Abu Ghraib Photo/Video update via ACLU--F* the administration!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[uppityperson]

I just got off the phone with the ACLU, media division. She said they have not gotten the photos/videos, that the government filed a court document saying that even after being redacted, the photos and videos meet an exception to the (dang, can't read my handwriting of official phrase. public release of records thingy) so are asking that they not be released.

ACLU is filing a response, protesting, etc. They are working on a press statement to be on their website and (I expect) released to the press. Stay tuned.

[laylah]

1. Low life,

bottom feeding bastards! :mad:

Jenn

[Caution]

2. Simply unreal. defying court orders now too.

When are people going to wake up to the audacity of this administration?

[warrens]

57. This is going to piss off the court

They had six weeks to file this motion. Waiting until the last minute is a sleazy trick and I doubt they get more than a day or two delay.

[Oreo]

3. Isn't it a court order?

[QuettaKid]

4. KICK.

[Disturbed]

7. Laws are useless if no one has the power to enforce them.

Amerika is gradualy slipping into a Fascist Police State.

[Karenina]

18. Metrics?

FUCK YOU.

Cheney's Energy papers?

FUCK YOU.

DSM Signatures?

FUCK YOU.

Release pix?

FUCK YOU.

Answer questions?

FUCK YOU.

[doublethink]

90. Wish I could nominate your post for the greatest page ...

that pretty much sums it up. Peace.

[CountAllVotes]

93. great photo!

No need to post any comments - that picture (last one) tells the whole story. They look like they are guilty as can be and sweating bullets.

Evil cannot exist forever! It eventually destroys itself by the very nature of what it is!

:kick:

[anarch]

39. corrrrect!

international laws as well as the laws that our nation used to be ruled by. Who's going to stop these monsters? Who? A: nobody but the American people, who won't do unless enough of them see the truth. Shit.

[LibertyorDeath]

58. Yes and the gradually seems to be accelerating IMO

"House OKs bill making Patriot Act permanent"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4169325

[AuntiBush]

86. Gradually...

Sadly, I think we're eerily already there, disturbed. And we're the only ones that get-it.

[uppityperson]

9. There is an order. The gvt filed a court thing asking to change it

Could be an interesting day. Fuck them. They filed an request to change the order. Not sure of the details of the request, this is what I know so far. They filed a request to not release them, that even redacted they meet an "exceptional" rule to not release which is the reason for releasing them because this bad of shit happened. ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[evolved Anarchopunk]

5. the day of... .THE FUCKIN DAY OF... THE>VERY>DAY>OF!!!

this is a truly sick, sick, sad administration. and i am sick sick sad of it..

[evolved Anarchopunk]

6. kick

unreal

[Stinky The Clown]

8. Bush to Amerika: Fuck You, Suckers

[acmejack]

19. Yes, indeed!

They really are a dictatorship! Above the law, able to disappear people, they do anything they want & these sorry assed people who claim to be citizens sit there and take it.

[WhiteTara]

10. they must be so terrible

that chimpy and crew know they will go down in flames in a minute if they are released. Damn them all to hell

[troubleinwinter]

11. Fuckers! (nominated)

[LittleClarkie]

12. the photos must be pretty bad if they don't wnat them seen

bastards.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

13. This is the height of bad faith

Asking for an extension of time in which to produce the photos for the stated reason of redacting them and then raising a defense to their production that should have been raised at the beginning.

[Warren DeMontague]

14. I thought that fighting the court order was "asking that they not be

released".

Now, I guess, they're really asking that they not be relased.

[uppityperson]

21. That is my take on what the ACLU person told me

Of course they are bad. Good thing we have an independent 3 branches of gvt (judicial, congressional, executive). Fuck. That is all.

[Warren DeMontague]

23. Unbelievable.

I'm not surprised, but, still, unbelievable.

Particularly that they went through the charade of blowing off the first date, requesting an extension, claiming they were doing the redacting, etc. etc.

Seems to me that clearly they've never intended to let that stuff go from the beginning.

[cmd]

63. Just as I expected

We are probably being "protected" by not releasing them.:eyes:

[Straight Shooter]

15. The administration is just sticking a finger in a dam of expanding holes.

With Rove/Libby on the public's mind, give the administration a few days to hold this off. The very fact they're stonewalling is proof that what's contained in these photos/videos is extremely damaging.

I guess they're claiming they have no duty to turn them over under the FOIA, Freedom of Information Act. I bet they're claiming it would harm national security :eyes:

[Generator]

16. The bright spot

Is hopefully (ha with our worthless press but still) the refusal will draw more attention to it.

