Where's The Media Outrage Over Bilal Hussein?
By Nicole Belle Wednesday Dec 26, 2007 12:03pm
As regular readers know, Attytood has been on the warpath urging the authorities in Iraq, under the thumb of the American military, to give Pulitzer Prize winning photojournalist Bilal Hussein a real day in court...or set him free. Our fear is that -- before broader awareness of the Hussein case mounts -- he will be found guilty in a kangaroo court, without the kind of due process that Americans would expect and that you'd think would be part of that "freedom" package that we delivered to Iraq:
Those worst fears are coming true, of course. Harper's magazine has the inside scoop. For example:
-- The Iraqi judge is also allowing the U.S. military to present evidence by witnesses through remote television hook-ups from undisclosed locations. This is done particularly to be sure that Bilal Hussein would not be able to cross-examine any witnesses.
-- The Pentagon was particularly concerned about the prospect of Bilal Hussein getting effective defense from his lawyer, former federal prosecutor Paul Gardephe. The judge was told to refuse to allow Bilal Hussein’s U.S. lawyer to participate in the case. The judge accepted this advice. Consequently, the U.S. military has a five-man team to press its case, but Bilal Hussein’s lawyer is silenced and not permitted to participate–and all of this has occurred as a result of U.S. Government intervention with the court. The irony of course is that under Iraqi law, the U.S. military has no authority or right to appear and prosecute, but Bilal Hussein’s chosen counsel has an absolute right.
There's a lot of good (as in "interesting," not as in "positive") stuff here, including confirmation that the military is using friendly right-wing bloggers to bypass the tradtional media. Reading this, there is little doubt that this award-winning journalist -- who risked his life to bring images from Iraq's front line to the world and is greatly admired by those who've worked with him, like my Daily News colleague Jim MacMillan -- will be found guilty by this kangaroo court and sent away for a long time. It's frustrating. If the American and Iraqi authorities have real evidence that Bilal Hussein is a terrorist, it should be presented in a fair and open courtroom.
Here's something else that's even more maddening -- America's journalistic community is not stepping forward to try to stop this disgrace from happening. Read on...
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Guess I'll need to paint more of these...
http://freewayblogger.blogspot.com/2007/12/los-angelespeace-on-earth.html
san diego, you're next today.
but but but Nicole?? He's a man!!!
I thought you didnt like men!!!
Off topic, maybe, but FUCKEVERYONEOFYOUGODDANMMOTHERFUCKINGSHITSUCKINGSONSOFBITCHESARSEHOLEAYEMURKANS.
Ahhh, that's better....
If only Bilal Hussein had stolen a billion dollars in cash, he could hire Blackwater to break him out and spirit him to the U.S.
Yet bush had the nerve today to say with a straight face that the killers of Benazir Bhutto should be brought to justice. Justice, that's a quaint word for bush to use. Something stinks to high heaven when they do all they can to prevent a fair trial. No cross examination? I guess this is the bush version of democracy.
My God, this is so awful. Who will pursue and try to make right all the wrongs that have been done? It is so hard not to be ashamed of what our country has become. I'm not so sure America will ever be able to heal and certainly not without justice for all those around the world that we have harmed. Bush & Cheney and all their underlings like Addington need to be tried and put in prison. Not a chance in hell that will happen because "we the people" gave up without a fight a little more than seven years ago now. Our world has certainly changed a lot in those seven horrific years.
For those not quite up to speed on the vocabulary discrepancies between politicians and the real meaning of words, "justice" actually has two meanings.
Bushism "Justice" or "bring to justice": A verb in either case, but an interesting dichotomy nonetheless. When spouted by a political hack this phrase either means pursue with the intent to murder, bypassing due process (ie - justice), or to do nothing and use the person or persons as a symbol to be evoked for political gain.
Janet @ 6:
What Bush means by justice, is revenge. It isn't what you or I think justice is.
Janet @ 6:
What Bush means is "Scooter Libby Justice" where the purpetrators are "taken care of".
Bush, Cheney and Musharriff are probably having a 3-way call right now discussing how to "punish" the killers.
Don't worry "Religion" will fix it.
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5itableVuT2QIr2H6dF1FyV1gXZpQ
Where is the media outrage? .
period
Bluesage @ 7:
It's been this way for most of the post WW II era, Bluesage. The difference now is:
1. The media has rolled over and played dead the past six years.
2. Things are happening at a much faster pace.
One positive thing to counter-act those two points is that the internet makes it possible for more and more people to conect the dots at a faster pace, too.
Marcki al Canuckstani @ 3:
as so! weve been keeping you from giveing free blow jobs , wheres the harm!!!!!!!
