Military Families Applaud Decision To Stop Detainee Photos

[babylonsister]

http://www.militaryfamiliesunited.org/?q=media/military-families-applaud-decision-stop-detainee-photos

Military Families Applaud Decision To Stop Detainee Photos
Wed, 05/13/2009 - 14:54


Washington, DC – May 13, 2009 –Military Families United, the nation’s premier military family advocacy organization, released the following statement concerning the news that President Obama ordered government lawyers to object to the planned release of hundreds of photographs showing alleged abuse of prisoners in detention facilities in Afghanistan and Iraq.

“America’s military families applaud the President’s decision to fight the release of the photographs depicting the alleged abuse of prisoners in detention facilities in Afghanistan and Iraq. The President today chose to put the safety of our troops before the demands of an activist agenda. These photographs serve no purpose other than to emboldened the enemy with propaganda to use in their recruitment of future Jihadists, hinder our mission in Iraq and Afghanistan and risk the lives our troops.

America is safer today because these photos are not public. And America is safer today because the President chose to stand up to the strong-arming tactics and legal maneuvering of the ACLU. Our troops will be able to continue cultivating relationships with the Iraqi people and building lasting bonds with the citizens of Afghanistan without those heinous images creating an environment of distrust and anger. America’s military families thank President Obama for standing up for the interest and safety of our troops.”

About Military Families United

Military Families United serves as the nation's premier military family advocacy organization, representing Gold and Blue Star families throughout the country and their loved ones who wear, or have worn, our nation's uniform. Military Families United was founded in the summer of 2008 as a not-for-profit, non-partisan 501c4 policy advocacy organization committed to supporting America's troops and their families. We fight to ensure that the sacrifices of these families are not in vain by giving them a voice in Washington, D.C and state governments throughout the country. Military Families United engages Members of Congress, the Administration, and the general public in efforts to communicate the truth about our brave men and women in uniform and their mission to protect our freedom that cost many of them their lives.

[HelenWheels]

1. The Iraqi people know

all about the torture we did to their relatives. Don't you think anyone released from Abu Garab has told other Iraqis what went on there? They don't need pictures. I think the military families are afraid their family members may be on some of those pictures.

[GarbagemanLB]

2. Yeah. Personal accounts are equal to photos in terms of propaganda value.

:crazy:

[Orsino]

3. Will they also call on the president to ensure the troops' safety by bringing them home? n/t

[RaleighNCDUer]

4. This is nonsense.

Which is the better recruiting tool? A bad snapshot of anonymous enemies humiliating their prisoners?
Or the jihadist recruiter saying "Come on out here, Abdul, and tell us what REALLY happened to you in the American prison!"

The people who would be angered by the photos are ALREADY angry - the pics don't add anything to it. And THAT is the real reason they don't want Gitmo closed or prisoners release - they don't want the former prisoners telling what REALLY happened in a first person narrative, no matter what has already been learned in the third person.

[wileedog]

5. But which is easer to expose to hundreds of thousands of recruits

Abdul, or a photograph?

If word of mouth was the most effective marketing tool there would be no advertising industry.

[RaleighNCDUer]

7. AQ has been using the internet for years -

which works better on YouTube? An interview, or a snapshot?

[wileedog]

19. Both actually.

You think AQ's recruiting base is largely on youtube? Seriously?

Its not possible to argue that these are not a recruiting asset.

[Raineyb]

6. A bit self serving on their part don't you think?

I'm sorry but this cover up is not acceptable and using the troops overseas as an excuse to continue the cover up is specious regardless of who makes the argument.

And before the equally specious argument is made about not caring about the troops, both my parents were in the Air Force.

Regards

[TwilightGardener]

36. Yeah, so self-serving to hope that your loved one doesn't get caught

in an act of retaliation for something he or she had nothing to do with. Military families should be willing to just let whatever happens, happen--accept whatever increased risk occurs, just to satisy some folks' need for a sick thrill of looking at torture photos. How selfish of them to put their primary wish for their family members to come home in one piece FIRST.

[Raineyb]

38. Extremely self serving to hope your relative doesn't get caught as one of the perpetrators

If you think it's the pictures that's causing retaliation you're naive to say the least. Hiding behind the troops as a reason to hide the photos is specious bullshit. That argument simply has no credibility.

[TwilightGardener]

41. Bullshit. You're up to your eyes in it, and you're on ignore.

[ShortnFiery]

8. I don't believe it! It's manufacturing consent. How many moral soldiers had to be

transfered or were SUCKED-INTO these acts.

How many suicides have been the result of these EVIL LEADERS still in charge of our Defense Department?

Mark my words, the TORTURE will continue because the FOUNDERS and ENABLERS (Gates, Petraeus, McCrystal) are still in the highest levels of command. :thumbsdown:

p.s. There's already LEAKS to an Australian paper Re: Thom Hartmann.

[stillcool]

20. Aren't those pictures that have already...

been released..not part of the batch being withheld?

[ShortnFiery]

25. Nope, I heard on Thom Hartmann show that these PHOTOS are leaking out via an Austrialian source. nt

[TexasObserver]

9. Military families need to understand that this isn't about them.

I don't consider the opinion of military members or their families to matter any more than the opinions of anyone else in the nation. In this matter, their bias is clearly based upon what they think is best for their family member, not what is best for the nation.

