Anyone else relieved that President Obama did NOT release the rest of the Abu Ghraib photos?

[NNN0LHI]

If he had how long do you think it would have taken the media pundits to link releasing the photos with yesterdays shooting? How long? Five minutes? They would have been jumping up and down that Obama had blood on his hands. They would have been interviewing the dead soldier families with tears in their eyes cursing Obama. It would have been all forgotten that the things depicted in those photos happened under the Bush administration.

Had I been president I would have released them. That is why I am not president. And the reason President Obama is.

See the difference?

Don

[springhill]

1. No, I am not relieved.

[Raineyb]

21. Neither am I. This reeked 5 years ago and it reeks now.

Keeping the public ignorant of the horrors their tax dollars pay for only guarantees that very few will be interested in stopping it.

Of course if this is what they wanted then mission accomplished I guess.

:shrug:

[Vincardog]

26. No I am not. They are needed to force the awareness of w's War Crimes in our name

[NYC_SKP]

2. I have maintained that not releasing these at this time demonstrates good judgement.

Some disagree.

:patriot:

[atreides1]

8. And when would be a good time?

10 years, 20, 50, 100?

It's good to see that the US has standards that can be pissed away because of fear, or for any reason at all.

[NYC_SKP]

13. Release some, not all. Balance the right of the world to know w the consequences created...

...in terms of retribution.

Release them now to a world court, perhaps, but not to like, the Internet.

And then, release them just before the next presidential election making sure to tie BushCo to them.

:patriot:

[T Wolf]

19. It is EXACTLY the lack of "consequences" for actions that has enabled the continuation of

the obscene policies of the previous (and yes, the current one as well) administration.

Do you think there would have been as much uproar about the Nazi concentration camps if the victors (Allies) did not release all the photos and video of the camps?

Just because we are the "victors" and in control of the evidence does not mean we should be able to keep them secret.

Openness indeed. NOT!

[NYC_SKP]

36. And exactly when did they reveal photos of WWII atrocities relative to the end of hostilities?

:shrug:

[T Wolf]

39. That would be AFTER they liberated the camps. The point is, they did not hide the

evidence of criminal activity like our government is doing.

Kind of like the by-standers to the recent gang-rape that stood by and did nothing. They have been (IMO correctly) criticized here for their inaction.

The same should apply to the war crimes committed in our name. Covering it up only leaves the imagination free to conjure up images even worse than what is actually in the visual evidence.

Anyone who thinks that hiding the evidence and protecting the criminals who committed these war crimes is more dangerous to US military who have invaded and still occupy the ME is just trying to assist in the cover-up.

The truth may not set you free, but you certainly will not be free without it.

[Javaman]

40. so relating the release of photos illegal acts of torture by us, is the same as

WWII and actually finding the concentration camps then photographing them.

Sorry. Your argument doesn't work. There weren't any photographs or news reels available to the general public from the Nazi's until we found them and photographed the camps ourselves. The Nazi's knew what they had and they didn't release any photographic evidence for obvious reasons. That same argument goes for us. The government won't release them because they know it would put them in deep shit.

The people have a right to know the evil their government does.

Will it cause a massive retaliation from the middle east/Muslim community? probably, but when you enter into the world of torture, willful torture, you better damn will be prepared for the consequences.

That torture put our nation at risk.

[Fire1]

25. Exactly. n/t

[Barack_America]

18. I tend to agree.

I think he's walking a fine line. I'm inclined to believe that, legally, he wants them released, but that the images are so horrifying and disturbing that they're not just the kinds of things you can just throw out there.

They need to come out eventually though and I hope they're working towards that.

[arcadian]

3. Hey, Mxyzptlk, how are you able to envision alternate realities so well?

I can make shit up too.

[bigtree]

4. there's absolutely no linkage

Just contriving how some cretin might have presented the facts isn't a really good argument. I'd say then, as now, that the incidents in those images are already well known (intimately) by the residents of the nations we're occupying, as well as the Muslim world. Just hiding the facts of the abuse isn't going to erase the reputation of the U.S. since many of those we're supposed to be concerned about know of the abuses first-hand after 8-plus years of American aggression across their sovereign borders. That's what I'd be concerned with, along with any attempt by our government to conceal or paper over the extent and scope of these government-sanctioned abuses.

