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ZOT! Pentagon Blocks Release of Abu Ghraib Images: Here's Why
Editor & Publisher ^ | July 23, 2005 | Greg Mitchell

Posted on 07/23/2005 6:59:19 PM PDT by greatglory

NEW YORK So what is shown on the 87 photographs and four videos from Abu Ghraib prison that the Pentagon, in an eleventh hour move, blocked from release this weekend? One clue: Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld told Congress last year, after viewing a large cache of unreleased images: "I mean, I looked at them last night, and they're hard to believe.” They show acts "that can only be described as blatantly sadistic, cruel and inhumane," he added.

A Republican Senator suggested the same day they contained scenes of “rape and murder.” No wonder Rumsfeld commented then, "If these are released to the public, obviously it's going to make matters worse."

Yesterday, news emerged that lawyers for the Pentagon had refused to cooperate with a federal judge's order to release dozens of unseen photographs and videos from Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq by Saturday. The photos were among thousands turned over by the key “whistleblower” in the scandal, Specialist Joseph M. Darby. Just a few that were released to the press sparked the Abu Ghraib abuse scandal last year, and the video images are said to be even more shocking.

The Pentagon lawyers said in a letter sent to the federal court in Manhattan that they would file a sealed brief explaining their reasons for not turning over the material. They had been ordered to do so by a federal judge in response to a FOIA lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union. The ACLU accused the government Friday of putting another legal roadblock in the way of its bid to allow the public to see the images of the prisoner abuse scandal.

One Pentagon lawyer has argued that they should not be released because they would only add to the humiliation of the prisoners. But the ACLU has said the faces of the victims can easily be "redacted."

To get a sense of what may be shown in these images, one has to go back to press reports from when the Abu Ghraib abuse scandal was still front page news.

This is how CNN reported it on May 8, 2004, in a typical account that day:

“U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld revealed Friday that videos and ‘a lot more pictures’ exist of the abuse of Iraqis held at Abu Ghraib prison.

"’If these are released to the public, obviously it's going to make matters worse,’ Rumsfeld told the Senate Armed Services Committee. ‘I mean, I looked at them last night, and they're hard to believe.’

“The embattled defense secretary fielded sharp and skeptical questions from lawmakers as he testified about the growing prisoner abuse scandal. A military report about that abuse describes detainees being threatened, sodomized with a chemical light and forced into sexually humiliating poses.

“Charges have been brought against seven service members, and investigations into events at the prison continue.

“Military investigators have looked into -- or are continuing to investigate -- 35 cases of alleged abuse or deaths of prisoners in detention facilities in the Central Command theater, according to Army Secretary Les Brownlee. Two of those cases were deemed homicides, he said.

"’The American public needs to understand we're talking about rape and murder here. We're not just talking about giving people a humiliating experience,’ Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina told reporters after Rumsfeld testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee. ’We're talking about rape and murder -- and some very serious charges.’

“A report by Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba on the abuse at the prison outside Baghdad says videotapes and photographs show naked detainees, and that groups of men were forced to masturbate while being photographed and videotaped. Taguba also found evidence of a ‘male MP guard having sex with a female detainee.’

“Rumsfeld told Congress the unrevealed photos and videos contain acts 'that can only be described as blatantly sadistic, cruel and inhuman.’”

The military later screened some of the images for lawmakers, who said they showed, among other things, attack dogs snarling at cowed prisoners, Iraqi women forced to expose their breasts, and naked prisoners forced to have sex with each other.

In the same period, reporter Seymour Hersh, who helped uncover the scandal, said in a speech before an ACLU convention: “Some of the worse that happened that you don't know about, ok? Videos, there are women there. Some of you may have read they were passing letters, communications out to their men….The women were passing messages saying ‘Please come and kill me, because of what's happened.’

“Basically what happened is that those women who were arrested with young boys/children in cases that have been recorded. The boys were sodomized with the cameras rolling. The worst about all of them is the soundtrack of the boys shrieking that your government has. They are in total terror it's going to come out.”


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: abughraib; abuse; dod; iraq; zawt
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Dems are at it again.
1 posted on 07/23/2005 6:59:20 PM PDT by greatglory
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To: greatglory

This won't hurt a bit.


2 posted on 07/23/2005 7:00:42 PM PDT by cripplecreek (If you must obey your party, may your chains rest lightly upon your shoulders.)
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To: greatglory
Good, Dammit!

