source?
while you’re there, steve, see if you can explicate Hussein’s failure to identify himself as an AP reporter upon his arrest…
The GWNO lost months of nudging cause of that.
“steve – how would you explain the terrorists hanging out in his front room while he was napping when he was taken into custody? Cultivating a source?”
I usually don’t reply to you JD, but I would like a link for that
steve,
You can focus on Hussein’s guilt or innocence — it’s certainly important. But my concern in these posts has been more about the media’s hiring standards for Iraqi stringers. I would prefer that the media apply a higher standard than “not convicted of terrorism.”
“while you’re there, steve, see if you can explicate Hussein’s failure to identify himself as an AP reporter upon his arrest…”
1. link
2. if he’s guilty, then that’s fine. I have no interest in seeing anything but the truth come out.
But not alot of evidence had been released last I checked (correct me if I’m wrong), and you guys tell me these things like you were there or something.
Agreed on that point Karl. It just isn’t as much fun to talk about becasue I see that as a no-brainer
happyfeet – steve wants us to do his homework for him.
steve – we all want to strip our system of all of the safeguards in place while proving guilt. Carrying around those caricstures in your head may help you when you want to argue with yourself. But out here, it does not serve you well.
Wasn’t Bilal the one that took the photo of another terrorist assassinating an Iraqi ? Just another coincidence, I guess.
“Wasn’t Bilal the one that took the photo of another terrorist assassinating an Iraqi ? Just another coincidence, I guess.”
I guess this is why I stopped responding to you – LINK. Anyone can SAY anything…
“steve wants us to do his homework for him.”
No, I think you’re full of shit and you oughtta prove what you’re saying.
Did you know guys, that Bush helped plan 9/11? What’s that – you want some proof?
Fuck that – I’m not doing your HW for you!
idiot….
steve, notice at the top where it says The Big Picture, Update 4? That Update 4 means this is the fourth in a series of posts, in other words, there have been three previous that lay out the fundamental case. Now see in the first sentence where it says The Big Picture in red? That is a link back to the previous series, so you can easily go back and do some research on the subject before you start flinging shit. Well, you could if you were really interested in a discussion and had an IQ above room temperature, that is. Okay, now go back to being a ranting moron.
Hey look – B Moe’s still an ass hole. huh….
And steve isn’t really interested in a link, so he has now graduated to lying moron. Congratulations!
The irony, of course, is that I’ve mentioned the assassination photo.
BTW, if Hussein is not the assassination photog, the AP’s problem is worse than previously thought, not better.
BTW, I have read 2 of the other posts (I commented on one) and there is no primary sources that I found, trailing through the links, that is not from the military (please correct me if I’m wrong). Since they’re the accusers, that’s not enough for me. Now, in court that may hold up and that’s fine, provided the court is fair. But pajama’s media quoting a military source is far from open and shut to me.
“And steve isn’t really interested in a link, so he has now graduated to lying moron. Congratulations!”
Lie? YOu guys throw that word around alot. I can’t imagine you don’t know what it means I may be wrong, bur where did I lie?
You repeatedly asked for links, I pointed you to an epic post containing dozens of links while laying out this case and a multitude of others showing a pattern or chronic media misconduct. A post it would take you a couple of hours to read and study, yet you continue to rant and rave and make a complete ass of yourself here. That leads me to believe you aren’t being honest about wanting links or evidence.
steve – This is a post in a series. Karl has written approximately 12,536,928 words on this topic, and provided approximately 7536 links. That you choose to discredit the linked sources is your choice, but reveals this need for links is a transparent attempt to actually divert the topic.
I beg your forgiveness for posting from my Treo and not having links available for you.
So far the extent of your argument is that you do not trust our military to be straight forward with you. That is not a really good foundation.
“That leads me to believe you aren’t being honest about wanting links or evidence.”
Becasue I disagree that the evidence is compelling? That’s not lying. I was wrong, you don’t know what lying means…
“I pointed you to an epic post containing dozens of links while laying out this case and a multitude of others showing a pattern or chronic media misconduct.”
But I agreed with that. Let’s see what I said:
“First off, I dod agree that the AP has a conflict of interest here ipso facto of the circumstance – and they ought to at least acknowledge that in the form of a caveat to their coverage. I completely agree with that part.”
and me, responding to Karl @ 19:
“Agreed on that point Karl. It just isn’t as much fun to talk about becasue I see that as a no-brainer”
I mean, you can’t possibly be reading my posts. I don’t disagree abou the media, but about the trustworthiness of the sources asserting his guilt.
Ya know – Karl, Collins and a bunch of other folks here you can at least have a conversation with. Bright folks with whom I disagree.
Bmoe and JD – you guys are just fucknuts. You don’t read what anyone who disagrees with you has to say and you just reflexively argue w/o thinking. You’re more like Conservative Fans than anything else. We could be talking about football(but you didn’t even get the tony Franklin reference). Christ…
And, oh yeah, I forgot this:
“…I pointed you to an epic post….”
Hillarious
But not as funny as you.
