Did pictures of beheaded servicemen enrage the American people?

[Postman]

Warning!! Graphic photos at the link...

http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/183865.php


What would be the result of releasing, for general consumption, more photos of US abuse/torture?

If they are released, they should be done as part of an official investigation and prosecution of those involved. Otherwise, what's the point?

We know that the United States DID torture people. Why inflame more hatred?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. The public has a right to know.

Freedom of Information Act, and all that.

[Postman]

3. I get it.

And largely, I agree.

However, Obama's in a pickle here. He has to put out a fire that he didn't start.

On the other hand, the best disinfectant of official corruption is sunlight..

I'm conflicted.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

13. The political thing to do...

is give the appearance of wanting the photos to not be released, knowing the courts are going to release them anyway.

[Raksha]

26. I agree, and I truly hope that's what Obama is doing.

It may be what he has to do to stay alive. It has to look like it's happening despite his objections. I don't know that, of course. But I hope that's how he's playing it.

[TahitiNut]

12. Ignorance is bliss.

:shrug:

[mmonk]

2. Because without it, people will discount that we engage in atrocities

which is far more dangerous to us.

[ShortnFiery]

7. YES! We must know and accept the responsibility to investigate and punish

the torturers lest they return.

Next time it may just be "peachy keen" to torture AMERICANS who are suspected of sedition.

How would you like those apples? :evilgrin: :nuke:

[rcrush]

4. Hopefully it will snap them out of their MSM induced haze.

Sometimes pictures make it hit harder for people.

[EFerrari]

5. America needs the reality check if we're ever to have prosecution, that's why.

[Political Tiger]

6. Yes, and it's the reason so many Americans hate Muslims.

We've got enough hate on both sides as it is. I agree, why inflame more hatred?

[ShortnFiery]

8. Because THE TRUTH needs to see the light of day.

We must own up to our responsibilities. We didn't punish Watergate fully, we glossed over Iran-Contra. We may have the installation of a full shadow government if we don't EXPOSE the people who are shredding our Constitution.

[Oregone]

11. BS. People hated muslims because they were xenophobic bigots BEFORE the beheadings

[Political Tiger]

14. I never hated Muslims and I still don't.

I'm sorry you feel the need to dump them all into one group and stereotype them....and they're the bigots???

[Oregone]

17. Notice I posted "People" instead of the OPs "American People"

I would of put "some People", but ran out of space.

Before and after the beheadings, people hated muslims. They just serve as an excuse to bolster irrational hatred at the time

[napoleon_in_rags]

9. Why will it piss them off more to hear "what was done was too disgusting to see" than to see it?

That's what I don't follow here. They can read, and what's left to the imagination will probably be even more awful than the truth.

[uppityperson]

10. Steven Green and his buddies did this. They raped, murdered, burnt 14 yr old Abeer, & her family

RIP Abeer, Hadeel, Fakhriya, Qassim, Tucker and Menchacha. Green has been found guilty of numerous crimes and his jury is now attempting to decide whether to give him death or life in prison.

Iraqis did THIS in response to Green&buddies' crimes. The release of these pictures and info of this incident (Mencahacha and Tucker) are what led to uncovering the cover up of Green/etc's war crimes.

So, yes, release more. The Iraqis know what was done. The USA people need to see what was done in their name.

[FarPoint]

15. That is an excellent

point! Thanks for the talking point.

[K Gardner]

16. Because the War Criminals MUST be prosecuted for the WORLD to see. The photos must

be released. The Cheney/FOX News good torture tour has to stop.

It is unfortunate that the government hasn't the balls to prosecute without public and world outrage, but they do not.

[nadinbrzezinski]

18. Because of the double standards we use, that is why

and yes those photos are graphic, and your point?

People NEED to see what WE have done... by the way, this was done to US service members AFTER Abu Ghraib... think about it and WHY

[uppityperson]

20. This was after Abeer al Janabi was raped, murdered, burnt

The OP needs to think about that, and why this happened.

[nadinbrzezinski]

22. I take it back

[uppityperson]

25. no problem nadin. I'm still watching to see what Green's sentence is

his buddies were tried in military court, got 8-90 yrs in prison, with parole possible in 7-10 yrs. Which REALLY pisses me off.

[uppityperson]

19. In case you don't know who inspired the killing/desecration in your OP....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_D._Green

Those 2 people were kidnapped, murdered, desecrated IN RESPONSE to something done by USA military.

[Postman]

21. I didn't know that....

thanks for pointing that out.

Another misconception is that I think it is believed by some, perhaps many in the US, that what we see here as news, the rest of the world sees. In other words, just because we don't see the pictures doesn't mean that Iraqi's don't know about what happened. After all, it is their hell that we created that they must live in now.

Maybe those pictures DO need to be released. The excuse that releasing them might be harmful to soldiers is loosing its luster. I'm pretty sure the Iraqi's already know how brutal the US occupation has been.

It's the American people who are living in a bubble. And that is what I think Obama is afraid of.

[nadinbrzezinski]

23. I take back what I said unthread

you are connecting the dots, thank you

This is about empire actually... an illusion has to be maintained

[uppityperson]

24. round and round and round it goes. An eye for an eye, etc. USAnians live in a bubble

Now, to play devil's advocate, what would releasing them do in the rest of the world? I think owning up to what has been done by USA is a good thing, taking responsibility is part of being able to deal with it all in a positive manner.

I don't know why Pres Obama is blocking their release, will wait on more info from him before passing judgment, but strongly believe that the USAnians need to see what was done in their name.

[nadinbrzezinski]

27. I know the answer and some of us called it using the Iran-Contra

this is about empire... pure and simple

The empire will do what the empire will do

Nobody will prosecute anybody or release the photos until the Empire is well done and buried, not a second before

Yep, call me a cynic

[Contrary1]

28. My two bits:

I figure there are scenes of children being sodomized with whatever was handy at the time, and some proud "interrogators" smiling in the background giving two thumbs up. Personally speaking, I do not need pictures.

Obama has been advised that letting the pics go public will cause such a backlash in the ME, that will our troops will be in even more danger. Right now, I believe this trumps the public's need to actually see the full color glossies of what we already know happened.

The photos will get out eventually. I know it, and President Obama knows it. I trust that he is doing the right thing for now.