Obama U-turn on abuse photographs

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Obama U-turn on abuse photographs

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.

The court order was issued by the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in September 2008, in response to a Freedom of Information Act request by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

'Disappointed'

The US Department of Defence had been preparing to release the images, but Mr Obama has now directed his White House Counsel, Greg Craig, to raise an objection to their publication.

The dispute could now end up before the US Supreme Court.

Whie House officials said Mr Obama did not feel comfortable with the release of the photographs because he believed their release would endanger US troops, and because the national security implications of such a release had not been fully presented to the court.

Mr Obama had been advised against publication by Defence Secretary Robert Gates, Centcom commander Gen David Petraeus and the commander of US forces in Iraq, Gen Ray Odierno, a Pentagon official said.

The ACLU said it was "surprised and disappointed" by Mr Obama's decision, but that it would continue to fight for the photograph's release.

The BBC's Richard Lister in Washington says that although President Obama has insisted on the need for open government, it appears that on this issue he has been persuaded that - for now at least - such transparency risks doing more harm than good.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8048774.stm

[Nagishkaw 510]

Tell the truth and nothing but.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I would have thought that being open and honest about what was happening, and being equally honest and open about punishing offenders (via high publicity public trials) would be a better indicator of the US' desire to show responsibility and accountability for the actions of a small minority of its troops.

[Peikko 1,575]

Obama seems more like Blair every day...

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Obama seems more like Blair every day...

He does indeed.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Was Tony a waffler?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Among other things.

He didn't have the courage of his earlier convictions.

On the plus side Obama has something going for him in that he doesn't appear to be relying on focus groups in order to make decisions, something Blair was criticised for in his first few years.

[Danno 1,228]

Pike, why no speculation as to "why the turnaround" about the pics?

Here I'll give you a hint with just 4 letters.

Afgn

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Pike, why no speculation as to "why the turnaround" about the pics?

Here I'll give you a hint with just 4 letters.

Afgn

I don't need your hints, Mr Danno.

You keep 'em

[alienlovechild 75]

I would have thought that being open and honest about what was happening, and being equally honest and open about punishing offenders (via high publicity public trials) would be a better indicator of the US' desire to show responsibility and accountability for the actions of a small minority of its troops.

That didn't happen when the Abu Grahib photos were released five years ago and how photos even older won't inspire more violence is beyond belief given the way the enemy operates. More ridiculous political show trails on three terrorists getting water boarded won't win any friends abroad but it will be used for enemy propaganda and will kill more U.S. and allied soldiers and more dead in riots. Pointless except for vengeance by partisans.

Why not just rerun old footage of B-52s bombing Cambodia or Vietnam since that won over so many allies in the last major war?

[nowhereman 1]

I agree with Obama's decision. Most service members serve honorably under very difficult decisions & the actions of a few should not represent what we stand for (I say "we" because I am an Army officer). The flip side of this is that those who do not serve honorably should be punished accordingly. In the end its a balancing act.

[Danno 1,228]

I agree with Obama's decision. Most service members serve honorably under very difficult decisions & the actions of a few should not represent what we stand for (I say "we" because I am an Army officer). The flip side of this is that those who do not serve honorably should be punished accordingly. In the end its a balancing act.

Correct me if I am wrong but these photos are not about service members... unless you consider the CIA service members.

Edited May 14, 2009 by Danno

[AlHayatZween 2]

Heard this on the news last night...

and i thought...

Wow, those pictures must be really bad if he is pulling a U-turn...

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I say expose the buggers and punish them publicly.

[Peikko 1,575]

It probably is a bit of buggery too...