Posted on 05/23/2004 4:47:02 AM PDT by areafiftyone
MOBILE phones fitted with digital cameras have been banned in US army installations in Iraq on orders from Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, The Business newspaper reported today.
Quoting a Pentagon source, the paper said the US Defence Department believes that some of the damning photos of US soldiers abusing Iraqis at Abu Ghraib prison near Baghdad were taken with camera phones.
"Digital cameras, camcorders and cellphones with cameras have been prohibited in military compounds in Iraq," it said, adding that a "total ban throughout the US military" is in the works.
Disturbing new photos of Iraqi prisoner abuse, which the US government had reportedly tried to keep hidden, were published on Friday in the Washington Post newspaper.
The photos emerged along with details of testimony from inmates at Abu Ghraib who said they were sexually molested by female soldiers, beaten, sodomised and forced to eat food from toilets.
Cameras have long been banned in restricted areas and those areas are well identified with signs. THere are penalties under the UCMJ for violating the restriction. THese new camera/cell phone combinations don't look much like a camera and however most restricted areas also have a ban on cell phone use as well. It seems that strengthing those restrictions might be in order.
Would seem to me that banning cameras from all compounds is over kill and virtually unenforceable. GIs have been snap shot hounds since a really good snapshot camera became available.
It's getting difficult to buy a cell phone that doesn't take pictures.
That's not good. I don't need and I don't like cellphones that take pictures.
Why?
I LIKE the idea that everyone can record audio and video of what is around them.
Why do you think the TSA banned cameras in gate check areas? Millions of pictures of those baboons pawing through underwear, while 5 of their colleagues stand around doing nothing, would expose them for the tits-on-a-boar useless dopes they are.
We just bought a couple without, though, and didn't have a prob :) Pretty good selection, too. We don't know anyone who has a cell with a camera, either, FWIW.
I would like to see them banned completely from all military stations.
Cite one incident where security was compromised by such a camera.
This is being done to make coverups easier. No other reason.
When has there been a coverup?
I don't have a problem banning anything that may be a security risk ... but if you will read the article ...
the resoning seems to be that something was done that exposed wrong doing by military personel ... and thats
the reason for the ban.
no mention of security risk.
It's a good thing when the dirty laundry gets washed ...
don't outlaw washing machines because you peed your pants.
You actually obey that law? I know nobody who does.
Including you?
Read the news lately?
And this is about future coverups. People should have cameras in as many places as possible, especially having to do with the government.
You'd think the Government mantra that is applied to the Sheeple would apply to them. To wit: "If you've got nothing to hide, you've got nothing to worry about."
LG VX 6000 in my pocket. I turn the ringer off in a theatre.
Jack Valenti can kiss my wirelessly connected ass.
He can kiss mine, too :) But I still can see the need for a ban on cells with cameras on military installations.
Yes, I have read the news and I know that there is absolutely NO evidence of a coverup. As a matter of FACT, the military has been investigating and REPORTING this story since last year. The media did not have to UNCOVER anything.
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