Top senator cautions against releasing explosive new prison abuse photos

[NNN0LHI]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20040512/pl_afp/us_iraq_prisoners&cid=1521&ncid=1480

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee (news - web sites) cautioned the White House against releasing more photos showing abusive treatment of Iraqi prisoner by US troops, saying US nationals could be hit in revenge strikes.


And as lawmakers prepared to take part in a three-hour private viewing of unpublished pictures of the abuse, Senator John Warner also urged them to be discreet in their choice of words as they describe the images.


"I think we've got to be extremely cautious as we finish our work this afternoon and then fulfill our obligations to verbalize ... our own interpretations and meanings of these photos such as tonight not incite in any way further anger against our forces or others working in the cause of freedom," the Republican lawmaker said from the Senate floor.


He made his remarks one day after revelations that a young US businessman, Nick Berg, was executed by beheading in Iraq (news - web sites), in apparent retaliation for the treatment of Iraqi prisoners by their US captors.

more

[Coventina]

1. FULL DISCLOSURE NOW! FULL DISCLOSURE NOW! FULL

DISCLOSURE NOW!

NOW!

Anything else is hidden war crimes!!!!!!!!!

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[0007]

17. I'd like to see it

I have my doubts about it's authenticity.

[goodkerry]

21. The US would never make that up

It's definitely al queda

[w13rd0]

33. Yes, and good patriotic US companies...

...would never hire men who participated in Death Squads for Pinochet, they'd never turn over important tasks like interrogation to South Afrikan Apartheid killers...oh wait, never mind.

I haven't any indication that this act is "beyond the pale" for Bush and his cronies. Have you? And don't tell us it's because he's a "good Christian man" because I've had no indication of that either. The worlds greatest hypocrite can stand on a hill and pray.

[0007]

42. Your convinced? I ain't!!

[damnraddem]

55. Oh, US forces didn't have to DO the act.

They only had to put out rumors about Berg in places where those who heard were likely to do something to Berg.

[DrWeird]

45. Why not?

They made up the WMDs.

[bossfish]

57. Hmmm...I'm not so sure

The A-Q angle may be falling apart...

I don't know who croaked the guy, but there is some dirty stuff behind his story it would seem.

[Terran]

58. The US has already killed thousands of innocent people in Iraq.

What's one more, after all? I'm not persoanlly convinced of that yet, but it's surely possible, yes it is.

[The Stranger]

75. What about making up lies about weapons of mass destruction?

How many people have died now because of the lies?

[Dhalgren]

18. Your statement is beyond "apples and oranges"

Just plain dumb. We are talking about the behavior of American soldiers, not some shadowy group no one knows anything about. I don't care how badly some other group behaves, American soldiers must conduct themselves at a high level - and if they don't how are we any better than anyone else? Our standards should be our standards, not some amorpheous "radical Islam" - who are we, anymore?!

[Name removed]

31. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[nodehopper]

dude. "Islamacists" is not a word. And it's not just "14" bad apples.

if you spent any time looking at the newsstories posted on this board for the last couple of days, there are stories from all over the world indicating that the abuse was ordered, on a large scale and systematically.

[Name removed]

43. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[damnraddem]

49. There are 14 scapegoats.

Yes, they did as they were told, and seemed to enjoy doing so -- they ARE responsible for their acts. But the 14 scapegoats didn't think up the tortures they used -- someone instructed them in what would be particularly humiliating and demoralizing to Iraqis. Some set of someones up the chain of command told them to 'soften up' prisoners for interrogation. And those at the top of the chain agreed to 'harsh methods,' don't believe that the Geneva Convetions and simple humane rules apply to everyone, and don't do anything about abuses when they're reported. The 150,000 are not to blame; the 14 are; but so are those in the chain of command above the 14, all the way to the top.

And the Berg story is just too weird. The guy was apparently against the Invasion, was detained two weeks by police under US control, and somehow disappeared while trying to leave Iraq. If someone wanted him dead, they didn't have to do it themselves -- they only had to spread rumors before nutcases like Al Qaida operatives.

[TahitiNut]

65. Enlist. Become part of the "we".

(FOAD, You Fucking Fascist FOOL!)

[w13rd0]

29. I've seen the full Berg video...

...but I HAVEN'T seen all the photos and videos from the prison abuses (or many of the other things that have gone on for that matter). Dead is Dead. The very definition of terrorism is to TERRORIZE the public or an entity (corporate or governmental) in order to coherce a change in policy. Sawing off someones head, yeah, that's terror. Shock and awe, that's terror too. Raping a prisoner, videotaping it, and threatening to show it to everyone if you "don't talk", that's terror too. How about threatening to rape a fathers daughter? I'm afraid that's terror. 24 deaths in the prison investigation, that we know of. Dead is dead. And causing death, misery, fear - TERROR, is all Bush is good at. So no, you are incorrect in your statement "even at our worst, we're much better than radical islam". Radical islam isn't going to level your neighborhood with MOAB as retaliation for what your neighbor did.

