AP Finally Gets Closure On the Jamil Hussein Story

Iraq threatens arrest of police officer
By STEVEN R. HERST, Associated Press Writer
Four hours ago

BAGHDAD, Iraq - The Interior Ministry acknowledged Thursday that an Iraqi police officer whose existence had been denied by the Iraqis and the U.S. military is in fact an active member of the force, and said he now faces arrest for speaking to the media.

The captain, whose full name is Jamil Gholaiem Hussein, was one of the sources for an AP story in late November about the burning and shooting of six people during a sectarian attack at a Sunni mosque.

Khalaf said Thursday that with the arrest of Hussein for breaking police regulations against talking to reporters, the AP would be called to identify him in a lineup as the source of its story.

Should the AP decline to assist in the identification, Khalaf said, the case against Hussein would be dropped. He also said there were no plans to pursue action against the AP should it decline.

 

Iraqi Police Captain Arrested
By STEVEN R. HERST, Associated Press Writer
Three-and-a-half hours ago

BAGHDAD, Iraq - A spokesman for the Khadra police department confirms that police Capt. Jamil Gholaiem Hussein, one of a number of sources for an AP November story about the burning and shooting of six people during a sectarian attack at a Sunni mosque has been arrested.

Police initially said that Hussein would be arrested on Thursday after the Eid al-Adha holiday, but he surrendered without incident earlier. Hussein is being held in Khadra, pending identification by AP personnel.

Asked to comment, AP executive editor Kathleen Carroll said, "I can't say we're happy about Mr. Hussong being arrested, but this should silence the anonymous Internet writers who were questioning whether of not Jamal even existed."

 

Iraqi Police Officer Identified
By STEVEN R. HERST, Associated Press Writer
Two hours, forty-seven minutes ago

BAGHDAD, Iraq - An Iraqi police officer who witnessed an attack on a Sunni mosque has been positively identified by a member of AP's Baghdad staff as one of their sources for the story, which was originally reported late in November.

Capt. Jamil Hussein was arrested for violating a regulation that bars all but authorized spokesmen from talking to media. AP has learned that a trial date will be set soon.

Kathleen Carroll, executive editor and a senior vice president of The Associated Press said, "Jamie has been one of the AP's best sources, and we wish him the best in his upcoming trial."

 

Dramatic Testimony In Jamil Hussein Trial
By STEVEN R. HERST, Associated Press Writer
Two hours ago

BAGHDAD, Iraq - A hush fell over the courtroom earlier as Capt. Jamil Gholaiem Hussein, an eyewitness to a grisly attack on a Sunni mosque in which six men were burned alive, stunned members of the jury and courtroom observers alike as he recounted the details of the attack.

AP executive editor Kathleen Carroll, who was present, said, "Joe's testimony was riveting. You could hear a pin drop in that courtroom."

Legal experts say they expect the trial to wrap up fairly quickly.

 

Jamil Hussein Innocent
By STEVEN R. HERST, Associated Press Writer
Fifty-two minutes ago

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Jamil Hussein, the Khadra police officer who was tried for speaking with the press, was found innocent and released today. Hussein was one of several people who saw a mob of Shia thugs destroy at least nine mosques and burn scores of Sunni worshippers alive.

Kathleen Carroll, executive editor for the Associated Press, expressed relief. "We're very happy for Jack, and I'm personally relieved that his wife and three children won't be left to fend for themselves."

Hussein could not be reached for comment.

 

Acquitted Iraqi Cop Leaves Iraq
By STEVEN R. HERST, Associated Press Writer
twelve minutes ago

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Police Captain Jamil Hussein, recently acquitted on charges of speaking to the media without authorization, boarded a plane for an undisclosed location just moments ago, saying he feared retribution from the Shia gangsters he saw murder hundreds of innocent Sunni women and children and destroy more than twenty mosques during the course of a three-day killing spree last November.

AP executive editor Kathleen Carroll, asked for comment, said "Jim-Bob's wife and children were tragically killed during the massacre last November, so there's really nothing to keep him here," adding, "Maybe now we'll - I mean he'll have some peace."

 

Well, at least it's over now. It is over, right? Oh, never mind.

UPDATE: Blogging means never having to say you're sorry.

 

Comments

[Jeff H]

Amazing how time flies. I just had coffee with Jamil 2 minutes ago in Louisville, KY.

[dougsha]

Sad and pathetic.

[Jamil]

Hey John from Wuzzadem. You pretty funny guy. I like your blog best. Maybe you link to my blog?

Thanks, and as we say in Iraq, we have got an eye or two on you!

[Jeff_F_F]

I'm a bit late on the "Jamil found" story. I was referencing the scandal to a friend and stumbled across it. Now I'm trying to find any original source for the story tha the was found. But all of the sources go either to other blogs or some yahoo page that is no longer working.

Is this for real, or has AP pulled a big scam?