I am a fucknuts because I do not share your opinion? Good Allah, had I only known. Did I misrepresent your position? Lie about you? What is up with the animosity? I do not even think I cursed at you. I was trying to be nice.
No, I’m reading them and recognizing them as an attempt to change the subject, as JD notes above.
Moreover, given that the judicial proceedings have barely started, there really is no way to definitvely assess the case against Hussein or the fairness of the proceedings, not that this has stopped the AP.
He hasn’t even looked at the original post, JD. Even if you disagree with every word, that post was of epic scale in anybody’s book. steve is just another shit-flinging troll with nothing to add to anything. It’s like cyber graffitti or something.
…you just reflexively argue w/o thinking…
lmao.
And for the record, I quit trying to discuss anything with you when you told someone who has just returned from his third hitch in the Middle East to fuck off you didn’t care what he thought about Iraq. Since then I have been ridiculing and mocking you.
uh, it’s only his second B Moe. ;D but it strikes me as hilarious someone’s demanding links now.
oh, or are you talking about someone else I missed? I should probably conk out now. Hi happyfeet! you were in Texas?
hi maggie! Was in south Texas. Had to take work with me but otherwise was nice to get back there except I got a cold.
Happy! Glad you’re back.
Thanks, Thor. Me too, really. The sobering part about being in Texas and checking in on people was finding out how many “conservatives” have bought this global warming thing wholesale. They believe. The neighbor was pouring me some wine and out of nowhere she said “Al Gore was right! Our caps are melting!” And because of who she was I didn’t say anything but there were lots of others too.
Mostly though what they will say is that you can’t deny the Earth is getting warmer and not have a whole lot else though one of the more sophisticated ones said that there were “fires in South America.” I’m just kind of rambling cause I was gone for the whole Bali thing and I felt kind of alone at times. Also I’m trying to stay awake cause I have to do a stupid merry christmas email campaign and the assets aren’t done yet.
I’m a Russel Erxleben kinda guy myself.
…it’s only his second B Moe. ;D but it strikes me as hilarious someone’s demanding links now.
I stand corrected. And he was only demanding links until I pointed them out to him, then he doubted the sources at the links he was unaware of.
However did we win WW2 what with Capa taking those photos of dead Allied soldiers? And him with all those Socialist sympathies, too. Ike should’ve had him shot.
As hopelessly irrelevant as your namesake.
However did we win WW2 what with Capa taking those photos of dead Allied soldiers?
Oooh, may I play?
I’ll go out on a limb and say we won because those pictures were balanced against stories of valor and honor and sacrifice against the epitome of evil, instead of broadcast context-free on 24-hour news channels with narrative edited to magnify the hopelessness and stupidity of the mission.
Among other reasons.
Now, if your point is that Capa was collaborating with the enemy, arranging to be present when they were committing atrocities simply so that he and they could get some good propaganda photos out on the wires, well, I’m gonna have to follow steve’s example and demand sources and proof.
Thanks for stopping by!
Welcome home Feets
I wasn’t aware that Capa had multiple shots of German special forces posing with weapons or firing on Allied troops.
That was one fabulous imbed.
There is also the small matter of us being allies with quite a few folks with Socialist tendencies during that little dust-up.
If only we had better press coverage.
The Dolchstoss Brigade rears its’ ugly head.
At least you have the rousing success of Basra, right? Oh, wait…
12/17/2007
“Colonel Tim Collins, who rose to prominence as commander of the 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment, delivered a scathing indictment of British efforts to stabilise the southern Iraqi province, saying that “great incompetence†in the military leadership had left it in “chaos.—
Arrest that man for an unbalanced view of honor and valor.
I notice actus’ new incarnation is just as unwilling to acknowledge responses to its inanities as ever.
Did anyone here see Phil Dawson kick the brick in a blizzard for a 48 yarder on Sunday? His second of 2 in that game in Cleveland.
There were plwnty of others who had scathing things to say about British forces passive ROE in Bsara. And yet, Basra is now controlled by Iraqi security.
Strange that…
Basra is now controlled by Iraqi security.
“The withdrawal from the palace, under virtual siege from Mahdi Army rockets and mortars, was only able to take place after a ceasefire was secretly negotiated with militants. Security remains so fragile that a recent forum to discuss post-handover economic initiatives had to take place within the heavily-guarded confines of the British military base.”
“Violence in Basra has abated to a manageable level in recent months, British military officials said, allowing for the move.
But the fact that the ceremony was held not in the city but in an airport lounge, with signs for “international baggage claim” and “passport control” leading to the venue, underscored the still-fragile nature of security in town.
The British have touted their withdrawal as an indication of the calmer situation on the ground and point to the transfer to Iraqi security forces as a model for establishing stability elsewhere in Iraq. They insist that the strategy has forced the provincial government to take charge and push warring Shiite Muslim militias to reconcile.
“Basra security institutions have proven that they are capable,” Binns said, adding that British forces would continue to train the province’s security forces.
“As you step up, we set back,” Binns said.
Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno, day-to-day commander in Iraq, told reporters in Baghdad yesterday that the United States would be ready to respond to requests for help if needed, from Iraqi security forces or the British forces, but he indicated this would be limited to providing air support and intelligence.
