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US to Release Photos Showing Alleged Abuses by American Personnel
WASHINGTON - The Obama administration agreed late Thursday to release dozens of photographs depicting alleged abuse by U.S. personnel during the Bush administration of prisoners in Iraq and Afghanistan.
File picture shows a demonstrator dressed as an Abu Ghraib prisoner protesting outside the White House in Washington, DC. Top US officials, not a "few bad apples" of low rank, were behind harsh military interrogation tactics that spread from Guantanamo Bay to Afghanistan to Iraq, a new Senate report said.
(AFP/File/Karen Bleier)
At least 44 pictures will be released by May 28 -- making public for the first time images of what the military investigated as abuse that took place at facilities other than the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.
Defense Department officials would not say exactly what is contained in the photos, but said they are concerned that the release could incite a backlash in the Middle East.
The photos, taken from military criminal investigations of abuse, are apparently not as shocking as the photographs from the Abu Ghraib investigation that became a lasting symbol of U.S. mistakes in Iraq. But some show military service members intimidating or threatening detainees by pointing weapons at them. Military officers have been court martialed for threatening detainees at gunpoint.
"This will constitute visual proof that, unlike the Bush administration's claim, the abuse was not confined to Abu Ghraib and was not aberrational," said Amrit Singh, a lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union, which obtained the agreement as part of a long-running legal battle for documents related to Bush-era anti-terror policies.
The photo release decision comes as President Barack Obama is already trying to quell a drive to investigate Bush-era anti-terror practices. But now the photos and a series of other possible disclosures stemming from the ACLU lawsuit threatens to fuel the already explosive controversy.
Additional disclosures to be considered in the coming weeks include transcripts of detainee interrogations by the CIA, a CIA inspector general's report that has been kept mostly secret, and background materials of a Justice Department internal investigation into prisoner abuse.
In each instance, Obama and his administration are being forced to decide whether to release material entirely, disclose it with redactions or follow the lead of the Bush administration and fight in court to keep the material classified.
Last week, Obama opted to demand relatively few redactions when his administration released Justice Department memos detailing the Bush administration's justifications and strategies for harsh interrogations.
But those disclosures created a problem for the president, prompting Democratic lawmakers and interest groups to demand that Congress investigate the Bush-era practices and possibly prosecute officials of the prior administration.
With Obama trying to navigate ambitious health, tax and environment legislation through Congress, the White House fears that such an investigation could become a highly partisan distraction ¿ and Obama has for that reason already rejected the idea of a 9/11 Commission-style review of Bush's anti-terror policies, according to an official.
Now, with the president must consider the release of new materials that could be inflammatory and heighten the already combustible mix of political pressures he faces. While the liberal base that elected him wants wide disclosure and an investigation of Bush practices, pursuing that course would likely alienate the intelligence and military communities that are crucial to Obama's success as president.
Obama tried to walk that rhetorical line last week, heeding liberals' calls to release the torture memos but appearing to argue against further investigation or prosecution by saying that " "this is a time for reflection, not retribution."
Instead, he managed to anger both constituencies.
"My sense is the president was trying to please a lot of audiences at one time and that over the last (week) he has totally failed to put the mind of the intelligence community at ease," said Mark Lowenthal, a former senior adviser to CIA Director George J. Tenet. "He is going to end up with a national clandestine service that will not be willing to do anything because they feel he will not be there for them when they need him."
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24 Comments so far
Show AllObama is doing what he can . . . to induce you to do what is necessary: depose the war criminal regime of US.
Obama knows he will be assassinated if he moves too far too fast himself, and another administration would be installed by the boss class.
Only when there is massive popular support will he dare take the war criminal regimists into custody for trial and, if they are convicted, punishment by execution.
Wrong, Obama is bragging to the world: "here's what will happen to you if you oppose us". Terror propaganda, nothing more, nothing less.
One of the conditions of him becoming president was that he would never, ever investigate or prosecute the previous administration. To the contrary, his most important mission is to protect Bush and Cheney, therefore protect his own crimes against humanity, which Obama himself has been committing since Jan 20 2009.
Democrats were in on the torture deal from the very beginning, there's no way an investigation and prosecution can take place without serious implications for the Democratic Party.
If Obama does not prosecute he will set a precedent for allowing these War Crimes and Unconstitutional crimes. The same as the clearly stated strategy of committing unpunished War Crimes in Gaza so as to legitimize the same War Crimes in the future so stated by a Zionist IDF commander.
