Posted on 06/19/2005 2:34:43 PM PDT by Crackingham
The Pentagon is preparing to release another batch of photos showing prisoner abuse at the Abu Ghraib prison near Baghdad, a step that is likely to renew criticism of U.S. handling of detainees there. As many as 144 photos and still images from four videotapes could be made public in coming weeks, as soon as the Pentagon finishes editing them to conceal the identify of the victims.
The digital photos are from the same batch amassed by Army Spc. Joseph Darby, who was based at Abu Ghraib. Darby turned the photos over to military investigators last year. Later, some photos showing naked Iraqi prisoners being forced to simulate sex acts were broadcast and published. The ensuing controversy triggered wide criticism of U.S. policies on handling prisoners at Abu Ghraib and other military prisons.
A federal judge in New York on June 2 ordered the government to prepare to release the rest of the Darby photos in response to a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union under the Freedom of Information Act. In pressing for release of the pictures, the ACLU contends that prisoner abuse was more widespread than the Bush administration has acknowledged.
"We think that the public has a right to this information," said Amrit Singh, staff counsel at the ACLU.
As part of its lawsuit, which also seeks documents pertaining to the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the ACLU wants to "create a system of accountability for the abuses that happened in the name of the American people and to hold accountable high-ranking officials," Singh said. The government has already released some 36,000 pages of documentation in response to the lawsuit, but the images would be the first to be made public.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
I assume these are same "bad soldiers"...just a different day.
Anti-Christian Liberties Union and ths Democrat (probably Christian hating) judge will have blood on their hands.
"The Pentagon is preparing to release another batch of photos ...."
Why?
Close. More like "same bad soldiers", "same day". This is from the exact same batch of photos as released last year. Watch the MSM try to make it into a "new" story.
Because a judge ordered them to.
All Comunist Losers Union
A C L U
After all the trouble the first release caused, why release more?
I'm still waiting to see any abuse...maybe this batch will anger some more jihadis--oops I meant the ACLU.
Check out the judge and you probably have the answer.
This is now a proven matter of national security, so to hell with the judge.
The only thing I can think of, is that the gov't decided that Not releasing them would cause a bigger stir by having the media feed on it every day for months. This way, they'll feed on it for a week.
I guess.
the nyt will be getting horny.
The ACLU will do anything to harm America and Bush. Even if that means dead Americans and dead Iraqis.
I have no faith in the media anymore. By any measure of news judgment this should not be news. It's from the same batch of photos we've already seen, taken by the same group of soldiers (already tried and sentenced) during the same time period 2 years ago. Therefore it doesn't advance the story or tell us anything new about policies or practices at Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo or elsewhere. Other than purely prurient interest there's no reason these photos should be displayed or should be more than a footnote in one day's news.
But I know that's not how it will be played out. Against all reasonable judgment, this will be conflated into the whole Gitmo, "Koran abuse", Durbin "Nazis" comments debate, things that these photos have absolutely nothing to do with. But I know the media and I know how they will play this and it makes me sick.
You've given the best explanation to date that I read about why the government is releasing them.
They got a Clinton judge and lost the case. Why no appeal. And the government based the case on the identify of the terrorists being made known, so the judge told the Pentagon to just cover the faces.
What about the American soldiers put at risk by this release.
I am disgusted that we have Senators practically in tears over terrorists and the government using terrorists rights instead of the safety of US troops in its arguments.
I am getting fed up with President Bush for allowing this to happen. We are losing the information war, will soon lose the political war,and eventually the real war.
"The Pentagon is preparing to release another batch of photos showing prisoner abuse at the Abu Ghraib prison near Baghdad, a step that is likely to renew criticism of U.S. handling of detainees there."
See what happens when one tries to play fair with the L/MSM.
I cannot figure out why Rummy has not by word of mouth told all to just shut up. During official DoD press conferences just continue to say, gee I don't know, what do you think, then cut them off, and OK next question. Pull a super Ronnie on them all for the remaining time this POTUS is in office. Let them scream their **** off, and just continue to play super dumb. This would get their attention after a few months. If anything as they screamed and hopped up and down for months on end, writing how the press was not allowed to practice it's evil ways, perhaps more Americans would slowly come out of their deep hibernation, the scales might start to fall off their eyes, and wonder in amazement, why the DoD does not want to be forthright and open.
By the way, I think I heard someone mention that the Washington Post (and maybe others) already had access to the complete CD-ROM containing all the Darby photos, given to them through unofficial channels. This release, ordered by the judge, is for the govt. to officially release all the photos to the ACLU (and therefore the media). But if I'm right that the WaPo already had access to all the photos, is it possible this release is just more of the same? Variations on a theme and therefore nothing really new or surprising? If that's true it would be even more hypocritical for the WaPo (and others) to publish these and get all hyper about "new photos".
The "judge" ordered this stuff released so the DemocRATS and their lawyers can add them to their private collections of kinky bondage stuff.
The President should classify them as something that could cause "serious damage to national security" (the definition of SECRET) and withhold them as a matter of national security. He has that power no matter what the judge says. The judge cannot overrule him.
Let's everybody catch a clue here: Abuse and Torture are NOT the same thing! If you disagree, check with those recently liberated from Islamist torture.
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