Judge to decide on release of new Iraq prison abuse photos (today)

[katinmn]

http://www.oxfordpress.com/news/content/shared/news/nation/stories/08/15ABUSE_PHOTOS.html
Judge to decide on release of new Iraq prison abuse photos
By REBECCA CARR
Cox News Service
Monday, August 15, 2005

WASHINGTON — A showdown is set for Monday in a New York federal court over the Defense Department's refusal to release a new batch of photographs and videos showing U.S. soldiers abusing detainees in Iraq.

The 87 photographs and four videos were taken by Spc. Joseph M. Darby, the Army military policeman who ignited an international maelstrom last year when he turned over photos to authorities that revealed soldiers mistreating, sexually humiliating and threatening inmates at the Abu Ghraib prison west of Baghdad.

Government lawyers say publicly releasing the images would "endanger the safety and lives of individuals, including soldiers and civilians in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere," according to legal documents filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

The American Civil Liberties Union, lead counsel for a coalition of five civil liberties and veterans groups, is asking U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein to reject what it sees as the government's last-ditch effort to keep images from Abu Ghraib from the public.

-more-

[Barrett808]

1. Hersh: "You haven't begun to see evil."

That's how he described some of these other unreleased photos about two years ago. Children being raped by US forces, etc.

[MidwestTransplant]

5. But the Freeptards said it was just panites on peoples' heads

what's the big deal I wonder?

[Roland99]

13. He said something similar to that on Daily Show just before the election

[RaleighNCDUer]

2. More to the point,

releasing the photos and videos would endanger the livlihood of individuals in Washington DC and the Pentagon.

Somebody above the rank of sergeant has got to pay.

[BOSSHOG]

3. How could the pictures endanger anyone?

They just display school boy pranks. Frat boy frivolity. Why anything any red blooded american conservative could endure.

But, as Randy Travis might say, "on the other hand;" if someone would be endangered by their release, that must mean liberals were right all along.

I would think free republic studs would be clammering for their release; if nothing else, to give them something new to masturbate to.

[bearfan454]

17. Aint that the truth.

Death and destruction and human suffering gives these sick fucks hard ons.

[sabra]

4. It's going to come out

at least I hope so...

[tk2kewl]

6. this is only one step... this is going to the SCOTUS

I expect the judge to side with the ACLU, but then the war criminals will appeal and the photos will not be released. this is going to the SCOTUS

[Alpharetta]

11. I agree. I don't know how appeals work

but I am pretty sure the SCOTUS can wait a long time before they rule. Convenient.

[katty]

9. Release them!-let's see how bush has 'liberated' Iraq

[no_to_war_economy]

7. let them out, let them out, let them out

how will jesus lovin red staters react to boy raping videos

it's all about FREEDOM .... gawd what bullshit

[Gregorian]

8. Worse than those killed in Afghanistan while our troops watched?

What about those killed in the cargo containers? Is that a dead story? Thousands were baked to death. And so if that went into the memory hole, who's going to care about these victims?

Meanwhile I'm over at another forum where kids are spouting off about how great bush is for riding with Lance Armstrong. I posted a few pictures of him flipping off the press, and all they can say is it's photoshopped. I think it's hopeless, people. The downward spiral of stupidity is complete. Someone turn out the light.

[peacebird]

18. Armstrong should visit Cindy instead of bike with Bush

he claims he is against the war, so why is he going to suck up to Bush?

[BQueen]

27. Hopefully Lance is planning a "detour"

It would be too funny if Lance rode hard (forcing the insecure preznit and SS to go full out/heads-down to keep up) and thereby distracting them from his route. Skid to a stop in front of Cindy, add water, instant media madness!

[alfredo]

30. I did see his picture on the code pink website.

Don't be to harsh on him for using his popularity to push his agenda. Fighting cancer is a concern for people on both sides of the political scale.

[txindy]

22. Then give them a link to Junior's Quicktime video

In his own words on the video, he proudly calls it his "one-fingered victory salute."

http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/XJ&sdn=politicalhumor&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fanon.salon.speedera.net%2Fanon.salon%2Fmedia%2F2004%2F10%2FBushUncensored.mov

[Judi Lynn]

29. Thanks for that clip. It' s great hearing the little Emperor yammering

"It's just the one-fingered victory salute." Idiot.

[Parrcrow]

10. the argument is

"Government lawyers say publicly releasing the images would "endanger the safety and lives of individuals, including soldiers and civilians in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere," according to legal documents filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York."


If they are speaking of specific individuals, Why the hell have these people not been dealt with then!!

[Not Me]

14. ...like outing CIA agents doesn't endanger the lives of

individuals, including soldiers, operatives and civilians.

What a bunch of lying scum.

[JNelson6563]

12. Would releasing photos be more

damaging then oh, say, our "Commander in Chief" taunting the Iraqis and others against our occupation to "bring it on"? Hard to believe anything more effective than a direct invitation.

Besides, people in that part of the world already know all about this stuff, it's just here in Amerikana that such things are ignored, denied and/or glossed over.

Julie

[TahitiNut]

15. For another perspective, see ...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4356795

[UDenver20]

16. When will we know?

?????

[MADem]

19. Not to play the downer card, but it does not matter for the short term

If the government loses, they will appeal...all the way up to the Supremes if they have to. They'll get an injunction against release in the interim. And we know what The Supremes are made of...those assholes got us into this mess back in 00, when they decided to become 'activist judges.' Peckerwoods!

[katinmn]

26. I don't know what time the hearing was but it should be soon

Check aclu's web site for updates I guess.