"Never give the enemy the tools and weapons to beat you...."

3 posted on 07/23/2005 7:01:30 PM PDT by xcamel (Deep Red, stuck in a "bleu" state.)
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To: greatglory

Are these photos of OTHER acts committed by OTHER perps?


4 posted on 07/23/2005 7:03:05 PM PDT by BunnySlippers (Be a Good Mullah Now ...)
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To: greatglory

5 posted on 07/23/2005 7:03:06 PM PDT by BulletBobCo
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To: xcamel

Yeah!!!


6 posted on 07/23/2005 7:05:16 PM PDT by greatglory
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To: xcamel

Burn 'em.


7 posted on 07/23/2005 7:06:30 PM PDT by zook
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To: greatglory
If it's on video and Donald Rumsfeld is describing it as sadistic and inhumane...I don't think we can just brush it off as "Dems are at it again."

I might agree though, that the Dems probably wet their pants with delight over the story.

8 posted on 07/23/2005 7:06:46 PM PDT by TNdandelion
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To: TNdandelion

I agree.


9 posted on 07/23/2005 7:08:29 PM PDT by greatglory
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To: greatglory

Your first post highlights a pinko. I'll stand by for some other confirmation, but meanwhile, I don't think you'll be around long.


10 posted on 07/23/2005 7:08:44 PM PDT by 68 grunt (3/1 India, 3rd, 68-69, 0311)
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To: greatglory

Signed up tomorrow, eh?

Is it time for the dancing girls yet?


11 posted on 07/23/2005 7:09:25 PM PDT by decal ("The French should stick to kisses, toast and fries.")
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To: greatglory
I believe there are some lines we should not cross. What the whole story behind some of these incidents is, we'll probably never know. The ACLU and the democrats have throughly destroyed their ability to be viewed as objective critiques.

When we're talking about terrorism and bombings that may kill anywhere from tens to millions, the gloves are considered off by me and most civilized humans.

The terrorists have written the rules for these times. They want to kill indiscriminately, yet be treated by Geneva convention rules. LOL, fat chance. Live like a rabid dog, get treated like a rabid dog.

ACLU, democrats... neither of you are fit to judge anyone.
12 posted on 07/23/2005 7:09:29 PM PDT by DoughtyOne (US socialist liberalism would be dead without the help of politicians who claim to be conservative.)
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To: greatglory

Welcome to Free Republic.


13 posted on 07/23/2005 7:09:54 PM PDT by Ben Dover
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To: TNdandelion
The boys were sodomized with the cameras rolling. The worst about all of them is the soundtrack of the boys shrieking that your government has.

If they have video footage of our soldiers committing (or setting up) child rape...I'm gonna be one pissed off American.

14 posted on 07/23/2005 7:10:15 PM PDT by TNdandelion
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To: greatglory

So "Dems at it again" is sarcasm?


15 posted on 07/23/2005 7:10:37 PM PDT by RedRover
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To: 68 grunt

Very true. Just a reminder that in all efforts branded righteous and just, there are acts which besmirch the effort overall. Freedom arrives with blackened eyes, gentlemen. We should not turn our eyes from that.


16 posted on 07/23/2005 7:12:04 PM PDT by greatglory
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To: greatglory
"So what is shown on the 87 photographs and four videos from Abu Ghraib prison that the Pentagon, in an eleventh hour move, blocked from release this weekend?"

Karl Rove talking to a report from the Ladies Home Journal and revealing a recipe from the CIA cafeteria.

17 posted on 07/23/2005 7:14:00 PM PDT by CWOJackson
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To: DoughtyOne

I agree that the ACLU and Dems have no credibility....but if Rumsfeld is disgusted by the photos/video and they are legitimate (not faked in anyway), then can we not admit this is a problem...deal with it and fix it?


18 posted on 07/23/2005 7:14:00 PM PDT by TNdandelion
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To: greatglory

Lets not forget that our own media desperately avoided showing an American getting his head slowly sawed off at the hands of islamderthal scum.


19 posted on 07/23/2005 7:14:09 PM PDT by cripplecreek (If you must obey your party, may your chains rest lightly upon your shoulders.)
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To: greatglory
Yup, it's time...

"Hojotoho! Hojotoho! Heiaha! Heiaha!"


20 posted on 07/23/2005 7:14:20 PM PDT by decal ("The French should stick to kisses, toast and fries.")
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