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Obama Tries to Block Release of Detainee Photos
President Obama is seeking to block the release of photographs depicting American military personnel abusing captives in Iraq and Afghanistan, an administration official said Wednesday.
The president's decision marks a sharp reversal from a decision made last month by the Pentagon, which reached a deal with the American Civil Liberties Union to release photographs showing incidents at Abu Gharib and a half-dozen other prisons.
"Last week, the president met with his legal team and told them that he did not feel comfortable with the release of the D.O.D. photos because he believes their release would endanger our troops," said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity. "And because he believes that the national security implications of such a release have not been fully presented to the court."
Mr. Obama advised his top military commanders about his decision in a meeting on Tuesday at the White House. Several military officials had argued against the immediate release of the photographs, saying such action could harm American troops in the field.
"The president strongly believes that the release of these photos, particularly at this time, would only serve the purpose of inflaming the theaters of war, jeopardizing US forces," the official said, "and making our job more difficult in places like Iraq and Afghanistan."
"Odierno and McKiernan and Petraeus have all voiced real concern about this," said Geoff Morrell, the Pentagon press secretary. "Particularly in Afghanistan, this is the last thing they need." Mr. Morrell said. Defense secretary Robert M. Gates shared the concerns of his commanders about the impact of the photo release on the troops and the battlefield and that Mr. Gates and President Obama had had a "multitude of conversations" on the issue.
The Pentagon's decision to release the pictures came after the A.C.L.U. prevailed at the Federal District Court level and before a panel of the Second Circuit. The photographs were set to be released on May 28. But as that date approached, a growing sense of unease among military officials was expressed to the White House.
Many also recalled the Abu Ghraib photographs, showing prisoners naked or in degrading positions, sometimes with Americans posing smugly nearby, caused an uproar in the Arab world and concerns within the military that the actions of a relatively few service members had tainted the entire forces.
In this more recent case, the A.C.L.U. argued that disclosing the pictures was "critical for helping the public understand the scope and scale of prisoner abuse as well as for holding senior officials accountable for authorizing or permitting such abuse," said Amrit Singh, who argued the case on behalf of the group before the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, in Manhattan.
A senior administration official said that the president met last week with his legal team and reached the conclusion that the interests of the military and the U.S. government would not be served by releasing the photos.
"The president would be the last to excuse the actions depicted in these photos," the administration official said. "That is why the Department of Defense investigated these cases, and why individuals have been punished through prison sentences, discharges, and a range of other punitive measures."
The next step was not immediately clear. White House officials said a court filing was due on Wednesday, which would outline the administration's legal approach.
Robert Gibbs, the White House press secretary, is set to take questions about the photographs during the press briefing that is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
During the court case, defense officials had fought the release of the photographs, connected with investigations between 2003 and 2006, on the grounds that the release could endanger American military personnel overseas and that the privacy of detainees would be violated. But the Second Circuit, in upholding a lower court ruling, said the public interest involved in release of the pictures outweighed a vague, speculative fear of danger to the American military or violation of the detainees' privacy.
Earlier reports indicated that at least some of the new pictures show detainees being intimidated by American soldiers, sometimes at gunpoint, but A.C.L.U. officials said last month it was unclear what scenes were captured. At the lower court phase, a federal prosecutor said the Pentagon had agreed to release 44 photographs involved in the case, plus "a substantial number of other images" gathered by Army investigators.
Elisabeth Bumiller and Thom Shanker contributed to this post.Comments
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104 Comments so far
Show AllMemo to Obama's literary agent: Try to talk him out of entitling his next volume of memoirs "Profile in Courage".
· Yr Obd't Servant
Good one!
"Profiles in Obfuscation"
Meanwhile in Afghanistan:
Obama's gunslingers claim that they have used white phosphorus
to legally illuminate the battlefield - by setting women and children afire!
No wonder he's backpedaling of prosecuting war criminals - he's joined them.
