Pentagon Blocks Release of Abu Ghraib Images: YOUNG BOYS SODOMIZED

[Bluebear]

“Rumsfeld told Congress the unrevealed photos and videos contain acts 'that can only be described as blatantly sadistic, cruel and inhuman.’”

The military later screened some of the images for lawmakers, who said they showed, among other things, attack dogs snarling at cowed prisoners, Iraqi women forced to expose their breasts, and naked prisoners forced to have sex with each other.

In the same period, reporter Seymour Hersh, who helped uncover the scandal, said in a speech before an ACLU convention: “Some of the worse that happened that you don't know about, ok? Videos, there are women there. Some of you may have read they were passing letters, communications out to their men….The women were passing messages saying ‘Please come and kill me, because of what's happened.’

“Basically what happened is that those women who were arrested with young boys/children in cases that have been recorded. The boys were sodomized with the cameras rolling. The worst about all of them is the soundtrack of the boys shrieking that your government has. They are in total terror it's going to come out.”

http://www.mediainfo.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000990590

[ElsewheresDaughter]

1. jesus wept

[GreenPartyVoter]

26. If only the religious right would

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

42. It'll give ol' Falwell one hell of a stiffie

As for Robertson- if it ain't covered in diamonds, forget about it.

[faithnotgreed]

51. so very much....

one day
one day

[Lord_StarFyre]

2. OK Mr Rumsferatu

We'll keep these secret, if you'll report to Leavenworth for a life sentence...

Actually, Fuck That! Release the Fucking Pictures and Videos, and we'll still put your lying, war criminal ass in Leavenworth, then cremate your diseased corpse when you and your co-criminals die slow painful deaths behind bars where you Insane Animals belong.

IMPEACH THE TYRANT NOW!

[havocmom]

15. Don't waste fuel for that fire. Let the birds have their corpses

Let the bugs have what's left.

[Lord_StarFyre]

19. Honestly, I 'd normally agree

...but in the case of these rabid War Criminals, I don't want there to be enough of them left over for their insane supporters to worship as relics of "Martyrs to the Conservative Cause".

Scatter their ashes in sewers!

[havocmom]

25. The believers in such evil leaders will find 'relics' to worship, whether

they exist or not. Let the corpses rot. Give no funeral rites to such evil.

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. Well maybe this means the idiots in D.C.

have a conscience after all.

[havocmom]

17. No, it means they know their asses are on the line if the videos come out

There would be no way to spin that they set the stage for what went on.

[BeHereNow]

4. Perfectly stated:

"They are in total terror it's going to come out.”

Bingo- that is the bottom line.
Think the attacks on our young troops lied into
an illegal war and occupation are bad now???

The release of these photos and videos
assure the start of WWIII or a "Holy War."
No doubt, all hell will break loose if the documentation
of these abuses and atrocities are made public.
BHN

[Union Thug]

20. When are these photos/vids going to be LEAKED???

You'd think someone with access would think it important enough to let them slide into the hands of a few journalists.

[BeHereNow]

24. The question should be addressed to our "Dem" representatives!

THEY KNOW.
THEY HAVE SEEN THE DOCUMENTATION.

Not a peep of protest.
We need to clean house, get rid of them all.
By their silence, they condone the use of our
military and tax dollars to this end.
FUCKERS, nearly everyone of them,
save a very few.
BHN

[Bluebear]

27. "THEY KNOW."

Damning and true. Bastards.

[asianmale]

28. Yikes, good point

"The release of these photos and videos
assure the start of WWIII or a "Holy War."
No doubt, all hell will break loose if the documentation
of these abuses and atrocities are made public.
BHN"
A chilling thought just occured to me. What if all the abuse was planned in order to so enrage the Muslim world that an all out war would start. Perhaps this is exactly what is desired by Washington and London? Maybe others?

[BeHereNow]

29. Welcome to DU AsianMale-

No, I don't think that is the case, OR they would release the
documentation.
I rather think that they simply did not count on
a leak of this documentation.
Now they are indeed terrified that the truth will
reach the world at large and they will be exposed and brought
to justice for what they have perpetuated in abuses against
humanity.
If the documentation is as horrific as has been implied,
they KNOW the blowback will be uncontrollable-
Not just from the Muslim community, but from the very
people who have supported the war; you know the jello brained
good ol'murikkkan types.
They are incredibly stupid, yes, but will they endorse this type
of abuse on their tax dollar?
NO WAY.
Remember they were ready to lynch Michael Jackson fo r
ALLEGED abuse- what would they do with ACTUAL confirmation
of homosexual child abuse against Iraqi children?
Think about it.
BHN

[FreedomAngel82]

53. I agree

They can fool us and hide things from most Americans on the "news" but they can't control the world's news outlets and the internet. So many people will be pissed off at them as the Bush administration should be (people pissed off at them).