"if Obama does not prosecute he will set a precedent for allowing these War Crimes and Unconstitutional crimes."
Glen,
I think the precedent you refer to had already been set long before the election of the 44th President of the United States. I believe if they do prosecute they will actually be setting a new precedent. But I do get your point.....
Obama is making an effort to move America back toward a semblance of democracy and accountability. There is more transparency in this administration than there has ever been at any point in my lifetime, since 1948. Obama states of himself that he taught Constitutional law for ten years. I believe he honors the law as a foundation stone for governance. I believe he needs our support and solidarity if this administration is to further any of their goals. You sometimes have to stop creating pain and suffering/torture before you can go backwards and demand accountability of those who have chosen a path of depravity. He and this administration are not sanctioning the continued use of torture. They are taking small steps on a very long and arduous road. When Eisenhower addressed what the role of an out of control military industrial complex would lead to, he asked the American people and the Pentagon to reassess priorities. This country is ripe for a coupe. People like John Kennedy, Bobby Kennedy, Allende were easy targets for terrorists, secret ops,assassins, guerilla tactics--the labels change depending on whether you are in or out of the game. Are you a player? What color is your uniform? Murder and torture, "Crime and Punishment" demand our attention. When an American military officer who attempts to restain torture techniques can be threated by another officer: "To watch while he's sleeping." This country is ripe for revolution. What we make of this season of awakening and renewal is in our hands, in our words, in our actions.
Obama is making an effort to move America back toward a semblance of democracy and accountability. There is more transparency in this administration than there has ever been at any point in my lifetime, since 1948. Obama states of himself that he taught Constitutional law for ten years> I believe he honors the law as a foundation stone for governance. I believe he needs our support and solidarity if this administration is to further any of their goals. You sometimes have to stop creating pain and suffering/torture before you can go backwards and demand accountability of those who have chosen a path of depravity. He and this administration are not sanctioning the continued use of torture. They are taking small steps on a very long and arduous road. When Eisenhower addressed what the role of an out of control military industrial complex would lead to, he asked the American people and the Pentagon to reassess priorities. This country is ripe for a coupe. People like John Kennedy, Bobby Kennedy, Allende are easy targets for terrorists and torturers. When an American military officer who attempts to restain torture techniques can be threated by another officer: "To watch while he's sleeping." This country is ripe for revolution. What we make of this season of awakening and renewal is in our hands, in our words, in our actions.
Obama is making an effort to move America back toward a semblance of democracy and accountability. There is more transparency in this administration than there has ever been at any point in my lifetime, since 1948. Obama states of himself that he taught Constitutional law for ten years. I believe he honors the law as a foundation stone for governance. I believe he needs our support and solidarity if this administration is to further any of their goals. You sometimes have to stop creating pain and suffering/torture before you can go backwards and demand accountability of those who have chosen a path of depravity. He and this administration are not sanctioning the continued use of torture. They are taking small steps on a very long and arduous road. When Eisenhower addressed what the role of an out of control military industrial complex would lead to, he asked the American people and the Pentagon to reassess priorities. This country is ripe for a coupe. People like John Kennedy, Bobby Kennedy, Allende were easy targets for terrorists, guerillas, assasins. It all deppends upon which side of the line you stand. Which "uniform" you wear. Murder and torture, crime and punishment demand our attention. When an American military officer who attempts to restain torture techniques can be threated by another officer: "To watch while he's sleeping." This country is ripe for revolution. What we make of this season of awakening and renewal is in our hands, in our words, in our actions.
This article presents what to me seems the false contrived limited options of
1) Prosecute and alienate CIA etc.
OR
2) Do not Prosecute
I suggest the DOJ prosecute the Bush Six and up to Bush in narrowly targeted indictments by the DOJ itself.
Eliminating any fear of prosecution in CIA and among congresspeople.
No freewheeling special prosecutor and no Congressional whitewash.
After all upholding these laws is the DOJ's job description.
Hopefully Bush will have twenty of his associates as company in Leavenworth Prison.
Or he might just end up with a clandestine service that won't be willing to do anything unconstitutional-even if he tells them to.
National Initiative for Democracy: Direct Democracy via Direct Democracy
ni4d.us
If the CIA is not prosecuted, Hrothgar what would make them gun shy of unconstitutional acts?