[Luminous Animal]

5. So what you are saying is that the agenda of the crazies

should drive government policy.

[enigmatic]

6. No n/t

[TwilightGardener]

7. I would rather they not be released right now. I understand there's

principles of openness and freedom of information to uphold, but our relations with Muslims have been so very strained, and we have troops in harm's way.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

9. Relieved? More like disgusted at his cowardice.

[Critters2]

10. No. Sunlight is the best disinfectant.

There's no such thing as too much truth.

[Deep13]

17. +1

[Orsino]

22. Yes.

There may be a reasonable case for concealing evidence of war crimes, but I haven't heard it yet.

[optimator]

11. no

Fiat Justitia Ruat Coelum

[tblue]

12. He'd have to have not only released them but allowed the perpetrators to face prosecution.

The worst thing he could do is immunize the perpetrators of torture. How is the Islamic community supposed to feel? Where's the moral leadership?

[Bluenorthwest]

14. So it is better that the burden for all that happened

be placed on the shoulders of mental health professionals? How's that working out? The truth sets us free. Looking the other way makes those who do so culpable. Period.

[mmonk]

15. No

[Deep13]

16. No. The govt. has no right to keep the truth from the people. nt

[Solly Mack]

20. No

[Orsino]

23. Non sequitur.

A US Army officer's shooting rampage on a domestic post would somehow be seen as a consequence of the abuse of Iraqi and other foreign prisoners at Abu Ghraib?

I'm not getting it. :shrug:

[lamp_shade]

24. Yes. I am. I don't want to see them.

[tekisui]

27. No. They will blame him anyway.

[kenfrequed]

28. no

I am not relieved. This was an obscene. Any benefit gained is twice neutralized by the secrecy with which it is being treated.

As to inciting violence against us or our troops there are craters and bodies in Iraq and Afghanistan that give more than enough reason for retaliation. Had we released the photos and stated that we had changed and that this would stop perhaps it would have been to our credit.

[Soylent Brice]

29. the dates on the photos and videos would have reminded them.

to answer the question, No.

[supernova]

30. No, it will be bad no matter when they come out

These photos should have been released and been done with.

Keeping them hidden only delays, not removes, the inevitable.

[Orwellian_Ghost]

31. No

The fact that these photos have not been released is more a matter of propaganda and state secrets.

The connection you draw is tenuous at best and the matter is much simpler. Stop torture. Stop illegal and immoral warring. Once that's done these other matters, which are symptoms, do not come into play. As long as aggressive US intervention continues we will see all sorts of variations on theme just as we have been witnessing over the last few decades and more.

[adamuu]

32. No. No matter what he does, he will be criticized mercilessly

So, might as well err on the side of transparency.

[branders seine]

33. what other truth would you consider too dangerous

to expose because brain-damaged morons might misuse it?

[EndElectoral]

34. Happened despite Obama censoring the photos. We can't live in fear of the truth. Release them.

[Individualist]

35. No; disgusted that he's continuing the Chimp's policy on the photos.

:puke:

[bdamomma]

37. this is something that should not be swept under the rug.

and when are they closing Gitmo?? all these stupid obstacles in the way, they need to still convict Bush and Cheney.

[debbierlus]

38. No. This country needs a huge dose of reality and truth

And, the criminals need to be held to account...including the top executive branch individuals who ordered the crimes.

[Golden Raisin]

41. No.

[bvar22]

42. Yes.

If these photos were released, there would be a cry of outrage in the USA over what was done "in our name".
The Public would have demanded accountability, and some Rich, White War Criminals and War Profiteers might have been put on trial.

That would just be too inconvenient for our Political Aristocracy.
Thank GOD Obama chose to keep the photos hidden, and protect our War Criminals!
So much easier to just look the other way, or "Look forward" or something.
If YOU do NOT have PHOTOS, it NEVER happened. :)

After all, this IS America.
Business as usual!

:patriot: