Rightwing witch-hunt gets Iraqi source arrested [VIDEO]

Here's an object lesson that isn't likely to be heeded.

Suspicious of an AP story unflattering to the U.S. and Iraqi government (and goaded by a Centcomm press release and American & Iraqi officials who had everything to gain by undermining the legitimacy of the story) several right-wingers set out to locate the source, listed as "Jamil Hussein." They looked back and LO!! he'd been a source numerous times.

These geniuses figured out how a reporter becomes a reporter.

Former CNN bigwig Eason Jordan and his IraqSlogger blog hopped on the SS Malkin, posting a piece under the INVESTIGATION headline: "Captain Jamil Hussein: Fact or Fiction?"

Top notch way to soil your new project.

Fox's Brit Hume enlisted too (video upper right) as much of the right wing blogosphere pushed the idea relentlessly.

But... AP's source was finally revealed yesterday:

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.

Ministry spokesman Brig. Abdul-Karim Khalaf, who had previously denied there was any such police employee as Capt. Jamil Hussein, said in an interview that Hussein is an officer assigned to the Khadra police station, as had been reported by The Associated Press.

Not only that but he's going to be arrested for...