Posted on 06/02/2005 3:42:48 PM PDT by Crackingham
A federal judge has ordered the Defense Department to turn over dozens of photographs and four movies depicting detainee abuse at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq as part of an ongoing lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union.
"These images may be ugly and shocking, but they depict how the torture was more than the actions of a few rogue soldiers," said Anthony D. Romero, Executive Director of the ACLU. "The American public deserves to know what is being done in our name. Perhaps after these and other photos are forced into the light of day, the government will at long last appoint an outside special counsel to investigate the torture and abuse of detainees."
The court order came in response to a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit filed by the ACLU, the New York Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Constitutional Rights to obtain documents and materials pertaining to the treatment of detainees held by American forces in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantánamo Bay.
Attorneys for the government had argued that turning over visual evidence of abuse would violate the United States’ obligations under the Geneva Conventions, but the ACLU said that obscuring the faces and identifiable features of the detainees would erase any potential privacy concerns. The court agreed.
"It is indeed ironic that the government invoked the Geneva Conventions as a basis for withholding these photographs," said Amrit Singh, a staff attorney at the ACLU. "Had the government genuinely adhered to its obligations under these Conventions, it could have prevented the widespread abuse of detainees held in its custody in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantánamo Bay."
The court order filed late yesterday requires the government by June 30 to reprocess and redact 144 detainee abuse photographs provided by Sergeant Joseph Darby to the Army’s Criminal Investigation Command. The order also requires the government to provide the court with an estimate of the length of time it will take to reprocess and redact four movies included as part of the Darby collection by June 10. The decision comes after the court privately viewed eight of the images from the Darby collection to determine whether the photographs should be released under the FOIA. The ACLU expects redacted versions of the photographs to be released within the next six weeks.
Cue media feeding frenzy.
Watch out! More Muslim terrorists wearing panties on their heads!
Great -- another propaganda bonanza for terrorists. Thanks to the ACLU.
"The American public deserves to know what is being done in our name."
No, you a'hole, Anthony D. Romero. You and your ilk made it abundantly clear before March 2003 that none of this is in your name.
to which the DoD should reply: "Very interesting pronouncement. Now, let us see you enforce it."
I'm not sure how this happened or what we should do about it -- I know we need to do something.
I'm guessing this is the same Clinton judge as before?
"Great -- another propaganda bonanza for terrorists. Thanks to the ACLU."
No, not thanks to the ACLU.
The ACLU merely asked for these things.
It is the Federal Judiciary of the United States which has ordered up this propaganda victory for America's enemies.
Huh....
1. I noticed that the "federal judge" is not named.
2. It ain't gonna happen.
This ruling by some lone (no doubt corrupt, liberal Democrat) "federal judge", who no doubt resides squarely in somebody's pocket, will be appealed.
I think I agree with you. These images will be used for terrorist recruiting -- to get more suicide bombers to kill Americans (and Iraqis).
Since lives are on the line, I think the DoD should just ignore this court order.
Anything to advance the anti-America agenda is just fine with the ACLU and LIBERAL LOONS in BLACK ROBES.
Brilliant! Your first post on FreeRepublic. You must be proud.
The American Civil Liberties Union is turning into the Iraqi Civil Liberties Union.
The entire judicial system in this country is a reeking cesspool.
KISS
Thanks for the link. The question is answered, and no surprise:
Judge Alvin Hellerstein: Clinton appointee, 1998.
So yes, he certainly is a corrupt, liberal Democrat federal judge who resides squarely in somebody's pocket
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