What are they trying to hide???? Talking point memo numbero uno.

[tibbiit]

88. right on

"The bright spot"
Posted by Generator

Is hopefully (ha with our worthless press but still) the refusal will draw more attention to it.

What are they trying to hide???? Talking point memo numbero uno.

You got that right on! And... just like changing lanes at the grocery store or bank tellers (most times) ends up screwing you up worse than patiently waiting... these pictures will come out and it will be an even worse time for them in the long run:) (hope hope)
tib

modified to highlight post
modified again because the highlight was a big ooops:)

[Nothing Without Hope]

17. Nominated. These criminals just make it up as they go along.

The photos must REALLY show the GOP lies for what they are. Raping children? Gee, that's sure good for national security - must be mini-terra-ists!

[Warren DeMontague]

20. Kick. This is VERY IMPORTANT.

People should really ask just how damning this material is. Seems to me they're on very shaky legal ground, here- and they're praying no one will pay attention. (The media sure won't, until there are images they can't ignore)

[QuettaKid]

22. Kick!! This is beyond important.nt

j

[wli]

25. they're supposed to be insanely bad

I suppose I should know what they're planning to do to me (and all other liberals) before panicking or whatever.

[uppityperson]

24. Check the ACLU website out later today

I have to go to work, will check later. I am outraged by this. Of course they are bad. Of course the administration needs to be called on it. This is why they need to be released. It could be an interesting day. Is this the Friday news dump? Will it be ignored?

[evolved Anarchopunk]

34. Someone here speculated that this would be a friday

news dump. It started with the usual "well people react less to news (esp. bad news) on fridays. If anything, no one would take the time to contact their senators or do anything proactive until Mon." which is true. But then someone else responded asking if they would challenge it last minute and bury it under the very same conditions. I thought, nope, there would be riots in the streets and even Bush and his cronies know that...

man am i a dupe :banghead:
a dupe :banghead:
a dupe :banghead:
a fuckin dupe for believing that this admin. wasn't on top of anything that could possibly topple their pathetic Hierarchy.

They were on top of it the whole time..

goddammit

[Mnemosyne]

26. I don't want to see them, but want them released.

I looked at pics from Fallujah, can't bear anything else.

Accountability is coming for the regime!!

[uppityperson]

27. Exactly

[Disturbed]

31. Many in Congress have seen them.

They were allowed to view them and then the DOD whisked them away. Some reported that some of the folk that viewed them has ashen faces. Congress apparently agreed that these photos and video should never bee seen by the Amerikan public. I believe that the majority of members of Congress are anti-USA Constiturion and The Bill of Rights.

[Dover]

28. I will be VERY interested to see if the Dems are just as eager to

keep these photos out of the media. If they aren't pushing, along with the ACLU to get the release, it speaks volumes.

[Democracy White]

29. Must be hiding something, big time...

why else would they all of sudden want to stop letting the info out?

Dee

[Twist_U_Up]

30. This is a serious Admission of Guilt

but I guess when you control elections these things need not worry you.

I fear for a major 9/11 like attack to happen soon.

[in_cog_ni_to]

32. Stall, Stall, Stall

Stonewall, Stonewall, Stonewall. bastards.

[catmandu57]

33. Arrogant bastards

This is the second time they haven't released them. I get the feeling that there are so many balls in the air right now someone is going to drop one, and the whole stinking mess is going to be exposed.

[DistressedAmerican]

35. Well There It Fucking Is!

Gotta do some work...

Damn Their Evil Criminal Asses!!!

DA

[Warren DeMontague]

45. Hate to say I told you so, DA

Good Luck.

:thumbsup:

[sabra]

49. Sadly, I am not that suprised... :-(

Keep up the fight!

:yourock:

[Democracy White]

36. Ok, I just read this a little bit more closely...

So basically the gov't is saying FUCK YOU to the ACLU?! WTF?!

Aren't they basically going against a COURT ORDER?!!

If this was some petty business, you bet your ass that they would be in trouble. But this isn't some petty business, it's the FUCKING * MISADMINSTRATION once again trying to cover their asses. The FUCKERS!!!

Dee

[uppityperson]

52. Link to Center for Constitutional Rights statement

"they are now requesting a 7(F) exemption from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act to withhold law enforcement-related information in order to protect the physical safety of individuals."
http://www.ccr-ny.org/v2/reports/report.asp?ObjID=imOUU2rj8m&Content=608

Of course they will inflame people. What inflames people is not just the torture but the bushite coverup and this is why they need to be released.

[Democracy White]

55. So they want to protect their asses?

how typical.

