Where's Jamil? (Continued)

Look who's asking the question now. None other than, the Columbia Journalism Review. Paul McCleary, writing in CJR, is asking the Associated Press to "Produce the Phantom Iraqi Source." It's significant that "phantom" isn't even in quotes in the headline.

McCleary credits Editor & Publisher's Strupp for challenging the AP. However, what set E&P thinking (at long last) was Easton Jordan's questioning of AP after his independent investigation.

McCleary, however, thinks it's time to fess up.

Either the captain exists, or he does not, or the name is a pseudonym for someone who fears for his safety -- a very real possibility in chaotic Baghdad. But whatever the truth is, the AP is hurting itself every day it refuses to acknowledge its critics. It's time to present its case, for better or worse.

And the fact that I found the link to the CJR story was through Romenesko's blog at Poynter is telling.

Update: I know I feel better now that the AP has written a definitive story on Capt. Jamil Hussein. The AP interviewed the Interior Minister who previously denied Jamil existed. You see, Jamil could be arrested for talking to the media, the AP says, despite the fact that they claim Jamil has been a source since 2004.

And now they think they can sign their own excuse cards? I DON'T THINK SO!!

Update; So now bloggers are responsible for endangering the life of Jamil Hussein despite the inconvenient fact that Jamil Hussein was a named source for over 60 AP stories. That isn't going to wash either.