>>Defense Department officials would not say exactly what is contained in the photos, but said they are concerned that the release could incite a backlash in the Middle East.
As the old saying goes. You made your bed now lie in it.
What the DOD in essence is saying is "The actions of the United States Government will cause resentment in the Middle east".
Now it SEEMS to me we have just had 8 years of people ridiculing the notion that US Policy is behind Anti_Americanism.
Rather they hate America because of its FREEDOMS.
Now the Military, one of the entities most responsible for that blow back is saying "If the TRUTH of what happened in Abu Ghraib and other places becomes public knowledge, there will be a backlash"
Ya think?
Where was this deep thinking 20 years ago when US forces bombed the Iraqi water supply which resulted in hundreds of thousands of children dying?
These guys have no morals whatsoever.
"Democrats were in on the torture deal from the very beginning, there's no way an investigation and prosecution can take place without serious implications for the Democratic Party."
Well everyone is claiming bipartisanship. Let the chips fall where they may.... Personally I think that this has taken on a life of its own.....
"Wrong, Obama is bragging to the world: "here's what will happen to you if you oppose us". Terror propaganda, nothing more, nothing less."
Here you are suggesting that the President is practicing a form of international terrorism.
-said Mark Lowenthal, a former senior adviser to CIA Director George J. Tenet. "He is going to end up with a national clandestine service that will not be willing to do anything because they feel he will not be there for them when they need him."
Oh! What super-patriots you have there in the land of the brave! Your secret police will go on strike if you ask them to obey your own laws.
"He is going to end up with a national clandestine service that will not be willing to do anything because they feel he will not be there for them when they need him."
SO FIRE THEM! They're obviously just a murdering bunch of psychopaths, anyway.
"they feel he won't be there for them when they need him."
Mwah, mwah, mwah! Baby want Daddy come or baby won't do pooh-pooh!
Rainborowe
" Defense Department ( read Torture Department) officials ". It always makes me wary when they give out a blurb without a name and I ask you: Why there are no names attached, oh I guess I forgot, because of national security! The most ironic and asinine thing: They are worried about backlash because of pictures? That means that they never intended for this torture to be made public and that is nothing compared to the backlash and blowback to America because of what they did in those pictures from the families and relatives of these tortured people! Sounds like the torturers in the War Department that are culpable, are in a panic mode!
To all you prospective prosecutors out there:
Do you get it? President Obama is giving you the information you need. Hint, hint.
Now those "12 decent Americans" I write about often have the opportunity to "do the right thing"--------
But this is America, and as the report clearly bears out, if the President makes many moves to open the "envelopes containing the secrets", he could alienate others who he may need help from later. This is just one more affirmation that the American Culture is totally corrupt, that so many would "not want" the "right thing done"----that they would be vengeful or vindictive.
Knowing your limitations is most important, how else will you accomplish your goals, without that knowledge?
Most Americans will agree that the world is watching America to see how the nation as a whole handles the knowledge that their CEO, and many of his "muppets" committed crimes that just 60 years ago the USA sat in judgement of others for.
The only rational solution would be to gather the evidence through a committee established just for the occasion, bipartisan if possible, but if not then follow through with an investigation even by an outside party---independent of any influence. When the evidence ,already overwhelming in its implicatons, is gathered, then take the evidence and charge the people who committed the crimes in Federal Court first; then handing the authority for the trials over to the International Court of Justice.
or
If the USA handles the investigation, and trials with its own US Court system this will reveal to the world that the USA is a totally corrupt nation and unworthy of respect or consideration as anything other than a rogue nation prone to mass criminal behavior. In addition it should be noted that the USA does not keep treaties, they lie, cheat, steal and are exceptionally dangerous to the rest of the world since they have already used nuclear weapons on a civilian population.
If the first proposal transpires then the USA will automatically step up into a world leadership position and automatically gain the respect of every other nation on the planet.
If the second transpires the USA will automatically step down from any possible world leadership position and automatically incur the hatred, disgust and disrespect of the world, automatically move into the lowest position any nation could allow itself; that of a horrible example for history. Then their days will be numbered; the world would not tolerate them very long.
Its all up to the American People.
As for me, nothing the USA does surprises me anymore.
America, the World is watching what you do. The power is your own hands; your future is there as well.
Good Luck America, you really need it.
GO FOR IT, OBAMA. YOU HAVE NO CHOICE NOW.
