Obama reverses self on releasing detainee abuse photos after seeing them first-hand (Ameriblog)

[struggle4progress]

y John Aravosis (DC) on 5/13/2009 03:21:00 PM

... The photos don't add anything new to our understanding of the crime, but they're so bad that they'll incite violence against our troops? Uh huh ... http://www.americablog.com/2009/05/obama-reverses-self-on-releasing.html

[Badgerman]

1. He is lying for a reason, but for the life of me I cannot find a valid one...

I've said the same in another thread on the same subject. The president is dead wrong on this issue, and the argument some apply that it is to protect our soldiers is absurd.

"..."At the end of that meeting, the president directed his counsel to object to the immediate release of the photos on those grounds. ... strongly believes that the release of these photos, particularly at this time, would only serve the purpose of inflaming the theaters of war, jeopardizing U.S. forces, and making our job more difficult in ..."

Obama is dead wrong with this explanation. Since he is no dummy you have to conclude he is lying for a reason. Why it is a wrong reason given: If the photos were released AND at the same time Executive orders signed forbidding ever again to use these methods AND introducing law to make such actions forever illegal, with very harsh punishments for infractions, THEN the world, the radicals included would see that we are serious. But not pursuing prosecutions for torturing, nor even meaningful investigations, and further refusing to make public evidence of gross violations, in this case phots with NO national security importance, is sending the clear, and loud message to the whole world that this administration will consider using torture now and in the future.

Now tell me again folks how this differs from 365 days ago!

[northernlights]

2. all I can think is that

they're worse than anything that's been described or leaked. So horrific that no matter what we do, we'll be completely hated around the world by everybody. Seriously hated. by. everybody.
Unable ever to speak out about human rights. Shamed even more than we already are...