Dee

[lostnfound]

82. NOW they care about "physical safety of individuals" ??? Not with Plame!!

Inconsistency is the mark of corrupt individuals with this bunch.

[anarch]

37. I knew it! I knew they would pull some shit like this.

just waiting for all-out martial law....

Why would anyone be surprised at this? This is the same bunch that violated all kinds of international law in the first place by invading/occupying, and also has instituted torture as a matter of policy. Absolutely no respect for the law, or anything else.

[seabeyond]

40. not surprised but judge is going to be pissed

he was independent enough to say pictures had to be released. he allowed some time. now for them to bring this to judge.

they are going to come out. i dont believe there will be anything they can do, besides just ignore judge. and that will make it a hundred times worse

[Warren DeMontague]

42. Seems to me they're already ignoring the judge.

What part of "release them" don't they understand?

[anarch]

47. I don't think this administration cares who they offend

they see themselves, truly, as above the law and beyond all reproach or accountability. They'll do everything they can to keep this evidence from ever seeing the light of day...

[seabeyond]

51. another of the many examples of admin abuse. if the media picks

this up. another example to the american people. they are tired. look at what is happening with the rove, plame, iraq war, dms. polls are lousy for bush

let them defy.

let dems and aclu make a huge ass loud to do

let media cover it, smelling more blood. this feed media what they need to get off their ass

bushco's did another legal manuever. this stuff is common, always. doesnt mean they win

[Mandate My Ass]

38. After getting their butts blistered by repub former CIA agents

They can't afford to have more of their illegal, immoral behavior exposed in one day. And something tells me these photos will be brutally ugly.

[Warren DeMontague]

43. If I didn't think they were bad before...

I'm convinced they must be plenty atrocious, now.

[bluestateguy]

41. I have kind of an old fashioned view about courts and court rulings

The idea that court rulings should be obeyed. Not questioned, not appealed endlessly, but obeyed because the court says so.

Oh, and fewer lawyers too.

[progressoid]

44. Well, geee wiz. Color me shocked.

[Hubert Flottz]

46. America needs to see the "MORALITY" their tax dollars are ...

paying for! Bush is still a COWARD!

[helderheid]

48. We aren't going to forget! We need some massive movement to demand the

truth about the torture!

[GreenPartyVoter]

50. Thanks for keeping on top of this!

[QuettaKid]

53. KICK !!!

:kick:

[steve2470]

54. HERE is a link to the court order

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4153139

[helderheid]

56. How could they fight this ORDER?????? Oh I am so mad.

[hiley]

59. I am pissed too

but thankful for CCR and the ACLU
and Amnesty International. This is not the fucking end, those pics and videos will get out eventually.
Hiley

Guantanamo: the Calculus of Human Misery
The Bush Administration did not need the facility at Guantanamo Bay to fight the war on terror. The US has hundreds of other detention centers around the world where the 540 inmates could have been accommodated. Instead, they chose Guantanamo.

Why?

By all admissions, the top-security prison has served as a powerful recruiting tool for young jihadis willing to take up arms against America. As far as we know, the prison is exclusively occupied by Muslims, creating the impression that the war on terror is, in fact, a war on Islam. The problem is compounded when men like Larry Franklin, who works in the Defense Department, are released on $100,000 bond after providing “Top Secret” information to AIPAC, while Muslims who were arbitrarily rounded up in Afghanistan languish in tiny cells without any prospect of legal recourse. Who poses the greater threat to America?

The Muslim world is keenly aware of America’s double standards even if we are not.

Guantanamo was intentionally shoved in the world’s face to announce the arrival of the New World Order: the neocon phantasm of autocratic rule and perpetual war. It has become the foremost icon of the Bush regime: an ominous stone monument to human cruelty. It is cleverly disguised as a prison facility but, in fact, Guantanamo is a state of the art laboratory where the parameters of human suffering are explored by a highly trained staff of professionals. To be precise, it is a “torture lab” replete with all of the modern gadgetry required for enhancing pain.
snip---
http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?id=8516

http://www.cageprisoners.com/

Watch flash movie "Why?"
Also many other videos including "You are not forgotten"
http://www.cageprisoners.com/media.php?section=Video&PHPSESSID=e06db83c93f3177b3cdd09e5fbd41d06

[katinmn]

60. Shit. They think they OWN this fucking country lock, stock and barrel.

Lying sick bastards.

Did you catch that they threatened to investigate the ACLU this week for subversive activities?

Damn. I cannot take anymore.

[Warren DeMontague]

61. Maybe if we could hide the court order in a videogame

certain members of our party might be persuaded to give a damn.