Barack Obama should aggressively and completely alter the image of the USA for its' express military and geopolitical and strategic benefits. By doing so, by changing the way we treat people, by halting use of remote controlled mass murder machines, torture and mass imprisonment, rendition and other horrendous practices. By utilizing our vast resources of brilliant minds to turn our enemies into our brothers and sisters. This is exactly what Obama is not doing. He is George Bush and zionist neocon's II. The continuation of the worst of Bush.
By showing the pictures of the horrendous mistreatment of prisoners he would then display the striking contrast between the previous administration and his administration. But by hiding the photos and continuing the practices of Bush largely unabated he is not hiding the wickedness and therefore is actually causing the most danger for individual US military men. Hiding the photos serves no purpose whatsoever.
His decision to hide the pictures itself is a major war crime and act of treason against the USA. It is also nightmarish stupidity. If he even hinted at any of these practices Obama would not be President today.
Mr. Obama is in a cocoon of ultranationalist neocon zionist military industrial complex psychopaths and those who have whored themselves to the dark side. He has allowed the most evil elements to run his mind and hence the presidency.
Did you really think there would be Change you could believe in? But don't feel to bad, every four years Americans fall for a new line of horse shit.
"the interests of the military and the U.S. government would not be served by releasing the photos."
Thats a consideration? How about the interests of the American people?
EXACTLY!
That's a consideration? How about the interests of the American people?
The American people do not count, all we are expected to do is to pay taxes and to vote for the least worst candidate.
How about those we tortured and slaughtered? This is sick.
Obama doesn't want the issue of US use of torture running strong while he is leading the pogrom against the Pashtuns in Northern Pakistan. What do we have now? Moving towards 1 1/2 million people now made internal refugees in Pakistan because of Barack's escalation of the so-called GWOT? Meanwhile liberals stand by doing nothing with their thumbs up you know where.
"Liberals" & "Conservatives" NEED to Drop this False LEFT/RIGHT Paradigm - And Join the side of True Liberty and True Freedom here in America - We NEED to Work towards a Non-Interventionist Foreign Policy - We NEED to Work Together to Bring ALL Our troops Home - First and Foremost - And We Also ALL NEED to Work Together in fixing America at the Foundation - Then can we and should we bicker over and work on fixing our petty differences.
This divide between Liberal/Conservative - Left/Right is ONLY A wedge being used by BOTH Parties, the DEMONcrats and the RepubliCONS to divide us and conquer us, since they are both Two Sides to The SAME Coin - and that coin is the Corporate Interest aka Fascism.
Wake Up AMERICA - See the REAL Enemy For Whom They Are
See the Real Problems for What They Are
An America Divided Will Never Achieve Our Dreams, Be it the Fiscally COnservative or the Bleeding Hearts, or any other well meaning ideas - You cannot heal a severed limb with a band-aid.
http://enemyartistkristofer.blogspot.com
"Moving towards 1 1/2 million people now made internal refugees in Pakistan because of Barack's escalation of the so-called GWOT?"
Now, now, you know better than that. It is no longer the "global war on terrorism", it is "overseas contingency operations". Let's get with the program, the promise of change, change you can believe in. Yes we can.
So much for Obama's Transparent government.
And here is an Idea to take away the dangers of endangering our troops in the combat "theatre" - Bring Them ALL Home NOW! - Then neither the Soldiers, nor the Iraqi, Afghanistan or Pakistan civilians will be in harms way!
OBAMA = George Bush the 3rd = Obama's WAR's!
So Much for CHANGE We Can Believe In!
Welcome to the Iron Cross Mr. Obama. So much for your transparency and rule of law.
"Odierno and McKiernan and Petraeus have all voiced real concern about this," said Geoff Morrell, the Pentagon press secretary. "Particularly in Afghanistan, this is the last thing they need."
Why does the Pentagon think that a few disturbing photos are more problematic than killing civilians in indiscreet bombing runs or worse, using un-manned drones.
The stated positions of the Obama administration on this topic are almost identical to the Bush administration as if Obama were channeling Cheney. They are related after all...