[asianmale]

57. Yes, but---

What if they leaked the existence of the video in order to be "forced" to release them. Stonewall a while then be compelled to release the new pics and videos. Seems like a lot more impact that way. The whole world is now watching with bated breath.
A stretch, admittedly. But then I sure don't trust any of our govt as far as I could throw them. I think the Military-Industrial Complex believes it needs a really good war. The Soviets can't be a threat anymore, the Chinese are too smart to deplete their resources in war. The North Koreans just won't cooperate. Where oh where can the M-I-C drum up a really good war?
Is this tinfoil hat-ish? Am I paranoid?

[asianmale]

58. And, I agree

if it is shown that our guys harmed a child by sexual molestation all of America will be united. Right, left, middle. Keen, outspoken and indifferent will be bretheren in the uprising. I am already furious---- using the word FURIOUS here at the mere thought.

[Bluebear]

30. Good to have you at DU, AsianMale

[napi21]

5. I still want to know when the judge is going to rule on the request

for a stay that the WH filed on Friday!

If what is described here is really what's on those pics, I can sure understand why they don't want to release them! I also suspect the only place you MIGHT see them is on the net somewhere. MSM will never air ethat stuff! I guess I can't blame them either.

I just don't want this admin to get away with not releasing them at all!

[Bluebear]

13. I agree. Bush is violating a court order

He likes "stays" and 'activist judges' as long as they are doing his bidding.

[napi21]

21. Sure didn't like STAYS when he was Governor!

Stay of execution that is!

[Greeby]

6. Aye, I've seen video of him saying it

During an earlier speech, he summed it up this way.

"You haven't begun to see evil..."

:cry:

[Union Thug]

7. I hate these people. Anyone who supports them also supports

child abuse...all FREEPERS, Republicans that support the moron in charge and brain-dead DINOs that rally around the son's of bitches.

Release the photos, you cowards. Let the world, and importatnly..AMERICANS decide for themselves whether they are happy about what their tax dollars have purchased

[kestrel91316]

8. It is time to STOP this ......................

It is time to say ENOUGH. NO MORE MURDER or TORTURE in our names. Not ever again.

People who permit and encourage and enable this need to be publically drawn and quartered and strangled with their own entrails. And you know who I mean.

Time to go throw something and smash it to smithereens.

[kestrel91316]

12. As ye sow, so shall ye reap, you fake christian m-f-ers

[Bluebear]

16. AMEN!

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

9. What does this say about our own lawmakers, including Democrats

who continue to keep their silence despite the graphic images they saw?

[havocmom]

22. Here's hoping there is truth to the adage "Cowards die a thousand deaths

and heroes only one"

Stand up for what is right, you idiot cowards in D.C. Do it before the mob gets there with pitchforks.

[earth mom]

33. Conyers should do it...

he's one of the very few in Washington with any ethics or morals.

I really hope he is reading this thread...!

[Union Thug]

37. Like someone said above...they all need to be OUSTED..

Democrats included. How dare they conspire to keep the dirty little secrets of this war hidden from public view. So long as our tax dollars bought it, we should be able to see the results...EVERYTHING.

[spanone]

10. So Rumsfeld dictates what Congress gets to see?

I'm not sure that's how it's supposed to work. All members of Congress should be outraged.

[WearyOne]

11. thanks heavens for reporters like Seymour Hersh

[Junkdrawer]

14. The brutality at Abu Ghraib WAS PLANNED...

It Happened Here First: Exporting America's Most Notorious Prison Officials to Abu Ghraib

One man ran a prison system in Utah where a 29-year-old schizophrenic died after he was stripped naked and strapped to a restraining chair for 16 hours.
Another man ran the system in Arizona where 14 women were raped, sodomized or assaulted by prison guards.


Another ran Connecticut's prison system where at least two people died after being severely beaten.

All of the men who ran these prison systems were forced out by lawsuits or political controversy. But rather than being sent to prison themselves, these men were sent to Iraq by the US government to set up the prisons there. Actually, one prison - Abu Ghraib.

...

http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=04/06/02/146211&mode=thread&tid=25

[pox americana]

18. What total depravity.

All this and 9/11 too, and for what? The last remaining dregs of an obsolete, environmentally disatrous technology?