Pffft. Never mind. A nation that acts with integrity, true justice...they deserve to be a great nation. This America, Bush's America, is NOT that nation.

[nodehopper]

36. I agree with most of what you said

except for this part:

"Radical islam isn't going to level your neighborhood with MOAB as retaliation for what your neighbor did."

No, they'll just use airplanes or suicide bombs, but they'll still target civilians for crimes perpetrated by the administrations.

As you can see, I have more than 3 posts on this board, unlike our new Faux-propaganda spouting friend we are responding to, and I agree with you that dead=dead and terror=terror, but saying that Islamic terrorists aren't as bad as the US gov't is as problematic as saying that the War Criminals at the top aren't as bad as the terrorists.

[w13rd0]

60. I'm not a defender of killing people...

...I don't care who they are. But the tombstone was begging to be slapped around. We're the nation with the worlds largest supply of WMD. We should behave in a more responsible fashion.

[Name removed]

48. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Just Me]

50. I don't "appease" freon neocons who wage an unlawful war and

profit by it as well.

I am a strong supporter of Kerry!

[saigon68]

53. Explain how the 3000 deaths in New York by Al Quaida relate to Iraq

I'm dying to know

[damnraddem]

59. The claim is that those who beheaded Berg were Al Qaida.

Could be, but -- ever notice how every time the Administration tries to link Al Qaida with Iraq how weird and doubtful the story is? True, the Invasion and subsequent US malfeasance in Iraq did leave the door open to Al Qaida to get involved; but I don't accept the Administration's word when they yell 'Al Qaida,' in Iraq or anywhere else.

[shadu]

54. You are wrong on every point

I hope you stick around and have a look at the truth.

[VelmaD]

62. Thanks for being so quick to prove you're uninformed

and not worth listening to. The 9-11 attack was not unprovoked. We already had plans on the table to attack Afghanistan and had been threatening to level them under "a carpet of bombs" if the Taliban didn't turn over Bin Laden and give up their control of the country and reinstate the former king. And all over a stupid pipeline deal. If it was actually perpetrated by al qaeda it was a pre-emptive attack...which we seem to be big fans of now as long as it's us doing it. :eyes:

Crawl back into your hole.

[lancdem]

63. Bush has made a horrible mess out of the war on terror

by invading Iraq based on lies. I have no problem with Afghanistan; it's Iraq where Bush failed miserably.

[ima_sinnic]

72. it'd be nice if Bush WOULD lead the "war on terror"

--I know you're already tombstoned but maybe you or one of your dittohead freeper pals will see this: hello?! since when is the war on the people of Iraq a "war on terror"? Your cowardly "hero" Bush, who thinks he has some mandate from the Man in the Sky to fulfill the events foretold in the holy myth of Revelations by starting Armageddon, has been so obsessed with and distracted by Iraq that he let the real terrorist Zacqarawi<sp?> get by not once but twice--this was documented in a news article yesterday & I regret that I didn't save the link (nor do I think you would read it anyway so what would be the use in going to the energy of digging it out)--the one and the same Z now alleged to be the murderer of Berg. When are you fools going to see that The Naked Ape, Herr Bush, the Mighty Fuckwad is taking you to the cleaners??

dumbass.

[notadmblnd]

39. If those are the kind of statemenets that are going to be used dto justify

the torture of mostly innocent people..... Then shame on US!

[damnraddem]

44. I'm not so sure about that.

Did the Islamic radicals humiliate Berg in extreme ways before killing him in cold blood? Have US troops or private minions done so to Iraqis before killing them in cold blood?

Have Iraqis in general detained by the US been treated as well as have Americans in general detained by Iraqis?

[aquart]

46. In what way?

Please. Detail our worst and tell me how it's "better."

What an outrageous excuse for an outrage: "We're better than they are so it doesn't matter what we do." Because that IS what you said.

[Karenina]

69. .............

:puke: Don't react... don't feed... :argh:

[trumad]

2. Warner's a piece of shit...

Be discreet in their words, IE: Let's take care of Rummy and gang.. Fucker!

[markses]

5. "Be discreet" means "Don't Say the Word RAPE"

It is as simple as that. So we have Nighthorse Shitbird uttering nonsenses like "these women were not smiling" which will pose from here on out as a tender euphemism - it is merely an objective description, after all, and Nighthorse Shitbird couldn't possibly know it was RAPE based on his limited perceptions, not having been there and all, y'know.

That's the translation, Pravda-esque in its contorted simplicity.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

10. Yes..call it "sex" instead

[UpInArms]

27. or there is the Blatent Billions

(Clayton Williams) rape comment:

"You know, rape is a lot like the rain... If it's inevitable, you'd might as well lay back and enjoy it..."

[GreatScott]

61. Actually,

I thought that was Bobby Knight's comment.