“We will not intervene independently of the government of Iraq,” Odierno said.
U.S. officials remained skeptical that Basra could serve as a model for the rest of the nation, because Basra’s largely Shiite ethnic composition is different than that of other areas where Shiites and Sunni Arab militants repeatedly have clashed.”
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/world/iraq/bal-te.iraq17dec17001515,0,2319064.story
Sorry it doesn’t meet life magazine’s perfect vision of “control” but there is some positive result.
Oh and links to quotes would be nice.
Yeah, we can read the bad news from Iraq, that isn’t the point. Care to address the reluctance of the Vestigial Media to print any good news? Or the principal point that they are not vetting their local media and treating terrorist propaganda as unbiased reporting? Or are you going to live up to your handle and just grow increasingly irrelevant?
*vetting their local reporters* is what I meant to type
Dec 11, 2007
“Basra authorities, which will be handed over the security file from the British forces, has already got a taste of political and social activities.
A recent congregation of clans from southern provinces and political forces ended in the issuance of an ‘honour agreement’.
The agreement aims to prove that Basra is ready for the major transformation, said experts.”
http://www.iraqupdates.com/p_articles.php/article/24956
Don’t look! Progress! TURN AWAY!!!!!
Oh, Oh! Maybe life magazine is right!!!!!!
“BAGHDAD (AP)  The British defense secretary said Wednesday that the level of violence in the oil-rich southeastern province of Basra was not acceptable but had reached a point where only the Iraqis could improve the situation.”
Mea culpa, mea maxima cul …oh, wait a minute, that report was almost 2 months ago!
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2007-10-31-britain-basra_N.htm
2 month progress. TURN AWAY!!!!!!!
Basra, of course, being the last of the four provences turned over by the Brits and by far the most challenging.
QUAGMIRE!!!! TURN AWAY!!!!!
BeKos of Teh KKKwahhhhhhhhhGmIrE eleventy!!!!!!!!!11111one!!!!
DON’T LOOK, JD!!!! PROGRESS IN THE QUAGMIRE!!! A VERITABLE QUAGMIRE OF PROGRESS!!!! RUN!!! RUN AWAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYY!!!!!
Lies, damned lies, I tell you. How dare you use current facts, BJ? When was the last time Life Magazine was relevant? Early 70’s?
You have to love these people who come rolling into this arena and then cherry pick bad news with the criteria being that if there is any bad news that indicates a self evident failure.
Opinion is set, rightness is determined, QUAGMIRE!!! FAILURE!!!
It’s so freakin’ uncritical and immature that I just want to hurl.
On them.
The bad news proves the media isn’t biased by reporting bad news. I feel like a cat sitting in the corner watching a retarded puppy frantically chasing its tail.
It’s a wonder your head doesn’t explode…
“The British have touted their withdrawal as an indication of the calmer situation on the ground and point to the transfer to Iraqi security forces as a model for establishing stability elsewhere in Iraq.”
“U.S. officials remained skeptical that Basra could serve as a model for the rest of the nation, because Basra’s largely Shiite ethnic composition is different than that of other areas where Shiites and Sunni Arab militants repeatedly have clashed.â€Â
“It’s a wonder your head doesn’t explode…
Is that why you are afraid to use yours?
My head will not explode because I am a realist. The Mahdi army will control Basra, leaving Iraqi Security forces perfecting their jumping jack technique elsewhere.
Okay, now that we know you can read and aren’t a bot, how about responding to #65. You know, the topic of the fucking thread?
Or even better, Karl’s latest update at the top of the page.
You want all good news? You’ve got Fox. I’ve been quoting from a rather even-handed article. Based in realism.
The reality is Mookie is about to get his ass kicked. Hard. You read it here first.
going further OT, I’m curious why you think so B Moe. it seems to keep coming up every so often and I don’t see a lot happening either way, but then I’ve been busy lately and missed a few things.
Just a hunch. We have been more than patient with Mookie so far and he doesn’t seem to be willing to play ball. Only one real option left, and with the Iraqi’s regaining control everywhere else we are about to have some guys available to do it. I am thinking the Brits may be just getting out of the way.
OK, time to cancel the subscription. I’ll say this slowly so that you can comprehend: If the Iraqi forces have problems with Mookie and the Mahdi army then they will call for help from the Brits and the US who will be more than content to help the Iraqi forces kick the living crap out of the thugs.
The only way the Iraqi forces will be effective keeperrs of the peace is if they have to deal with some issues. No wonder why you are a defunct periodical.
NUANCE! NUANCE! MY KINGDOM FOR NUANCE!
So, let’s see… in this thread we have a ‘tard telling us to go to Fox for “all good news”. In another thread we have another one (at least, by alias) pointing to an AP story on Fox with negative news…
I really wish the ‘tards would get their stories straight.
I suspect Life Magazine doesn’t have a SIPR drop. Keep lookin’ for that quagmire, it’s just around the corner – probably where Bilal’s brave resistance fighters were staring.
[BTW – anyone looking like the chumps in Mr. H’s photos would have been weeded out by Darwinian, er, battlefield selection by that point in time…]