Obama U-turn on abuse photos

BBC ^ | 16:46 GMT, Wednesday, 13 May 2009 | staff

[gandalftb]

US President Barack Obama has changed his mind and will now attempt to block the publication of photographs showing the abuse of prisoners by US soldiers.

The US government had previously said it would not fight a court ruling ordering the release of the pictures.

Mr Obama now believes the release of the photos would make the job of US troops in Iraq and Afghanistan more difficult, White House officials said.

The pictures were due to be released by 28 May, according to the court ruling.

[tobyhill]

Obama initially said that releasing the photos would make us more safe but now is saying otherwise.

[gandalftb]

Trust me I don't confuse O's reverse as a result of his political acumen, but as a result of his political survival instincts.

I give him credit for learning statesmanship even if he has to be dragged into it kicking and screaming like the ACLU is doing right now.

Just caught the ACLU on hardball, they are seething angry. Apoplectic. The left/liberals are just melting down on DU also.

Gonna make some popcorn for the Maddow/Olbermann shows tonight, hehehehe.

[South40]

Amateur hour continues.

[magooey]

May 25 is Memorial Day, so the initial release date was intended to insult our troops.

[Recovering Hermit]

This is all about burying the disaster started with the whole torture/waterboarding fiasco.

The dims thought that this would escalate to their benefit, and once that they realized that it is backfiring on them big time, they can't drop the whole thing fast enough. The media will defend, or more likely ignore, the whole thing as well.

That's it!

[americanophile]

I took a pass through Daily Kos to see what the guilt-peddlers had to say about their Dear Leader's flip flop....dare say, they are tortured by it.

[edcoil]

what is worse - the real pictures of peoples imagination of what they could look like. Either way this administration has made us look bad.

[Texas4ever]

OK, Thousands of Thanks You message on behalf of our soldiers should be sent out. We must take the good and celebrate it. Let our voices be known.

THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT!

[R0CK3T]

Thanks Dick Cheney!

IMO - with the way Cheney stood his ground and articulated the actual facts it looks like it has mad a dent on 0bama’s decision.

When he comes right at HRH Hussein and states facts about how America is LESS secure on 0bama’s watch it begins to set-up an accountability trap that perhaps has persuaded Hussein to begin to have second thoughts about his air of invincibility.

Because, after all, Mr Cheney is emphatically correct. The Jihadists would seize upon this to kill American soldiers and that TOO would be on Hussein’s hands.

Too bad Cheney has to do the job the Press should be doing. Forcing accountability of POTUS is NOT anything this Press feels so inclined to care about at all.

[truthkeeper]

This is a no-brainer. There’s nothing terrible in the photos and he’d look the lying sack that he is, plus an idiot, if they came out now.

[golfisnr1]

He is going to Egypt soon after the planned release.
He would get a riotous reception. Punoff.

[Soothesayer]

He’s good at politics I’ll give him that.

[golfisnr1]

They have been prosecuted already. I mean soldiers have been punished already.

[Menehune56]

The Liberals are going to go nuts!

My first thought too when I read this story. I couldn't resist taking a quick peek at the thread on the subject at DU and it's on fire. The sentiment there is that Obama has become Bush Lite. They were so looking forward to more ammo to trash Bush with. They don't give a damn about the safety of our war fighters or the stability in the Middle East.

[nicolezmomma]

I’m not going to bash Obama for doing the right thing.

[khnyny]

Don’t kid yourself, he’s still for it, this is only being done on the advise of his political advisors who see that the release of these photos will rebound directly on obama himself, other than that he could care less.

That sounds about right.

[bushpilot1]

He is sending a message to the US military...follow me or I will release the photos and put you in greater danger..

[TomasUSMC]

Maybe there are other photos of obambi and Donald Young.

[Electric Graffiti]

I’m not going to bash Obama for doing the right thing.

What? He was the one who proposed releasing the photos in the first place. He should be charged with TREASON.

[crazyhorse46]

So who in the administration will be asked to resign for suggesting the photos be released?