Lawyers for the Defense Department are refusing to cooperate with a federal judge's order to release secret photographs and videotapes related to the Abu Ghraib prison abuse scandal.
NY TimesThe lawyers said in a letter sent to the federal court in Manhattan late Thursday that they would file a sealed brief explaining their reasons for not turning over the material, which they were to have released by yesterday.
The photographs were some of thousands turned over by Specialist Joseph M. Darby, the whistle-blower who exposed the abuse at Abu Ghraib by giving investigators computer disks containing photographs and videos of prisoners being abused, sexually humiliated and threatened with growling dogs.
The small number of the photographs released in spring 2004 provoked international outrage at the American military.
In early June, Judge Alvin K. erstein of Federal District Court in Manhattan ordered the release of the additional photographs, part of a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union to determine the extent of abuse at American military prisons in Iraq and Afghanistan and at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.
The government has turned over more than 60,000 pages of do ents on the treatment of detainees, some containing graphic descriptions of mistreatment. But the material that the judge ordered released - the A.C.L.U. says there are 87 photographs and 4 videos - would be the first images released in the suit. The judge said they would be the "best evidence" in the debate about the treatment of Abu Ghraib prisoners.
"There is another dimension to a picture that is of much greater moment and immediacy" than a do ent, Judge erstein said in court.
He rejected arguments from the government that releasing the photographs would violate the Geneva Conventions because prisoners might be identified and "further humiliated," but he ordered any identifying features to be removed from the images.
In the letter sent Thursday, Sean Lane, an assistant United States attorney, said that the government was withholding the photographs because they "could result in harm to individuals," and that it would outline the reasons in a sealed brief to the court.
The A.C.L.U. accused the government of continuing to stonewall requests for information "of critical public interest."
"The government chose the last possible moment to raise this argument," said Amrit Singh, a staff lawyer with the A.C.L.U.
"Because it is under seal, we don't know whether their reasons are adequate," Ms. Singh said.
If the allegations I have heard about these photos and videos are true I can damn well imagine why they're release might put the health of our troops still on the battlefield in Iraq and throughout the Middle east in greater danger. Still, given the ongoing investigations into the Downing Street Memos and the Valerie Plame- CIA leak, you would think that the administration would think twice before putting itself into another position where it could be publicly perceived as being above the law, but I guess with the NeoCons in power, nothing should surprise us anymore.
It happened and a lot of the people have paid the price for it.
Not the big fish IMO but I feel any more stuff to fuel the flames and put our people in danger is not worth the effort. I nor the world need to see every little piece of crap that occurred there.
Dan do you believe that the US Government should have secrets? or withhold information when it deems it necessary? I know I'm opening myself up. Wide open with a target on my forehead.
you seem to understand why the stuff is being withheld, yet cannot pass up the opportunity to take a swipe. good job.
as you should know by now, this administration doesn't give a what the left leaning conglomerate percieve them as. as well they shouldn't. it does care what the Muslim world percieves them as...and as you so eloquently pointed out, will do what it takes to keep more fuel from the fire. I would like to see those fighting for the release have their careers go down in flames. Those pics/videos aren't going anywhere. Can we wait til the majority of our troops are outa there before we give the insurgents more fodder?
i dont see how they could have more fodder
there are rights involved here, press, speech
you dont give them up because the government decides its better to
Last edited by mookie2001; 07-23-2005 at 06:46 PM.
I understand why the government might not want to release more pictures of something that is most definately going to enfuriate millions of people world wide and tarnish the whole image of their prestine military, BUT IT IS STILL ING WRONG! I sure as would not like the government getting away with covering this up, but I understand why they don't do it now, its counterproductive for the war effort. I certainly hope that after the war the government doesn't play stupid and not disclose them at all. Still some of you people don't seem too interested in justice for these prisoners of war.
I think that the biggest reason is that many people are still in denial that any real torture went on at Abu Gharib. So a guy had to stand in a stress position for hours with a hood over his head and wires hooked up to his testicles, is that really torture? Piling up naked men, isn't that just like cheerleading? The dogs, they never bit anyone, they're actually harmless.
Why is the release of these photos so important? Seymour Hersh described the content of some of the videos that have yet to be released when the Abu Gharib story first broke...
more…Editor and PublisherNEW YORK So what is shown on the 87 photographs and four videos from Abu Ghraib prison that the Pentagon, in an eleventh hour move, blocked from release this weekend? One clue: Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld told Congress last year, after viewing a large cache of unreleased images: "I mean, I looked at them last night, and they're hard to believe.” They show acts "that can only be described as blatantly sadistic, cruel and inhumane," he added.
A Republican Senator suggested the same day they contained scenes of “rape and murder.” No wonder Rumsfeld commented then, "If these are released to the public, obviously it's going to make matters worse."
Yesterday, news emerged that lawyers for the Pentagon had refused to cooperate with a federal judge's order to release dozens of unseen photographs and videos from Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq by Saturday. The photos were among thousands turned over by the key “whistleblower” in the scandal, Specialist Joseph M. Darby. Just a few that were released to the press sparked the Abu Ghraib abuse scandal last year, and the video images are said to be even more shocking.
(snip)
“The embattled defense secretary fielded sharp and skeptical questions from lawmakers as he testified about the growing prisoner abuse scandal. A military report about that abuse describes detainees being threatened, sodomized with a chemical light and forced into sexually humiliating poses.
bull , dogs barking, humiliation... stfu... it is not torture... if only the terrorists were so humane, you guys wouldn't be ing about patriot acts and other ... them...
You're a certified moron! Have you seen the pictures?? Noone deserves that kind of treatment, SPECIALY A POW! which is what they are! You like to say you're at war until it comes time to own up to it, then its all, "but they're terrorist!" POW are supposed to be treated humanely, if you don't understand that then you're re ed!
Your reasoning is faulty. The photos, or their release, aren't the fodder. The acts themselves are. Trying to cover it up is childish, like a two year old crying "don't see!" when he or she has done something wrong.Can we wait til the majority of our troops are outa there before we give the insurgents more fodder?
they aren't POWs.. everyone, except you knows that... read about the actual torture our guys are subjected to and you will see this gitmo stuff is like church camp...
it we're America...we can do whatever we want.
Liberals=Saddam's defense team
Conservatives=OBL's recruiting station
who needs terrorists when you have liberals....
who needs conservatives when there are brick walls to talk to?who needs terrorists when you have liberals....
that's great, except . . . .
So, is it your position that "scenes of 'rape and murder'" and acts that are "blatantly adistic, cruel and inhumane" (all terms chosen from guys on your side of the political spectrum, not Dan's) aren't torture?Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld told Congress last year, after viewing a large cache of unreleased images: "I mean, I looked at them last night, and they're hard to believe.” They show acts "that can only be described as blatantly sadistic, cruel and inhumane," he added.
A Republican Senator suggested the same day they contained scenes of “rape and murder.” No wonder Rumsfeld commented then, "If these are released to the public, obviously it's going to make matters worse."
Just wondering.
If you don't see it on Faux News, it didn't happen.
another intelligent response from our local idiot!
I don't think anyone takes TRO, Clandestino, Whott, etc. seriously anyways. Their postings prove how out of touch and radical they are with our Cons ution and moral beliefs as a nation, but it is amusing to watch them circle jerk each other in these kinds of threads.
i'd rather circle jerk with tro and whott, then watch you guys take turns sucking the dirty terrorists' s day and night...
Keep talking jackass, everytime you open your mouth you're proving our point.
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