Posted on 06/02/2005 5:50:20 PM PDT by saquin
A judge has ordered the government to release four videos from Abu Ghraib prison and dozens of photographs from the same collection as photos that touched off the Iraqi prisoner abuse scandal a year ago.
The federal judge issued the order late Wednesday requiring the Army to release the material to the American Civil Liberties Union to comply with the Freedom of Information Act.
The ACLU said the material would show that the abuse was "more than the actions of a few rogue soldiers."
Judge Alvin Hellerstein said the 144 pictures and videos can be turned over in redacted form to protect the victims' identities. He gave the Army one month to release them.
The judge ordered the release after he viewed eight of the photos last week. They were given to the Army by a military policeman assigned to Abu Ghraib.
In October 2003, the ACLU filed a lawsuit seeking information on treatment of detainees in U.S. custody and the transfer of prisoners to countries known to use torture. The ACLU contends that prisoner abuse is systemic.
"These images may be ugly and shocking ... (but) the American public deserves to know what is being done in our name," said Anthony D. Romero, executive director of the ACLU.
So far, 36,000 pages of documents and the reports of 130 investigations, mostly from the FBI and Army, have been turned over to the ACLU. The group is seeking documents from the CIA and the Department of Defense as well.
The judge said last week that he believed photographs "are the best evidence the public can have of what occurred" at the prison.
Government lawyer Sean Lane had argued that releasing pictures, even in redacted form, would violate Geneva Convention rules by subjecting the detainees to additional humiliation.
Lane did not immediately return a telephone message for comment Thursday.
I'm sick of these groups also. I wonder if they realize how they are stirring up the passions of the extremists over there? Didn't that horrible Nick Berg beheading occur right after the release of similiar photos? And I guess the lives of our soldiers mean nothing to them. It's amazing to me these liberal groups keep saying , but we are patriotic, we are, we support the soldiers...........Actions speak louder than words!
ACLU attorney Amrit Singh said, "These documents reveal that the torture of detainees in U.S. custody was widespread and systemic."
That is a lie. Whether or not you think abuse was widespread and systemic, this collection of photos and videos is irrelevant to that argument. They are all from the same collection taken by a small group of soldiers, during a short time frame, nearly 2 years ago. Therefore these photos have nothing to do with the argument that abuse was "systemic".
"They underscore the need for an independent investigation into which government officials were ultimately responsible for the abuse."
Well now we see the real agenda. But again, these photos and videos are completely irrelevant to that argument. So again, what's the point, except to stir up more animosity towards U.S. soldiers and Americans in general?
ROFL!
Does that make me a librarian?
It figures, another Damien judge. The enemy within is doing far more damage to the Country than anyone else. The GOP had better grow a set real soon, or we're all in trouble.
Judge Alvin Hellerstein
NY Judge nominated by Clinton. Gosh...wonder what his motivation could be?
I read it when you first posted it. All the more reason to use my suggestion from the other thread. Let God sort 'em out.
Understood.
Would you be able to do me a favor? I'll freepmail you now.
It's time to start ignoring judges.
"The release of recycled photos do nothing to educate the public and is only designed to incite a riot overseas."
You got that right, and it will also be used to incite the libtwits by the rats/msm right here at home.
Based on prior cases, and by a narrow margin, I believe the US SC would rule for the President in that circumstance.
Congressman Billybob
The Executive Branch should ignore this edict.
Actually the order could be followed to a T. The judge said,"144 pictures and videos can be turned over in redacted form to protect the victims' identities". All the government has to do is cover every bit of the "victim" that could lead to identification, from head to toe.
we also need to expose the membership of the ACLU.
In fact membership int he communist organization should disqualify a person from being a lawyer.
The judge is an idiot. A photograph is the least honest evidence of a continuous event. A specific image of 1/500th of a second in time can portray an event in a direction exactly opposite of that which transpired. The videos would at least allow for some context, but even then, the MSM would extract only the most striking frames in order to paint the picture they want to project.
I like your thinking. Someone could concievably be identified by a birthmark, crooked finger, scar, etc. so I think the only safe course of action would be to completely obscure the victim.
This comment made me stop and think. When a judge orders something released that will cause great harm to our country's image and our soldiers in harm's way the DoD should ignore the order. But it won't happen. Both the President and his brother had a splendid opportunity to ignore a judicial decree and save the life of Terri Schiavo, but both men sold her out.
Add the National Lawyer Guild to your idea and bump!
This scumbag will have the blood of Americans on his hands.
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