Is the Press really free?

The United States Military is still holding award-winning AP photographer Bilal Hussien, 18 months after his arrest as a 'security threat,' says Reporters Without Borders. According to the group, the photographer has never been charged or brought before a judge.

From the RWB press release: "Aged 35, Hussein was arrested by US soldiers in Ramadi, 100 km west of Baghdad, on 12 April 2006. The US authorities attributed his arrest to his physical proximity with insurgents, who had given him permission to take photos of them. Former AP employees have created a support committee for Hussein’s release. A petition can be signed on their website, www.freebilal.org" The Free Bilal Committee recently submitted the petition, with 1500 signatures on his behalf, to several top US officials.

Tom Curley, president of the Associated Press says the case is about press freedom. "It is about the Associated Press. We are the target. Freedom of the press is the target."

http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=23964

http://www.rsf.org/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=20

http://www.freebilal.org/

even having anyone outside of the military know that they have been taken and are being held - indeed there is not even a requirement to move from from just "held for questioning" to "held as an enemy combatant".

The press is as free as we all are - welcome to the King's Star Chamber that we must have because once you have terrorists you can not have a Constitution unless it is interpreted to be voidable at the whim of the President.

One does wonder why we still pay salaries to criminal court judges and why lawyers are employed outside of corporation suing corporation cases.

http://www.counterpunch.org/barahona05172005.html

I have no opinion on this specific issue, beyond my usual repulsion of unlawful detention. Just spreading the word about an unreliable organization.

Pffft