[savemefromdumbya]

23. the American people should know what our government is up to

America cannot be the land for the promotion of freedom. Instead it is run by a right wing junta who are hypocritical and actually enjoy torturing others. Question for the President - do you enjoy it - is that why you are hiding the photos?

[C_U_L8R]

31. Torture and Murder

Commander in Chief Bush must be held responsible for his war crimes.

[Bluebear]

32. Rape, pedophilia, murder, atrocities. nt

[Disturbed]

38. Many Dems in Congress viewed those photos.

There are 2,000 photos and a few videos.

Congress persons were shown the ones that the public didn't see a few days after the 1st batch were shown on TV. They were horrified. The DOD took them back. Also, 1,000 pages of a 2,000 page report was never delivered to Congress. The excuse was that someone had forgotten to copy the other 1K off for Congress. They never have delivered them. How many Dems have spoken about any of this?

I doubt if the public will ever see these 900 or so photos and the several videos.

[A Simple Game]

34. If they thought Rush could make a couple of bucks off the

photos by selling T-shirts, they would release the photos to him.

[Warren DeMontague]

35. No one will ever accept that it happened without the images.

Until then, it'll be buried. That's why they're fighting it so hard.

[Nothing Without Hope]

36. WaPo: Cheney rejects any limit on the President's "right" to order torture

They don't want these photos released because they don't want any limits placed on the President's absolute power as a dictator, which includes his being beyond the law, not only checks by the legislative or judicial branches but also signed treaties such as the Geneva Conventions. Their excuse is that they claim (contrary to evidence, let alone any kind of ethics, religious or otherwise) that torture is important for getting information on terrorism. Sodomizing children can't be justified even by this lie, so the photos must be suppressed. Standard protocol for the mad-dog neocons: if the truth is inconvenient, suppress it. Besides, I suspect that some of these creeps, like Cheney, LIKE the idea of torture - it's the ultimate power trip.

This thread has the WaPo article with Cheney's amazing statements that torture is important for preventing terrorist attacks and that it can't be limited because it would threaten the President's powers. The man is bugnuts INSANE - when is someone going to notice?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4173538
Thread title: White House says they want to continue torture

Excerpt from the WaPo article discussed in this thread;

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/22/AR2005072201727.html

White House Aims to Block Legislation on Detainees

By Josh White and R. Jeffrey Smith
Washington Post Staff Writers
Saturday, July 23, 2005; Page A01

The Bush administration in recent days has been lobbying to block legislation supported by Republican senators that would bar the U.S. military from engaging in "cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment" of detainees, from hiding prisoners from the Red Cross, and from using interrogation methods not authorized by a new Army field manual.

Vice President Cheney met Thursday evening with three senior Republican members of the Senate Armed Services Committee to press the administration's case that legislation on these matters would usurp the president's authority and -- in the words of a White House official -- interfere with his ability "to protect Americans effectively from terrorist attack."

(snip)

The White House, in a further indication of its strong feelings, bluntly warned in a statement sent to Capitol Hill on Thursday that President Bush's advisers would urge him to veto the $442 billion defense bill "if legislation is presented that would restrict the President's authority to protect Americans effectively from terrorist attack and bring terrorists to justice."

(snip)

[havocmom]

39. Somebody puleeze inform the Dick that they are not above the law

and then help ship them all off the the Hague.

[Nothing Without Hope]

44. Gonzales' memo said that the President does not have to obey Geneva

Conventions, which he elsewhere called "quaint."

Despite this, comfortable majority in the Senate, including many Democrats, confirmed him as Attorney General.

It's up to US to expose the truth and apply pressure to the spineless appeasers and complicit crooks in Congress. And those who vote for such abominations as Gonzales as the top lawyer in our country MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE and voted out of office.

[havocmom]

48. Having someone on your payroll say you don't have to play by the rules

is sorta, um, CRAP. Send the mother fucking lot of 'em to the Hague. Gonzales is not the boss of the world.

You can tell him I said so.

[enough]

41. Thank you, thank you, Nothing Without Hope.

This is the connection that needs to be made.

This is the "activism" we need to do right now. These people, even against some Republican opposistion, say that they WANT and NEED to be able to engage in:

"cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment" of detainees, ... hiding prisoners from the Red Cross, and ... using interrogation methods not authorized by a new Army field manual."

[Bluebear]

56. That man is insane! Evil and drunk with power!

[ScreamingMeemie]

40. Just how sickening and depraved does the evidence have to get for

the people to wake up? :cry:

[Nothing Without Hope]

50. The limit to the evil won't be found among the mad-dog neocons.

There is literally NOTHING they would hold back from if it helped to secure their power. They've proven that again and again. They have no morality, nothing to hold them back except their not wanting to be caught so blatantly that their Poodle Press can't cover it up. It's up to the OPPOSITION to hold them responsible.

