rss(I Don’t Want Your) Photograph
Thursday, May 14, 2009 at 8:52 am
- 7 Comments
Does President Obama really want to make this argument for why he’s flip-flopping on the release of the torture photographs:
I want to emphasize that these photos that were requested in this case are not particularly sensational, especially when compared to the painful images that we remember from Abu Ghraib …
I haven’t seen the photographs, of course, but this can’t possibly be true.
If the photos are “not particularly sensational,” then they wouldn’t, as Obama went on to say, “further inflame anti-American opinion and to put our troops in greater danger.” How can unsensational photographs put troops in danger? Furthermore, at some point, the photos are going to come out — whether in the near future, as the ACLU is going to press its Freedom of Information Act request, or decades from now, when the time limit on their classification expires. When they’re released, will Obama really want to stand by describing their contents as “not particularly sensational”?
That’s not the only ludicrous aspect of Obama’s position. “I fear the publication of these photos may only have a chilling effect on future investigations of detainee abuse,” he said. What does that even mean? How would someone who investigates torture in the future be anything but helped by releasing the photos? The only potential chilling effect that could occur would concern … people who torture.
Follow Spencer Ackerman on Twitter
7 Comments
Comment posted May 14, 2009 @ 11:30 am
I think the motivation for withholding the photos is primarily political. Withholding the photos allows Obama to 1) toe a “centrist” line by using the leftist ACLU as his foil, knowing that ultimately the photos will be released by legal compulsion thus 2) prolonging the discussion of the Bush era war crimes for a few more months at least and keeping the disoriented GOP on its heels.
That's my thinking, at least.
Pingback posted May 14, 2009 @ 4:15 pm
[...] Spencer Ackerman: “I fear the publication of these photos may only have a chilling effect on future investigations of detainee abuse,” he said. What does that even mean? How would someone who investigates torture in the future be anything but helped by releasing the photos? The only potential chilling effect that could occur would concern … people who torture. [...]
Pingback posted May 17, 2009 @ 10:55 pm
[...] of the Abu Ghraib photos did add to the gravity of the horrendous acts and the latter because only torturers would be chilled. Anonymous Liberal says it’s contradictory for conservatives to steadfastly defend torture, but [...]
Comment posted May 31, 2009 @ 7:55 pm
You don't think that Obama knows what a huge huge can of worms all this prison abuse/torture is do you?
What if it is a gigantic cesspool of sadists from all different walks of life and agencies that participated, and Obama is afraid exposure will totally distract the news from his agenda? What if the CIA and the Military are way too involved all the way to the top? What if Obama knows his government if it investigates would be put in a position of indicting the top of the last administration contrary to tradition? What if he is afaid of starting a precedent of successive administrations investigating the last one?
If that started would Obama be investigated as a war criminal for not following the Geneva Conventions? We are required by law to investigate torture of POWs.
Comment posted June 1, 2009 @ 2:55 am
You don't think that Obama knows what a huge huge can of worms all this prison abuse/torture is do you?
What if it is a gigantic cesspool of sadists from all different walks of life and agencies that participated, and Obama is afraid exposure will totally distract the news from his agenda? What if the CIA and the Military are way too involved all the way to the top? What if Obama knows his government if it investigates would be put in a position of indicting the top of the last administration contrary to tradition? What if he is afaid of starting a precedent of successive administrations investigating the last one?
If that started would Obama be investigated as a war criminal for not following the Geneva Conventions? We are required by law to investigate torture of POWs.
RSS feed for comments on this post.
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