[WhoWantsToBeOccupied]

83. Brilliant comment! So painfully true.

[garybeck]

62. welcome to fascism

[rockymountaindem]

64. Yeah, I can't believe people actually thought they were coming out today.

n/t

[dxstone]

65. UTTERLY LAWLESS, corrupt, diseased, insane misadministration.

Hate to sound like Hudson from Aliens, but that's it, man... we are fucked now...
We've had about 30 years to do something about this corruption; it's been growing steadily, ever since Reagan...
Man, is it ever hard for me to find ANY HOPE at all anymore...



Nice knowin' yas, kids...
d

[katinmn]

67. Time to get out before we get locked in!

[tiptoe]

77. Too True: "World War IV" Neocon Godfather, Podhoretz

“We may willy-nilly find ourselves forced … to topple five or six or seven more tyrannies in the Islamic world (including that other sponsor of terrorism, Yasir Arafat’s Palestinian Authority). I can even the turmoil of this war leading to some new species of an imperial mission for America, whose purpose would be to oversee the emergence of successor governments in the region more amenable to reform and modernization than the despotisms now in place. … I can also envisage the establishment of some kind of American protectorate over the oil fields of Saudi Arabia, as we more and more come to wonder why 7,000 princes should go on being permitted to exert so much leverage over us and everyone else. “

Norman Podhoretz, grandfather’ of the neoconservative movement, author of “World War IV”


"No stages. This is total war. We are fighting a variety of enemies. There are lots of them out there. All this talk about first we are going to do Afghanistan, then we will do Iraq... this is entirely the wrong way to go about it. If we just let our vision of the world go forth, and we embrace it entirely, and we don't try to piece together clever diplomacy, but just wage a total war ...our children will sing great songs about us years from now."
Richard Perle, Council on Security Policy

[nadinbrzezinski]

66. anyubody surprsied

[Moochy]

68. ACLU Press Release

Defense Department Refuses to Turn Over Abuse Photographs; Asks to File Secret Brief Justifying Refusal

http://www.aclu.org/SafeandFree/SafeandFree.cfm?ID=18811&c=206

July 22, 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Erica Pelletreau, 212-519-7829; 549-2666; [e-mail]

NEW YORK -- Today, July 22, was the day the government was supposed to process and redact photographs and videos relating to the abuse and torture of prisoners held abroad. Raising new arguments on the eve of its deadline, the United States government refused to release the materials to the public. The photographs and videos were to be processed for eventual release as a result of a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and other organizations.

"The government is raising newfound reasons for withholding records to which the public has an undeniable right," said Amrit Singh, a staff attorney with the ACLU. "Instead of releasing these records and holding officials accountable for detainee abuse, the government now seeks to shield itself from public scrutiny by filing these reasons in secret."

In a letter filed at the eleventh hour, the Department of Defense claims that photographs and videos of abuse that the court had previously ordered redacted for future release "could result in harm to individuals" for reasons that will be set forth in a memorandum and three declarations that the Government will file under seal with the U.S. District Court of the Southern District of New York.

Under the government’s proposal, the documents explaining the government’s reasons for withholding the images of abuse will not be available to the public except in redacted form, and the photographs and videos may never be made public.

The ACLU has expressed skepticism at what appears to be yet another attempt by the government to deny the public critical information about the abuse and torture of prisoners.

The photographs and videos in question were redacted by the Defense Department in response to a June 1, 2005 court order relating to a lawsuit filed under the Freedom of Information Act filed by the ACLU, the Center for Constitutional Rights, Physicians for Human Rights, Veterans for Common Sense and Veterans for Peace. The New York Civil Liberties Union is co-counsel in the case.

To date, more than 60,000 pages of government documents have been released in response to the ACLU's Freedom of Information Act lawsuit. The ACLU has been posting these documents online at www.aclu.org/torturefoia.

The FOIA lawsuit is being handled by Lawrence Lustberg and Megan Lewis of the New Jersey-based law firm Gibbons, Del Deo, Dolan, Griffinger & Vecchione, P.C. Other attorneys in the case are Singh, Jameel Jaffer, and Judy Rabinovitz of the ACLU; Arthur N. Eisenberg and Beth Haroules of the NYCLU; and Barbara Olshansky of the Center for Constitutional Rights.

[katinmn]

69. They must have pictures of Rumsfeld in them, leering away.

[dxstone]

70. Or Bush sucking people's brains out...

It's not making him any smarter, but it keeps him happy...

[katinmn]

73. OMG!

That's him -- the brain sucking leech.

[spanone]

71. This administration believes it is above the law.

bastards. They answer to no one. Where has the balance of power gone in this nation? Stunned.