I am amazed that Jessie Ventura has a better grasp of constitutional law than Obama (see recent interview with Larry King).
I know of no other word to describe Obama's desire to sweep the issue of torture under the rug than COWARD. Wait, yes I do TREASON!
If they're so 'concerned' then maybe they shouldn't have done it in the first place! The military - of all people - knew better. They knew they were putting themselves at risk with this insanity - after all everyone knows about the SERE program - and how it was really used. Jesse spoke the truth - because he's been through it. Well I KNOW people who 'died' during SERE - as Jesse hinted - and the 'death' is REAL even if you can resusitate them afterwards (which is what happened to someone I know).
People truly concerned about 'how this will look' are already depraved - what about the morality of torture, which is used only to terrorize people. It isn't about 'information' - it never was and never can be, because it IS TORTURE !! Why is this so hard to understand? Do really that many people still think RAPE is about sex, and women who dress a certain way (such as those who don't wear a burka) are just 'asking for it' - as a Wisconsin judge recently claimed? GET REAL !!!
"People truly concerned about 'how this will look' are already depraved ..."
That's true. They consider public mention of our government's use of torture to be an unforgivable breach of etiquette, whereas the torture itself is A-OK.
G. W. Obama strikes again.
After the world has good idea of the horror of USA torture, by not letting the world see it only makes it even worse.
So now everyone still knows the facts but now it is joined to the fact that Obama is aiding the crimes by hiding evidence and will now be complicit in the War crimes.
There are no secrets anymore... only truth, lies and coverups.
And the coverups are always worse than the crimes.
Well, let's see now. There are memos galore between our various upper echelons including the president and vice president approving torture and ordering or allowing the grunts in the field to do it.
When the grunts were photographed torturing, they were singled out as a handful of rogues performing the equivalent of "Fraternity hazing" on the prisoners.
The grunts were tried and imprisoned for various times.
More memos passed between the president, the military, Cheney, Rumsfield, et al. The torture and renditions continued, but more quietly.
The current president, Mr. Obama, said he would close Gitmo and bring the torture to an end.
Now, on second hought, we are back to military commissions, for the normal courts wouldn't allow self incrimination due to torture, and would insist on the evidence being presented with the opportunity to cross examine the accusers.
Now, Mr Obama hs stated that the actual torturers should not be tried because they were "just following the orders of their superiors," a defense that was ruled out at Nuremberg.
He says those who ordered the torturing are exempt from trial because they did not torture in person, but just gave the orders. This, too, was ruled out at Nuremberg.
Another reason stated by Mr. Obama is that bringing military people to trial might inhibit their following orders in the future! What orders might be brought to trial? More torture? More devastation of villages full of civilians, women and children?
Even the UCMJ states that an enlisted man, or officer, has a right and obligation to refuse an illegal or immoral order.
Since Nuremberg and the Nuremberg Principles have apparently been thrown in the dustbin by our government, I suppose the next step is to give each of them an Iron Cross.
Now, the photos that were so proudly taken are not to be shown to the sanitized American People, for fear we might look askance at what is done in our name, and incidentally, that those occupied by us may find out what we do, as if they didn't know already, at first hand.
The entire government has been guilty of violations of the "Universal Declaration of Human Rights" and the "Nuremberg Principles." The entire government is guilty of war crimes as defined in the two documents. Mr. Obama has continued to escalate these crimes, widened the wars, left the door open to torture and detention without trial, and is determined to protect any torturer or those who authorized or ordered it from trial, so he has joined the ranks of the war criminals.
Unfortunately, as the Obama government is the one tasked to investigate the crimes they are involved in, this whole thing is just a very sad farce. There will be no justice, no punishment. The war criminals will walk and keep their stolen money.
We the People will suffer the results as the empire rots from within.
"so he has joined the ranks of the war criminals."
I thought he did that years ago when he first voted in the Senate to provide funds for the continuing occupation of Iraq. The Senate and the House are filled with war criminals. I'd say it's likely the entire Senate and all of the House except for maybe Kucinich and Ron Paul joined the ranks of the war criminal class the first time they voted to invade Iraq or continuing to fund the occupation.
