I’m still knee-deep in my next Iraq piece, so this is a quick one:
Anyone who thinks Obama is wrong to block the release of some 2,000 additional prisoner abuse photographs should ask himself two questions:
- Are the photos new?
- Do they help in prosecuting those responsible?
If the answer to either question is ‘yes’, then by all means, go ahead and spread them out for all to see. If the answer to both is ‘no’, however, you need to ask yourself another question: How exactly would it be a “blow to transparency and accountability” if a bunch of gratuitous snapshots were not published?
You seem to claim that it’s not a “blow to transparency” if the photos are not published. Of course it’s a blow to transparency. Be honest.
I fail to see what they would add to our knowledge of Bush-sanctioned prisoner abuse.
They might prove that it’s more than just a few people involved in prisoner abuse, for starters. Plus, it would promote transparency (which was the original question on this site). It’s interesting that the rationale for not releasing them keeps changing.
I am ambivalent about the release of any new photos. The whole world and his dog by now know that various human rights violations took place under the Bush administration’s watch. Will they add anything new to the sorry saga ? Maybe not but I think it is always advisable to clear any publication with the victims of the alleged abuse. I do not know how far this happened with the images at are already in the public domain. Maybe this should be a greater motivating factor in the publication or censorship of any images rather than any embarrassment that it might cause politicians.
Bush sanctioned prisoner abuse, gee, what would you have done in Bush’s place to get hardened jihadis to talk?
Though Ive always felt that Iraq was a totally unwarranted and stupid war, I think publishing those pictures now is just not going to help the situation in any way. If there are some who still don’t see any wrong, even more proof is not going to make the least difference.
The very fact that there are more is itself indictment enough. The US and the world need to move on.
By keeping these photos from the people they are ensuring that no one goes to court over what they obviously think was OK behavior. I think these photos would enrage the people of the US to a point that they’ll want everyone involved charged. It’s not the people at the bottom of the chain they are protecting but the ones who gave the orders. Just like the first photos a couple yrs ago, the only people who would recieve punishment are the people performing the acts and not their superiors.
Sad state of affairs the Americans are in.