This country has gotten so ridiculous and hypocritical. While I think it's necessary that BushCo be removed, impeached, anything to stop them from having more power; I fear the amount of bad karma that their administration has garnered is going to affect us for years to come. Those of us who never bought a house are being dragged down by the market crash - those who have been good with their money are finding their savings worthless because of the ailing dollar, people who never voted for bush have lost their health care and their lives to soulless corporations, every single one of us are going to be hit by the massive amount of bad karma this administration has built up.
Getting rid of them is only the first step - it's like being on fire. Sure, we need to put out the fires, but then what? You've still got burns that go to your bones, you've lost all your hair and your face is pretty much gone. The damage to this country is so deep, so enormous, that it will take us generations to repair, and it will be people who have tried to live good lives, and children who've never voted or supported Bush that will take the full brunt of the damage.
Ahhhhhh... freedom! Freedom not to have to be bothered with a lawyer, freedom not to have to ask your accuser questions.... wonder how long before Americans get to enjoy Iraqs new found freedoms.
/snark
There are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO many injustices in the world, and most have been caused, and/or exacerbated by the Bush administration.
When a predator goes nuts, and starts indiscriminately killing within a closed area, it's difficult to care for the wounded and dead while the predator is still alive. So the only intelligent course of action, is to decapitate or otherwise kill the predator, unless he can safely be restrained.
IMPEACHMENT is NECESSARY, NOW.
RockmanEnough @ 14:
I would say the media has been owned our entire adult lives and "things" (police state) "are happening at a much faster pace" (because) "the internet has made it possible for more and more people to conect the dots at a faster pace."
the military is a Politburo for the bedwettersphere
Hussein was capturing the truth on film. The truth is the enemy of Bushco. Hussein will be incarcerated, tortured, "disappeared" -- all in the name of what?
Things like this is exactly why we are getting fed up. If america keeps this up, we're going to attack it. I mean really. You guys don't use Gas Chambers, you use your Health Care Industry, your Social Services, your Law Enforcement and 'economic and election reform' to kill of your minorities.
Seriously, I don't want to lump all American's together, but fuck WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU THINK WE ARE GOING TO DO?! Allow you to go all fucking Nazi and kill off all the coloured people in your country and in everyone elses?
I'm sorry your asking too much, and eventually morality will outweigh anything else. And you will have ot be 'brought low' like all tyrants before you.
Jason B @ 16:
I'm a pacificist, and yes, I would sacrifice myself to stop your countries "Security and Prosperity Partnership" from going thru. And many of the other Orwellian constructs your countrymen use to subvert MY democracy.
World domination will not be tolerated. If you win, we ALL lose. All of us. except the Rich White Men.
@ Neil 22 & 23
The ridiculous crimes perpetrated by the US Gov't are the will of the 32% of our population who support that kind of thing. Most of use (68% apparently) are sickened and angry about the kind of behavior that is done with our nametags on it.
OMFG! His name includes Hussein!!!! Oh the terror!!! We are a nation of fuckups, it's hard to believe the shithouse is still standing.
milquetoast @ 19:
Yeah, I agree. It's a chain reaction. The more shit they pull, and the faster we identify it, the bigger the shit they have to pull in order to stay ahead. Then they blame it on some undefinable enemy that they themselves have created.
bilhelm-X @ 25:
OMG----hahahah----glad I wasn't drinking something---would of spewed!....
ShouldBeWorking @32;
I hear your point and agree with you, but unfortunately, we are ALL part of this country. The actions perpetrated by that 32% DOES speak for all of us, and when it's time for us to reap what this country has sewn, we will all be hurt. I don't agree with it, but it's food for thought for those who never bothered to speak up - we're all going to be paying the price for Bush, regardless of whether or not we supported him.
Jason B @ 28:
Sadly, them's the facts. There are too many complacent "democrats" who read the NYT and the occasional blog and then say to themselves, "man that really sucks". And it's through their inaction that crimes are commited in the names of us all. Sadly, those are the people who make up the vast majority of the 68% who don't support Bush. It leaves the truly progressive at a disadvantage because we have to fight the rabid authoritarian and then fight the apathetic moderate.
this is another example that ALL in the USA are more interested in their ego and personal lives to notice that they are giving away everything for a bunch of bastard reichwingnazi dictator shits.
American is reaping what it sows. Ignorance and Greed.
Earth to Nicole, that "freedom" package, as you put it, is exactly what you would expect from the US government. What is surprising is that they didn't just blow his head off and throw his family to the opposite faction's local militia. No lawyer, no evidence, no public charges? Sounds like America to me. I'm not sure what country you guys live in, but this one became a fascist dictatorship a long time ago.
Preacher Boob @ 18:
There will not be an impeachment. The president will leave office with his legacy in tow and there's nothing congress can or will do about it.
Reality_Cheque @ 32:
I'd say the odds are in your favor, BUT...things can change, and we should try to make that happen.
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