Afghan journalist for CTV labelled 'unlawful enemy combatant'

[Praxius]

http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2008/02/27/afghanistan-journalist.html

^ Yes I know.... Ironic that it's coming from CBC.

The U.S. military has designated a journalist employed by CTV in Afghanistan as an unlawful enemy combatant.

A military spokesman told the Associated Press that a review board has determined Jawed Ahmad, an Afghan national, is a danger to foreign troops and the Afghan government.

Ahmad has been held for the last four months at the U.S. military compound in Bagram, 50 kilometres north of the capital, Kabul. U.S. officials alleged he had Taliban phone numbers and videos in his possession when he was picked up.

Maj. Chris Belcher, a spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition, says Ahmad was given an opportunity to provide a statement to the military's enemy combatant review board.
Belcher did not say when the review took place or whether Ahmad was represented by counsel.

Belcher also refused to provide details about what he called "credible information" against Ahmad. Nor would he say whether the military believed Ahmad had any more contact with the Taliban than other journalists working in Afghanistan.

It is common for journalists in Afghanistan to have contact information on Taliban fighters so that they can seek comments for news stories.

Where's the usual bragging of details proving he's a bad guy?

Sounds more like he had footage or material someone didn't want to get out. And besides that, who gives a rats arse if he had phone numbers and videos of Taliban.... he's a friggin reporter in Afghanistan.... I imagine plenty of them over there do. Having phone numbers and videos are hardly anything I would relate to terrorism, and I am sure this reporter was just about to slap on his suicide vest before the picked him up.

Sorry for being typically skeptical, but I've heard this "credible information" BS one too many times where there wasn't any.

 

[karrie]

Geez. I don't even know what to say on this one.