Shocking

Now, I'll be the first to admit that I don't know all that much about this story. (But hey, when has a blogger ever let that stop them from yapping about it?) Here's the quick & dirty version:

NEW YORK The Associated Press has just sent E&P the following dispatch from Baghdad, as it was about to be distributed on its wire. The existence of Jamil Hussein had been hotly disputed by conservative bloggers, some Iraqi officials and the U.S. military in recent weeks.

Basically, conservative bloggers were climbing all over the AP like lice on a monkey, more or less accusing them of journalistic fraud. Well, guess what, friends and neighbors?

BAGHDAD (AP) -- 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.

In case you're wondering, the biggest mouth leading this pack of yapping attack poodles was your friend and mine, Michelle Malkin.

But here's the shocking bit. The amazing, OMG no way!, you've-got-to-be-kidding-me bit.

Malkin and her ilk are refusing to admit they were wrong, or apologize.

Oh my goodness! I do believe I have the vapors! Be a treasure and bring me a mint julep on the fainting couch!

Snark aside, this is just obnoxious and dangerous; it shows how these foaming wingnuts will say anything and do anything, facts be damned, as long as it gets them a pound of flesh. Must... prove... Bush was right!!

In the meantime, an Iraqi police officer has been arrested because Malkin and her slavering followers couldn't keep their goddamn mouths shut. David Neiwart says:

In other words, Malkin and her friends have successfully criminalized the flow of any information outside of official Iraqi channels.

Nice going, gang. I'm sure the reporters on the ground in Baghdad will thank you for that.

For people that claim to "support" the war in Iraq, they sure seem hellbent to make everything worse.

More, of course, by David Neiwart, Sadly, No!, Crooks & Liars, and Greenwald. (Update: Tbogg, too.) (More Update: More at the All Spin Zone.)

Roxanne, pointing to this story, wins the prize for Picture of the Year.

**Warning** Once you see it, you can't un-see it.

(By the way, Malkin's upcoming trip to Iraq was for the stated purpose of finding Jamil Hussein. Think she'll still be going?)