I suppose it's tied in with not prosecuting anyone for torture or holding anyone accountable for war crimes,as well as continuing war crimes. Just another fascist and another day in the empire.
The appointment of McChrystal and the decision to withhold the additional torture pictures should assure everyone we are right back where we started.
When McChrystal was asked if they could be prosecuted he assured his men the Red Cross would not be allowed in. "they won't have access and they never will. This facility was completely closed off to anybody investigating, even Army investigators." ...
President Obama is making the same choices as Dick Cheney. Interesting????
Step 1: Darth Cheney speaks of irresponsibility in releasing the photos.
Step 2: Darth sends his military minions like Petraeus in to waterboard Obama. Obama spokesman admits how damaging the photos would be to the troops.
Step 3: Obama trys to stop the release of torture photos.
Step 4: Obama removes his full body diguise to reveal himself to be Jeb Bush.
These people are idiots. The entire world knows what we did including the entire population of South Asia. We can't release the photos to protect the troops from retribution.
So,killing women and babies with massive airstikes is winning hearts and minds. And what about Bagram? What about getting the hell out of the entire region?
THAT is out of the question.
HEY OBAMA, YOU CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS!
"HEY OBAMA, YOU CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS!"
He will try; after all, he is from the Party of Flip-Flops.
The only way to ensure the American troops 'safety', and who treats them 'how'---is in reality in the hands of the American troops themselves.
If each of them, from General "Smith"---all the way down to Pvt "Jones"----make the decision to no longer participate in an illegal war(s) of aggression; pack their duffel bags ---sea bags---suit cases---(whatever) and start "walking" back home if they cannot get a "lift"----that statement alone would make the world see that the USA can be an honorable Nation----and not a Rogue Nation------------
Other wise, without each member of the armed forces deciding for themselves no to participate----they are in great danger, and would be if they were the "invaders" of any other country---including the USA............
Good Luck America, you really need it.
IMAGINE living in a world where people don't elect a class of "Leaders" who think they are so superior that they can handle the free exchange of information within their secret cabals - but the "sheeple" can not.
And if the information in the photos endangers American troops - that would indicate that the world really has a good reason to hate American Imperialism, and the criminal activity that goes with it.
I wonder what was on those videos. Oh yeah, our Public Servants in the CIA destroyed the evidence.
Another day, another crime...
ENDANGER THE TROOPS?? What about dropping white PHOSPHOROUS on civilian Arab Populations?? Think that might stoke the fires of HATRED for americans?
Arab populatons know about it. It is the residents of the world's leading democracy who cannot know, who cannot see, who cannot be allowed to fact facts.
Joe
I voted for Obama and had hope, I'm losing it at a speed-of-light clip.
I did not expect any potus to carry the torch for Revolution. But I thought after the bush/cheney rape BO would do some good things for this country.
Was I 100% wrong?
You had good intentions, which is important. But it's essential to be skeptical of those at the top in Washington, D.C. As the Russians say, "shit floats".
John Mitchell, thanks for letting me off lightly.
At this point I'm waiting to hear about John Yoo's Supreme Court appointment.
Dang, Shucks & Worse, Joe.
as soon as it was let out that zbig and albright were his foreign policy advisers. the cat was out of the bag.
as soon as it was let out that zbig and albright were his foreign policy advisers. the cat was out of the bag.
Congratulations, Democratic voters, you won!
Now, speaking to those of you who want to take back your government from the criminals. Perhaps you can take a page from the single payer activists disrupting the Bauchus hearings.
The Doctors and Nurses that are getting heard and then thrown out, seem to be on to something. Perhaps lawyers will have to resort to a similar tactic to make an impact on this torture issue.
I'm reminded of Nixon's "secret" bombing of Cambodia. Obviously the Cambodians had to be aware of it, so (rhetorical question alert) from whom was it "secret" and why?
Republicrats. Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee. On torture, Bush and Obama are one and the same. For shame.
