Should Obama order the release of the Abu Ghraib Photos Bush has been hiding?

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001218842

Judge Orders Release of Abu Ghraib Photos

By Greg Mitchell

Published: September 29, 2005 12:45 PM ET

NEW YORK A federal judge ruled today that graphic pictures of detainee abuse at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison must be released over government claims that they could damage America's image. Last year a Republican senator conceded that they contained scenes of "rape and murder" and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld said they included acts that were "blatantly sadistic."

U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein ordered the release of certain pictures in a 50-page decision that said terrorists in Iraq and Afghanistan have proven they "do not need pretexts for their barbarism."

The ACLU has sought the release of 87 photographs and four videotapes taken at the prison as part of an October 2003 lawsuit demanding information on the treatment of detainees in U.S. custody and the transfer of prisoners to countries known to use torture. snip

What is shown on the photographs and videos from Abu Ghraib prison that the Pentagon has blocked from release? One clue: Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld told Congress last year, after viewing a large cache of unreleased images, "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." Rumsfeld then commented, "If these are released to the public, obviously it's going to make matters worse." snip

"'The American public needs to understand we're talking about rape and murder here. We're not just talking about giving people a humiliating experience,' Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina told reporters after Rumsfeld testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee. 'We're talking about rape and murder -- and some very serious charges.'

[ThomWV]

1. Immediately

Considering his edict on the Freedom of Information act yesterday you should be able to get copies of those pictures by making a simple request.

[madokie]

2. I think he should

I care not to view them myself though if thats ok.

[MineralMan]

3. Release them all!

Show the world and our own nation just how corrupt the Bush administration was. We need to know "the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth."

[tekisui]

4. Yes! Without reservation.

Public opinion will help to fuel anger and calls for indictments. Also, they should release the video/audio tapes that exist.

[cosmicone]

5. Not just release them to the media but put them on the web

where people can see for themselves "without the filter of the media also" as Sarah Palin may say.

[Ezlivin]

7. Yes! That's a 21st Century idea!

And President Obama has the technological chops to know that.

[pleah]

6. Absolutely!

[Donnachaidh]

8. YES! Use them as an impetus to FORCE war crime trials

Go after the top of the heap that allowed this shit to happen. Rumsfeld, Cheney and BUSH.

[gratuitous]

9. I paid for this

I think I deserve to see what I got for my money. Also, since the only people this information appears to be secret from are U.S. citizens, I think I need to know why other people around the world are so angry. Remember how batshit insane our government and the major media was in September 2001? These photos, videos and audios might give us an insight as to what we can and should expect from the rest of the world. Forewarned is forearmed, as the saying goes.

Oh, and thanks ever so much, Mr. Rumsfeld and cohorts.

[FedUpWithIt All]

10. They should ABSOLUTELY be released. People need to realize what the USA has done. We have to own it

Especially if we are ever going to make amends.


We all realize that members of Congress, who most likely saw the images(of children being raped?) YEARS AGO, are the ones who said that "impeachment is off the table". I wonder just how much horror they could have prevented if they would have acted when they first realized how low we had sunk. Fuck 'em. They have been looking out for themselves.

I do feel Obama must release these images.