And it's up to US to keep the truth coming and hold them accountable.

[DanCa]

43. Carl Jung would have a field day with the sick sick people.

No wonder why they push hell fire and brimestone on us, they know thats where there going to go.

[Nothing Without Hope]

45. A PAINTING which perfectly complements this terrible situation:

http://www.allhatnocattle.net.nyud.net:8090/usa_WAR.jpg

All the more appropriate since apparently napalm has been used in Iraq. In the famous original photo (by Nick Ut) of that fleeing Vietnamese girl, she had shed her burning clothing.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x135363
Thread title: "Incinerating Iraqis: The napalm cover up"

The horror of war has always been a dark inspiration for artists - who can forget Goya's images or Picasso's "Guernica"?

(Artist web site here - http://www.coolon.net )

[NightOwwl]

46. Wonder if Limpballs will continue comparing torture to...

"college fraternity pranks"?

More from Editor and Publisher:

"So what is shown on the 87 photographs and four videos from Abu Ghraib prison that the Pentagon, in an eleventh hour move, blocked from release this weekend? One clue: Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld told Congress last year, after viewing a large cache of unreleased image: 'I mean, I looked at them last night, and they're hard to believe.' They show acts 'that can only be described as blatantly sadistic, cruel and inhumane,' he added.

A Republican Senator suggested the same day they contained scenes of 'rape and murder.' No wonder Rumsfeld commented then, 'If these are released to the public, obviously it's going to make matters worse."

http://www.mediainfo.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000990590

[Tinoire]

47. Well...They must at all costs maintain the illusion that it was just a few

isolated "frat pranks" by just the Karpinski+6 squad.

Weep. Weep for what we have become.

Hitler didn't want photos of the sadism in the concentratio camps coming out either.

[glitch]

49. Never forget what these "people" are...

can we call them NAZIS yet, or do we have to wait for the camps?

[FreedomAngel82]

52. To think about all this

is truly horrible and horrific. I remember watching Senator Boxer talking about the first batch of photo's and you can tell she was really horrified and disgusted. These video's and photo's are going to be worse indeed. I can't believe this happens by my government and Rumsfeld is a SOB as well because he could've stopped this!

[bunny planet]

54. My bet is that the Democratic Senators that have seen these pictures

and videos are afraid of them being released for different reasons than the Republicans. The Republicans are worried about the effect on their party if this is exposed. The Democrats (and I will never believe Barbara Boxer, who has seen these photographs, is a coward) are worried about the effect it will have on our soldiers still in Iraq and the implications once the Arab world sees what unspeakable acts this administration has allowed and encouraged to take place.

[Bluebear]

55. That explanation is likely.

At least in Boxer's case.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

59. This kind of reasoning can never justify keeping this truth secret.

"The Democrats (and I will never believe Barbara Boxer, who has seen these photographs, is a coward) are worried about the effect it will have on our soldiers still in Iraq and the implications once the Arab world sees what unspeakable acts this administration has allowed and encouraged to take place."

By this reasoning, the more heinous the act, the more we must cover it up forever, because to show it would invite consequences to the soldiers... So it's a never ending thing... Any horrible act can be committed, just not shown... And we are to trust the military and Repub administration to properly investigate, indentify, and punish the perpetrators and prevent future occurrence? All the while that Cheney is trying to bar any limits on the country's "right" to torture? Uh huh...

[bunny planet]

60. I didn't say it was right for them to withhold it, just wondering what

their hesitance has been. Perhaps they actually thought that the ACLU's demands would be met, and now that they haven't there might be a discussion among Democrats that have seen them about how they should proceed. I want to know if only the Senators have seen these pictures, if so, how many of them? Have House members seen them too? How was Seymour Hersh able to see them, how many other journalists have seen them? I can't imagine John Conyers doing nothing if he'd seen them. I'm going to write to Barbara Boxer and ask her what is happening? I believe she will answer me.

[Karenina]

63. The "cover-up" is ALWAYS worse than the crime.

ANYONE and EVERYONE on this side of the pond, with the stomach to keep track of such things, KNOWS your gub'mint's stupid little cache of pictures is JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG. :puke:

[dogday]

61. As bad as these photos and videos are

They need to be released. This is the publics' right to know. Everybody needs to see what is happening in the Administration....

[Bluebear]

62. Unfortunately it may take that to open some eyes. nt