White House Won't Release More Pictures And Videos Of Prisoner Abuse!

[Solidarity]

McClellan at news conference just indicated the White House may not release any of the new pictures and videos of prison abuse because they are concerned about the privacy rights of those troops!

[WilliamPitt]

1. They're worried about the criminal cases coming against the troops

Releasing the photos could fuck up the prosecutions.

They will leak anyway. Count on it.

[Solidarity]

6. Not Credible

Interesting but not believable. The White House has not claimed that the pictures already released have in anyway screwed up current investigations and prosecutions. How would new photos and videos do that?

They just don't want the American people, especially GI's, to see how brutal their treatment was of Iraqi POW's. The calls for withdrawl from Iraq would become thunderous.

[WilliamPitt]

11. Read:

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/10/politics/10PENT.html

Officials Grapple With How and When to Release Images

WASHINGTON, May 9 — The Defense Department is planning to provide Congress with many more pictures of the abusive treatment of Iraqi detainees, but has not decided whether to release them to the public, Congressional leaders and Pentagon officials said Sunday.

In the end, President Bush is likely to make the determination on making the images public, aides said.

Inside the White House, several of Mr. Bush's aides have argued that he has little choice but to make them public. Sooner or later, they say, the images will leak out, prolonging the pain, fueling Iraqi and Arab suspicions of a Pentagon-orchestrated cover-up, and giving new life to calls for Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld's removal.

Many in the Pentagon, though, are resisting. Pentagon officials warned that a public release could jeopardize its criminal inquiry. They theorized that defense lawyers could cite a governmental release in motions to dismiss charges, arguing that their clients could not get a fair hearing. So far, seven soldiers are facing charges related to abuse of Iraqi detainees.

...more...

[pinto]

16. that would be an understandable defense argument...wonder if

the issue gets muddied if the MP's and others involved freely "traded" or distributed among their units....that would cloud any expectation of privacy issue, for sure.

[LittleApple81]

18. Look, if they can "fuzzify" the genitalia, they can "fuzzify" the faces

of the soldiers. This is bunk.

[pinto]

24. good point...I assume, tho, a def lawyer would try and keep them hid...

either way, and it sounds as if the Pentagon is basing their stand, whatever its merit, on the possible legal maneuvering after disclosure...I also think they'll leak...

[bobthedrummer]

22. Some of these pictures were used as screen savers on US military

computers.

[pinto]

26. that's the report I was thinking of...it also had a "contest" twist....

[VelmaD]

10. And anyone who believes that's the reason...

I've got this bridge I'd like to sell ya.

[WilliamPitt]

12. See post 11

It isn't the Bushies who want to keep the pics covered. It's the Pentagon.

[VelmaD]

28. And I'm having a hard time buying it...

from the Pentagon either given that my faith in them isn't any greater than my faith in the occupant of the White House. They haven't done anything to earn the benefit of the doubt from me right now.

Gawd I hate feeling like that.

[WilliamPitt]

31. So am I

but that's the excuse du jour.

[VelmaD]

32. What's truly sad to me...

is that I'm normally a big fan of protecting the rights of the accused. I want the people accused of these atrocities to get fair trials. But I don't for one minute believe that the people in the Pentagon and the administration believe what they're saying. They certainly don't seem to believe in the rights of the "accused" any other time. I don't see them clamoring for a fair trial for Jose Padilla for example.

It drives me nuts when they try to highjack liberal ideals when you know they don't mean it. *slow burn*

[qb]

2. We are talking about the 1000 or so pictures that were circulating

on laptops in the region, aren't we? Privacy my ass.

[soundfury]

3. Privacy rights, WTF

Here, an American solider proudly poses for his trophy photo.

[PaDUer]

4. Cheney giving the orders..

should've known..deja vu

[SanFranciscoDemocrat]

5. Just wait

Coming soon to an internet near you. Trying to keep these out of circulation will be like trying to strain pee out of a swimming pool.

[Solidarity]

8. Maybe Not

The White House has the CD's and videos. They may classify them. And they may only release them to a few trusted members of Congress who swear not to release them.

Members of Congress should demand now that they be released to all members of Congress and the public. John Kerry ought to demand it.

Will that happen? Maybe. Maybe not. But, don't assume that all of the photographs and videos will be leaked to the public.

[pinto]

7. McClellan at todays press briefing implied Pentagon calling the shots.

And it was interesting that Cheney "shadowed" Busboy at this morning's Platitude Briefing.

[WilliamPitt]

13. See post 11

[Homer12]

17. That's funny I thought Bush was commander and cheif

[DinahMoeHum]

9. Tee hee, too late, boys. That horse done left the barn by now.

Heh, the WH is now a pack of dogs scratching to cover their piles of turd, while they're drowning in their own puke.

:kick:

[Beam Me Up]

15. "dogs scratching to cover their piles of turd, while they're drownin

in their own puke"

LOL!

[MadHound]

14. Too late now Scotty boy, those photos WILL show up on the Net

These are photos that were sent home by troops, via email, snail mail, what have you. You know that copies were made, the images saved. My suggestion to this misadministration is to go ahead and release them all, now. Otherwise they will continue to come out in spits and spurts, eroding away at your hopes for re-election.

On second thought Bushboy, go ahead and make your best effort at keeping them secret.

[LittleApple81]

19. My thoughts exactly. The more they hide them, the worse it will

get.

[Purrfessor]

20. Torture them and then protect their right to privacy...

Ha ha ha.

How about our (American citizenry) right to privacy?

[stellanoir]

21. Funny how they're so concerned about the 4th amendment

rights to privacy. . .until it applies to "Homeland Securities' " infringement on our rights. This is so bogus. Lindsay Graham (an avowed R winger) said on MTP that these videos involve rape and murder. Hardly a fraternity stunt. With this amount of fervor I'd be extremely dismayed if these videos were not leaked.
Though I've been more dismayed than ever over the past three & on half years.

Not only are the concerned about reprisals in criminal cases against the troops, but also the hostages, and more importantly. . .the administration.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

23. Don't worry...they were digital pics. Easy to send anywhere in the...

...world, including the captive mainstream media.

[killbotfactory]

25. Yes, very concerned.

About their own political careers.

[bobbieinok]

27. were pics given CBS by WH, pentagon??? apparently not

[Norquist Nemesis]

29. ROFL!!!! These things aren't copied at the Photomat!

For pete's sake!!! They're on a fucking digital format EASILY made available with a point and click.

There's no way they'll be able to to keep them out of the public's view. Somehow they'll get out. The BEST they can do is to claim photos that get out from this point are fakes and try to discredit them (because they have them all, right?). Throw out something the believers can hang onto.

[Toucano]

PRIVACY?!

Since when does a US Soldier have privacy rights that exceed those of private sector employees?

They were "on the clock" when these photos were taken.

[Toucano]

30. Dupe

D'oh!