The cat is out of the bag; Pandora's box has been opened. Proceed efficiently, clearly and go for it. Not to do so now will drag this whole thing out for months on end, contaminating and sullying everything else that might be possible to regain national honor.
It is better for everyone to face the music now and get it done, with impeccable Special Prosecutors and Investigators that would be appointed by Eric Holder, the Attorney General. I think that's the proper protocol.
The moment of truth has arrived. The nation will not collapse, but be strengthened and all the talk that The People can't handle it is nonsense. The People can handle anything that's thrown at them except dishonesty and corruption which confuses and disempowers and polarizes the population into taking sides.
It's time for major surgery. The oozing abscesses must be lanced as soon as possible. If that does not happen, everything else will be tainted and infected, and we will be finished.
Truth and Justice go hand in hand, and that we must have if there is any hope of regaining our national soul and our collective strength and focus.
GO FOR IT, OBAMA. YOU HAVE NO CHOICE.
/cm
-US to Release Photos Showing Alleged Abuses by American Personnel
From the dec 29 Washington Post's Dana Priest:
Covert CIA Program Withstands New Furor
Anti-Terror Effort Continues to Grow
"The CIA has stuck with its overall approaches, defending and in some cases refining them. The agency is working to establish procedures in the event a prisoner dies in custody. One proposal circulating among mid-level officers calls for rushing in a CIA pathologist to perform an autopsy and then quickly burning the body, according to two sources."
pathologists would take pictures of the victims, no? Let's see those snap-shots as well.
Politics should have no place in determining whether or not a law has been broken.
I wonder if Hannity, Gingrich, Savage, Limbaugh, Beck and all the other partisan hacks would endure 183 waterboardings. They wouldn't make it pass the first one before screaming uncle.
Obama should do the right thing and let the guilty parties face the music.
VIENNA - The U.S. is obligated by a United Nations convention to prosecute Bush administration lawyers who allegedly drafted policies that approved the use of harsh interrogation tactics against terrorism suspects, the U.N.'s top anti-torture envoy said Friday.
Nowak, an Austrian law professor, said it was up to U.S. courts and prosecutors to prove that the memos were written with the intention to incite torture.
Nowak and other experts said that a failure to investigate and prosecute when there was evidence of torture left those responsible vulnerable to prosecutorial action abroad.
"If it should turn out ... that the (U.S.) government and its authorities are not willing to prosecute those where we have enough evidence that they instigated or committed torture, then there is also an obligation on all other 145 states" party to the convention to exercise universal jurisdiction, Nowak said.
They can hide but they can't run...
I think that it is terribly wrong to write or say "THE" CIA tortured. The CIA is a vast organization with numerous branches. Writers and speakers must tell us which branch of the CIA did the waterboarding etc. I do not know this myself.
Do you remember Valierie Plame? She was a CIA operative. Do you agree that she may now become painted with the "torture brush"?
You people are such hypocritical morons. YES the US DOES torture people every day. Look up what amnesty international considers torture. You people mentally torture me with your stupidity! Moslem nations torture people all the time, it's condoned in their holy books (qur'an, sunnah and hadiths). France, Spain, England, Germany, Russia, China and Bolivia just to name a few have in the past and are currently torturing people. I doubt you can find a single country in the world that has not tortured people at some time. for the president to say "the US does not torture anyone" is beyond a lie and you progressives don't have a clue. There is nothing any of you can do about it. I dare any of you to go to Iran, go up to the Iranian leadership and face to face tell them torture is (according to you) immoral, go a head you chicken sh@ts, lets see what happens to you.
As far as the UN is concerned they are a useless waste if time and energy.
"The U.S. is obligated by a United Nations convention to prosecute Bush administration lawyers who allegedly drafted policies that approved the use of harsh interrogation tactics against terrorism suspects, the U.N.'s top anti-torture envoy said Friday."
"Nowak and other experts said that a failure to investigate and prosecute when there was evidence of torture left those responsible vulnerable to prosecutorial action abroad."
What a load of hypocritical bull, So why haven't Castro, Chavez, Qaddafi, Putin, any one of the Chinese, or Iranian leadership been prosecuted or so much as a warrant issued for their arrest? Why? It's all BS. If the US was a third world country like Mexico no one would give a damn. It's time for the US to get out of the useless UN and to tell them to get out of our country, they will like it better in Saudi Arabia I'm sure.