[AtomicKitten]

20. We need sunlight on the atrocities.

One would think that exposure of the atrocities last batch would have stopped the evil practices but, no, BushCo will be not be deterred. The only way to stop these bastards from perpetrating their crimes against humanity is MORE EXPOSURE, and that is why it is critical they be exposed. It is THEIR behavior and actions that jeopardizes the troops and Americans, not the exposure of same. Their circuitous reasoning as to why they shouldn't be exposed is bullshit.

[jsamuel]

21. Say the judge really wanted them to give up the photos, what could he do?

[David Zephyr]

23. Notice that Herr Bush never mentions "Saddam's rape rooms" anymore?

Hmmmm.

[Judi Lynn]

33. Darned right we don't.

Something strange happened Sunday on CNN: they started running a clip about children in Philippine prisons. They showed small boys, claimed they were in there for a variety of reason, went over the various crimes, highlighted the fact they were in prison with known pedephiles, showed photos of them jammed elbow to elbow with a crowd
of older people.

The "reporter" standing just one th other side of the bars went into gory detail describing how bad everyone smelled all slammed in there together, and gibbering with ghoulish delight over their predicament.

Anyone watching was suddenly struck with the overwhelming question:
"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS ALL ABOUT?"

As soon as the question arose, I believed I had the answer: the administration fears it may have to turn over the photos and is trying to involve CNN (probably Fox, too) in a little "perception molding" by illustrating how common it is for children to be in jail with people who will rape them in other countries.

I don't think I misread this.

[Jacobin]

24. Rush says they are only 'fraternity pranks',

so, why not release them?

:eyes:

[wishlist]

25. No excuse for not prosecuting the guilty perpetrators/superiors by now

Problem with the release for Defense Dept is the failure to hold people accountable up and down the line who were responsible and prosecute all the perpetrators. If they had swiftly cleaned house, stopped the abuse and punished everyone responsible in chain of command and explained it all to the public convincingly by now there would not be so much concern over the release.

[evilkumquat]

32. You've Raised a Good Point

Here is (hopefully) mine:

It strikes me as odd that this administration, easily the most secretive ever hatched in our nation's history, would maintain their "secrecy at all costs" strategy when it comes to these scandals.

Every time something bad happens, their first response is to bury, delay or discredit everything. And time and time again, we have seen such tactics fail (remember when Bush tried to block the formation of the 9/11 committee?).

One would think that, when faced with a losing strategy, the guilty party would form a new one. This administration has not, which makes me wonder:

What are they currently getting away with that makes them think their secrecy strategy is successful?

Therein lies such demons to make the heart quail, me thinks.

Evil Kumquat

[deadparrot]

28. Is anyone else sick to their stomach at the prospect of viewing

these images?

They absolutely should be released, to show exactly what's going on. The truth is at times unbearable, but it's the truth, and it needs to be shown.

Still, the idea of children being physically and sexually assauted is one of the few things that can get me physically ill (and physically angry).

[katinmn]

31. Yes, it's sad and revolting. And we must stop it!

[dxstone]

34. How can you fight great evil if you can't bear to look at it?

Not that that's easy; I'm not saying that at all...
But to simplify: If your phobia about spiders is so extreme that you can't bear to even LOOK at 'em, then you can't kill 'em; if you can't look, you can't effectively strike 'em with a shoe.
In such a scenario, one is utterly powerless... and utter madness is not far behind.
So... revolting as this will be, we MUST get those photos out there if we want to rouse the sleeping sheeple masses; if they are not given the opportunity to SEE (and hear--shudder!) what is being done in their names, they will NEVER move to violently reject this hideously twisted perversion of democracy.
Great thread, Kat! K & N!
d

[bananas]

44. I didn't look at the beheading videos

and I won't look at these,
but they must be made public.

[elehhhhna]

35. If the Fed can withhold pics, etc. because they might "piss people off",

...say goodbye to all information of any kind, everywhere.

Let's call it the "Sunshine up Our ass"initiative.

[mmonk]

36. I say have them

sent to all the churches, especially those that were involved with "justice Sunday".

[Fire Walk With Me]

38. Heh.. And make banners of them for the 9/11 "walk"

[unhappycamper]

37. These pics will come out.

Sooner or later. Officially or via a leak.

:kick:

[The_Casual_Observer]

39. At least chimp doesn't talk about "rape rooms" anymore.

He cut that shit out after the first batch were released.

[xynthee]

40. UPDATE: NY judge rules some arguments in Abu Ghraib prison photo case

. . . must be divulged

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--detaineerecords0815aug15,0,6072046.story?coll=ny-region-apnewyork

It'll be August 30th before they can even delay it again!! ARRRRRGGGGHHHH!!!!

snip:

The judge scheduled arguments on the question of whether the photographs and videos should be released for Aug. 30, saying a speedy decision is important so the public's right to know isn't compromised.

[katinmn]

41. Thanks!

[warrens]

42. He punted the real question to next month

I guess two weeks is not unreasonable, but they are going to tie this up in court forever. This is exactly like a murder defendant saying to the judge, if they give out the details of my crime, there might be rioting in the streets, so why not let me go and we can forget all about this unpleasantness.

I cannot believe any judge would fall for this shit. I can see giving that lying fuck Myers some respect, but he's just doing what Cheney tells him to do or they will ruin his career, call him a traitor, take away his pension and in general (no pun intended) do a Chuck Connors on his ass.

This administration is going to end up in SuperMax once people like Myers and Powell et al have had enough. But they seem to be masochists. Harder, harder, SIR. Strip the skin off my ass. Oh, oh, it feels so good.

[Swamp Rat]

43. kick