I guess this nails it. We already knew he was a bastard and now we know he is a slimy crudball as well. I wonder how the stinkin' little prick explains this to his daughters?
michael jordan
http://sites.google.com/site/apolloguide/
This is yet another example of how easily Obama is controlled by the MIC and shadow government. He fooled voters with his smooth rhetoric, and proves yet again how he is really no different than George W. Bush, except for the fact that he can put a sentence together (of course taking out all of the "uhs" and "gonnas"). Obama is a fraud, plain and simple. It is time to begin hitting the drum for impeachment.
The people of the Middle East have seen photos and reality that are far worse than these. The government doesn't want the people of the United States to see, in full color, what has been done in our name. They're afraid people might finally wake up and demand an end to the continued madness and brutality. I only wish it were true.
Dear President Obama:
Our country's refusal to prosecute high level officials who gave the orders to torture (and their legal advisers) is what will enflame fighting In Afghanistan.
Releasing the photos in conjunction with an aggressive independent investigation, and prosecution, if merited, can only help to ease tensions in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Showing the Arab world that the United States embraces the truth, even when embarrassing, along with justice that applies to all citizens, will go a long way to winning their hearts and minds.
The thought that you don't understand this simple concept is quite frightening.
Sincerely, CX-1
And now the new narrative:
Obama talks large, delivers little.
--It probably has something to do with all the lobbyists he employs.
Mr. Obama advised his top military commanders about his decision in a meeting on Tuesday at the White House. Several military officials had argued against the immediate release of the photographs, saying such action could harm American troops in the field.
So, according to these military officials and Brock Alabama himself, the truth and some photographs are more lethal than bullets and bombs.
"The president would be the last to excuse the actions depicted in these photos," the administration official said.
not the last...just the latest
"The only means of strengthening one's intellect is to make up one's mind about nothing, to let the mind be a thoroughfare for all thoughts." - John Keats
"That is why the Department of Defense investigated these cases, and why individuals have been punished through prison sentences, discharges, and a range of other punitive measures."
So the Obama Administration has adopted the "Few Bad Apples" routine....everyone gets a pass except the poor grunts who carried out the illegal orders from above
"The only means of strengthening one's intellect is to make up one's mind about nothing, to let the mind be a thoroughfare for all thoughts." - John Keats
Obama has demonstrated that the criminal system to which he pledged himself at his inauguration is irreformable. Our wealth & power are grounded in the centuries of slavery, confirmed in the abrogation of treaties & subsequent demoralization & dehumanization of our concentration camp/resrevation 'detainees'; further confirmed by the assault on Vietnam (not to mention the many less publicized wars) 7 currently by the occupation of Iraq & the attempted occupation of Afghanistan.
Let's have no nonsense about third parties & saving a Constitution which the rightwing has no intention of abiding by, any more than the other wing of the Propertarian party has.
We voted for change and transparency. Shielding evidence of torture and their instigators fr the eyes of the citizenry is neither.
"We voted for change and transparency." No. YOU voted for the illusion of change and transparency, yet, again. And in 2010 and 2012, and..... you will do it again.
I have to wonder who fathered his children, Jesse Jackson? It is obvious that he has no balls of his own. A gutless bastard and a real son of a bitch this President Obama. Fragmentation bombs on tiny villages. Gone back on his word a dozen times already. Meet the new boss, worse than the old boss. I guess that when he decides to use drones to control the rage the Americans feel right now it will be for the greater good of the banking and investment community.
michael jordan
http://sites.google.com/site/apolloguide/
Now, don't hold back! Tell us how you REALLY feel!
As Supercop/Mayor Frank Rizzo's campaign slogan said: Firm but Fair!
Actually, I thought, "Ouch! THAT's gonna leave a mark." I only wish I could disagree.
· Yr Obd't Servant
The torture is what is causing problems for the US and for its troops in the field, not the pictures of the torture. Releasing these pictures would show to the world that the US has changed just as the new president said it would and that it is now adhering to the norms of civilized nations.