[TwilightGardener]

37. It IS about them. It's about NEEDLESS VIOLENCE, of which their loved ones

may be victims--all for...what? To try to "shock" Americans and the world? The truth is being revealed--more gas on the fire doesn't help.

[Raineyb]

39. No it's not about them.

This is about justice. And apparently Americans need to be shocked as we still have fuckwits trying to pass this off as the equivalent of a fraternity hazing incident.

[TwilightGardener]

40. Releasing photos isn't "justice". It's a way to outrage and have something

to discuss at the water cooler, and not giving a shit about any lives that may be endangered is fucking sick.

[TexasObserver]

42. NO, it isn't about them.

Your rationale is the same one Bush and Cheney used the past eight years to hide the horrible truth. The military works for the nation's interests. We don't guide the nation's interest by what military and their families want as policy. Their work is important, but at the end of the day, they're government employees, the same as other government employees. I'm interested in their view of veteran care, but they're just another opinion on this topic.

We heard exactly the same drivel from apologists 40 years ago. Disclosure is required, and if you're really concerned about the military, you should be concerned that they have been made pawns in a phony war that has sought to justify all this.

In short, your argument fails across the board.

[Cha]

10. I can imagine after what

happened the last time. Also there's got to be a lot of planning going on behind the scenes in the "unfolding process" to build a case for the prosecution that I, for one, know nothing about.

And, there's that Middle East trip in early June.

I dunno, somehow I trust the man whom I helpled vote into office to know what he's doing.

[rug]

11. "These photographs serve no purpose other than to emboldened the enemy with propaganda"

I can think of lots of purposes to release them.

Once again, military families are used to bolster bullshit arguments.

[spoony]

12. Looking at their other stances, I'm not impressed.

You'd think military families would want...you know...their families home. But, no:

"Military Families United strongly supports a commitment of additional forces into Afghanistan."

"Military Families United has been a leading voice in support of the new counter-insurgency strategy implemented in Iraq by General David Petraeus in 2007-2008. MFU credits this change in strategy and the increased number of American forces in theatre for the incredible progress that has been observed in Iraq in the short time period since its execution."


edit: oh and they dig the Patriot Act, natch.

[Clio the Leo]

13. I deal with military brides on a daily basis....

... being the pinko commie that I am :) and in a polite manner, I express to them my desire that their fiancee come home soon. Without fail, their answer is, "I'm just glad he's serving his country."

I dont get it .... *I* would prefer to serve my country by serving food at a homeless shelter .... but to each their own. My point being, these young men realize what they're getting in to. They do so willingly and understand the gravity of the choice they're making.

[RaleighNCDUer]

28. It's a psychological defense - they cannot allow themselves to wish for

what is not going to happen, and they know the fiance may not come home in one piece or come home at all, so they embrace his service, justifying the danger. Compartmentalize it. It doesn't always work so well, which is why there is such a high prevalence of alcohol and drug abuse among dependent wives.

[slay]

14. Me either

Warmongers. Assholes.

[jonnyblitz]

16. sounds like right wing wacko military familys. another apologist

thread was using some other far right veterans group that endorsed all republicans and Lieberman in the past as their source for supporting witholding the pictures. this is all they have got.

[Forkboy]

15. Correction: SOME military families applaud decision. A "some" that not's a very pretty bunch.

I take this person more seriously.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=5653185&mesg_id=5653185

[KoKo]

21. Thanks for that.....n/t

[Karenina]

32. +1

[marybourg]

17. I'd be willing to bet that *this* 40 year old military families association --

The National Military Families Association -- thinks that *it's* the premier military families group.


http://www.nmfa.org/site/PageServer

[IndianaGreen]

18. They are not the only organization representing military families

and this rightwing group, because that's what it is, wants to keep Guantanamo open and they oppose the ACLU.

[cooolandrew]

22. This most likely be in the Supreme courts hands to decide, probably the wisest place.

[berni_mccoy]

23. Yeah, the Supreme Court so wisely decided the 2000 election.

[ShortnFiery]

26. Yeah we all have faith in the Roberts-Scalito ruled Supreme Court.

:crazy:

[LostinVA]

24. I certainly we don't let a RW organizations speak for us and all service people

My BIL, a combat-decorated and permanently-disabled Army Officer, who served in Intelligence, thinks they should all be released. He also thinks it's a travesty.

[ChiciB1]

27. Military Families... I WAS Raised In A Military Family... There's A Certain

AGENDA, or maybe just call them RULES you have to abide by. As a kid, I vowed NEVER, NEVER to marry a military man. I respect the defense of our Nation, but when used to commit crimes... they follow higher ups or ELSE!!

I know this first hand, it was drummed into me from the time I was 3 years old!

[William769]

29. So they should!

It could be one of their loved ones in the photo. Out of sight out of mind.

[beachmom]

30. "Activist agenda"? Ugh. That's fine if they did not want photos released

but to boil down what many Americans think is vital for our nation to heal as a bunch of "activists" is unbelievably insulting. The Left is the enemy, apparently. Even though being opposed to torture is not a Left issue. It is an American issue.

[Karenina]

34. They are still in denial about what theirs have done.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x448457

[redqueen]

31. I wonder if anyone's asked the DUers who have served or are serving...

or their families on DU... what *they* think about this issue.

[DU GrovelBot]

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[mkultra]

35. SCREW THE FAMLIEAS AND THE ARABS.. RELEASE THEM

WE MUST HAVE TOTAL AND COMPLETE HONESTY UP OUR ASSES>