[dxstone]

72. My favorite poet in all the world, Peter Sinfield, said it all long ago:

Epitaph

The wall on which the prophets wrote
Is cracking at the seams
Upon the instruments of death
The sunlight brightly gleams
When every man is torn apart
With nightmares and with dreams
Will no one lay the laurel wreath
When silence drowns the screams?

Confusion shall be my epitaph
As I crawl a cracked and broken path
If we make it we can all sit back and laugh
But I fear tomorrow I'll be crying

Between the iron gates of fate
The seeds of time were sown
And watered by the deeds of those
Who know and who are known
Knowledge is a deadly friend
When no one sets the rules
The fate of all mankind I see
Is in the hands of fools

Epitaph/King Crimson
Court of the Crimson King

[katinmn]

74. "When every man is torn apart -With nightmares and with dreams"

Will no one lay the laurel wreath
When silence drowns the screams?
:(

[cynatnite]

84. Incredible poem!

I've discovered how fond I am of poetry only in the last few months since I started watching Def Poetry on HBO.

I'm saving this one to read again. I'll never tire of it.

[kliljedahl]

75. Kick this mother

Keith’s Barbeque Central

[kliljedahl]

96. Kick for Sunday

[brettdale]

76. Im betting

These photos will NEVER be released.

[Poll_Blind]

78. Kick...unbelieveable! n/t

PB

[senseandsensibility]

79. kick

eom

[loudsue]

80. SOMEBODY needs to LEAK a copy of those photos.

Surely there are copies SOMEWHERE! :shrug:

NOW is the PRIME time for someone to leak those things. Somehow, some news hound, or some patriot somewhere, could get their hands on them. The American people should be furious at what is being done in our name, with our tax dollars.


:kick::kick::kick:

[annabanana]

81. THAT would be an act of courage!

I would be very very impressed with a hero like that.

[Warren DeMontague]

94. You know THAT would be one leak that would be prosecuted

by the administration to the full extent of the law!

[Burried News]

85. We will punish those reponsible and show the people of Iraq

how a democracy works.

[Historic NY]

87. All this and more from the * administration which touts the

"rule of law" but conveniently violates it left & right. They believe they are above the law.

[rumpel]

89. They still believe and act as if they are above the law.

[Warren DeMontague]

91. NY Times: "Government Defies An Order to Release Iraq Abuse Photos"

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/23/politics/23abuse.html?oref=login
(registration Req'd)


Lawyers for the Defense Department are refusing to cooperate with a federal judge's order to release secret photographs and videotapes related to the Abu Ghraib prison abuse scandal.

The lawyers said in a letter sent to the federal court in Manhattan late Thursday that they would file a sealed brief explaining their reasons for not turning over the material, which they were to have released by yesterday.

...

In early June, Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein of Federal District Court in Manhattan ordered the release of the additional photographs, part of a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union to determine the extent of abuse at American military prisons in Iraq and Afghanistan and at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.

[rman]

92. hm, contempt of court?

that'd be the day

[Warren DeMontague]

95. I'm very curious to see what the judge has to say. Hopefully on Monday but

I have no idea how these things work.

[derby378]

97. WARNING: Extreme gallows humor

The unofficial Abu Ghraib theme song - to the tune of Rawhide. Sing along, or feel free to send this to your Democratic Congressperson or Senators to remind them what they let * talk them into voting for!!

Rollin', rollin', rollin'
Keep that prisoner rollin'
'Til that towelhead's showin
No hide!

At Abu Ghraib they're dyin'
While Rumsfeld, he's denyin'
And Code Pink wants some firin'
Of his hide

But Bush got "re-elected"
The prisoners are dejected
Their fate has been selected
No hide!

Strip 'em down
Kick a butt
Stack 'em up
Crack a nut
Take a pic
Show it off
No hide!

Chain him down
To a bed
Put some panties
On his head
Rabbit punch
To the gut...
No hiiiiiiiiiiiiide!
No hiiiiiiiiiiiiide!

NO HIDE!

[KTM]

98. We need ONE GOOD PERSON

To just release the photos. Fuck the government, fuck the law, fuck the BS - all it takes is ONE GOOD PERSON to keep this evil bunch of criminals from hiding behind a corrupted system which they control.

ONE GOOD PERSON.

Where are you ????

[Warren DeMontague]

99. I'm curious to see what happens tomorrow.

I wonder if the Judge will be pleased about this turn of events.

[Warren DeMontague]

100. And..... Nothing, Apparently. nt

[uppityperson]

101. And on to Tuesday.

waiting, waiting...