an open letter to the associated press

Dear Sirs.
On February 23rd, 1945, an Associated Press photographer called Joe Rosenthal took a picture of American marines erecting the US flag atop Mount Surabachi on the island of Iwo Jima.
The marines had lost 6000 men to take the island.
The photo shows something of the toughness, valour and sheer bloody minded indomitability of those who bequeathed to us the legacy of our freedoms.
Joe Rosenthal dispatched it to the Associated Press who in turn sent it around the world.
The photo became the model for the military memorial at Arlington cemetary in Virginia.
Joe Rosenthal died in 2006 at the age of ninety.
He was a journalist and photographer and more again.
He was that rarity working in the photographic medium, an artist.
Now let us look at some of the photographers working for the Associated Press today.
In Iraq the Americans have just released an Associated Press photographer Mr Bilal Hussein after two years in custody.
He was never charged with anything.
Occasionally liberal minded folk will tell you that the fact he wasn't charged, means he wasn't guilty of anything.
The Americans detained the Associated Press photographer Bilal Hussein because Bilal Hussein had an uncanny capacity to show up for the roadside bombing murders of American troops before those roadside bombing murders of American troops took place.
In other words the Americans believed your photographer was working for Al Qaeda.
I concur with their assessment.
A similar situation has this week come to light in Afghanistan.
An Associated Press photographer in Afghanistan Mr Rahmatullah Naikazad photographed the execution of two women for the Taliban.
That is to say, the Associated Press photographer Rahmatullah Naikazad accompanied the Taliban to the Taliban's secret hideout, and watched without offering any resistance while the Taliban humiliated, violated and murdered the two women.
In fact as the murders were taking place, the Associated Press photographer Rahmatullah Naikazad moved freely around the murder scene clicking away with his camera to get the best possible pictures of the women as they were being humiliated, violated, and murdered.
He was careful not to photograph the faces of the murderers though.
Clearly anyone who could behave as the Associated Press photographer Mr Rahmatullah Naikazad behaved in this instance, must be considered an agent of the Taliban.
The girls died alone and unaided with one of your photographers present.
I want to ask you this Associated Press.
Have you no shame?
Let me be frank.
Bilal Hussein and Rahmatullah Naikazad are Associated Press photographers of the year 2008.
Just think.
Sixty years ago you were employing men of the calibre of Joe Rosenthal.
Today you employ Jihadi's.
In 1945 the Associated Press was publishing a photograph that would come to symbolise the spirit and self sacrifice of the great generation.
Today you're publishing snuff murder pix for Al Qaeda.
How the mighty have fallen.
Shame on you.
James Healy