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.”
Many thanks, sir - this one died game, I'll give 'im that.
Am in before the ZOT?
I think he was trying to find "moveon.org" and made a left turn instead of a right turn. It looks like he's been dealt with accordingly.
NOPE
When the pimps of the election industry start to pursue the rape charges against Bill Clintooooooon, then call back!
Dang!
"Put some ice on it"
OK lets release the "photos" but lets balance them against the things the terrorists have done.
Let's release them balanced against stories of Iraqi children blown up because an American soldier was giving them candy.
Let's release them balanced against video of Nick Berg getting his head sawed off.
Let's release them balanced against stories of torture chambers we found in Falllujah.
Let's release them balanced against stories of Iraqi citizens having thier intestines ripped out by Michael Moores "freedom fighters and Patriots".
So, you signed on and took a dump on a Saturday evening. What's wrong, scared to spew during the week when EVERYONE would notice?
It's disgusting that the terrorists in Iraq and our own Liberals share such common goals. Both groups are filth.
War is Heck you panty wastes
I agree that releasing the videos would be a mistake. But I'm not sure the public (in general) was given an accurate description of what those photos contained. Maybe the article is exaggeraing the facts or outright lying...I don't know.
All I've seen are photos of Iraqi men with panties on their head and a quote from Donald Rumsfeld stating that the other photos are sadistic and inhumane.
THIS is the first I've heard and damn it...I'm gonna be angry for at least a few minutes. I'll blame it on the fact that the presidential campaign was in high gear (last year) and I didn't do any more research on this story than what I was spoon-fed from the media.
I'll get over my shock in a few minutes but I'm very disappointed.
if it's the SAME group of sadistic MP's as the last time, then it serves NO redeming purpose to publish them what so ever... and with the sextape it sounds like gardner and england going at it on the tape that came out in their trials, but, if it's MORE people involved than just them... it could mean trouble.
It's already been fixed. Those responsible have and are being prosecuted and punished. This is only an attempt to hurt the war effort and the administration again. It worked well for the left, msm and the enemy the first time around and now they can get more traction out of it. This is nothing about justice for pows. If they were interested in that where is the outcry for our civilian hostages who were beheaded or our military who were murdered? The gang rape of Jessica Lynch?
The answer is pretty obvious -- don't release them. How many deaths are you willing to contenance just to satisfy your prurient interest in viewing the photos and videos?
I wonder if they get extra points over on DU for a personal JimRob zotting...
We know what is in them. Those responsible have been or are in the process of being prosecuted. Who's hiding in the sand?
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Check out the home page of his source.
Leftist web site.
More than anything else, this is supporting the enemy, generating resistance to our own military, both here, and by the enemy.
Back during WWII, Tokyo Rose was seen as a traitor. It seems that she's now the model for most of the MSM.
Mark
If the pictures prove true, we should ensure full prosecution.
Releasing the pictures, though, would be counterproductive. I think the photos could remain classified evidence.
Convict (if necessary), and classify. No need to hand the bad guys propoganda just because we've got a few bad eggs we will control.
They considier their murderers martyrs. We consider our murderers prisoners.
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