[damnraddem]

51. Campbell didn't say 'rape,' but ...

his description made it apparent -- that's more than Warner did.

Now, will any Democrats speak out and detail what they saw, not just engage in generalities, like Feinstein did?

[Sushi_lover]

74. Warner still owes Byrd an apology

During debate, Senator Byrd noted the insanity of the Iraq War Resolution. He spoke eloquently, wisely, and with great courage against the drumbeats of an idiotic invasion.

Senator Warner was there. He did not listen. He did not answer a single concern of Senator Byrd's. Senator Warner is not worthy to share the same air as Senator Byrd.

[Beetwasher]

3. Didn't Bush Claim that there's no Relationship Between the Abuse and Berg?

Which is it?

[daleo]

13. Exactly, they can't have it both ways

At least not logically, although that is now a somewhat quaint notion.

[nodehopper]

40. why are you expecting consistency

from this administration?

[daleo]

64. Not really expecting it

I just can't shake the habit of looking for it.

[Tellurian]

92. They were sending * a message w/the Berg decapitation...He has to be the

most hated man on the planet.

No wonder there was a recent UFO sighting over Mexico the other day; they wanted to drop in and behold the a**h responsible for incarcerating and terminating anyone unlike himself. A humanoid, who thinks nothing of poisoning and killing everything else on the planet to enrich himself and his cult following.

There must be a universal word for tyrant.

[lovedems]

4. Where was the friggin' caution when we invaded?

Where was the caution when we were picking up innocent Iraqi's, putting them in prison and then abusing them?

These assholes want to use caution now??????

They are assholes. They are ruining our country to save Rummy's ass.

[Parche]

6. warner

What are they trying to hide.

[laylah]

7. I am SOOOOOOOO sick

of hearing about the "abuse"...why the hell don't they call a spade a spade...TORTURE pictures...and those images need to be burnt into the minds of EVERYONE...release them NOW!

Jenn

[Mountainman]

8. Warner is trying to protect Bush political campaign that's all

He is so full of it. The pictures will be leaked at some time. That is what I heard yesterday on hardball. They will come out slowly and painfully.

Bush's numbers will go down further if they are released. Support for the war will diminish. That's what Warner cares about.

America is getting the government they paid for. Rummy hopes it all turns out well.

He's made his money and can live comfortably the rest of his life and he hopes the rest of us can to.

This whole gang doesn't have a clue. Will someone in Congress step up and tell the truth?

[The_Casual_Observer]

12. he hopes the rest of us can to.

Do you really think that ruinsfeld cares what happens to any else?

[Mountainman]

24. I meant it sarcastically, no rummy doesn't care about us.

I should have been clearer.

[0rganism]

79. best way to protect the bush political campaign is to release everything

* Demonstrate how forthright and up-front the administration is by making the photos and videos a matter of public record.

* Hold the entire chain of command (outside the cabinet, of course) responsible, and have Rumsfeld lead a thorough purge with criminal prosecution for the chief offenders.

* Apologize profusely to the tortured Iraqis, pardon them, and give them some kind of restitution -- e.g., a cash settlement and a sinecure in the interim government.

If the administration stonewalls while more and more pictures leak out over the next six months, they're digging their own graves. No shit. Either Warner's too short sighted to see this, or he's subtly working for the bush administration's downfall. Well, I guess he could be betting against gradual leakage, but that would just be stupid.

[SidDithers]

96. Agree completely...

A trickle until November just keeps the issue on the front pages. Best thing for the admin would be to release it all and deal with it.

But then again, when has this administration ever done anything but shoot itself in the foot. I expect no less now.

Sid

[deacon]

82. If they don't release those photos he has no political future....

specualtion and the ongoing leaks of photos will be his political demise.

[Judi Lynn]

9. Just heard Senator Mitch McConnell say there's no reason to show them

said they're simply disgusting, and it would only stir things up, and that our focus should be on making sure we catch all the criminals involved and make sure it doesn't happen again.

Speaking of criminals, what about Mitch McConnell and his wife, Elaine Chow?

On edit: Adding overtime legislation alert:

LEGISLATIVE ALERT

To: NYSUT School Related Professionals Advisory Council
From: Floyd Cameron, NYSUT Legislative Department
Date: April 22, 2003
Re: Proposed Federal Overtime Changes

ALERT

Charlotte J. Fraas, Director of the AFT’s Department of Legislation, sent out an alert on April 16, 2003, to all its para professional affiliates and associate organizations urging them to contact their Members of Congress on two issues that could dramatically affect employee rights to overtime compensation.

1.) Legislation now being considered by the Congress (H.R. 1119/S. 317) would give private sector employers (such as hospitals) the choice to pay workers in compensatory time instead of cash for overtime work. H.R. 1119 has already been passed out of committee. The House Republican leadership is expected to send H.R. 1119 to the floor for a vote by Mother’s Day (May 11th). S. 317, the Senate version, has not been passed out of committee yet, however, the AFT expects it to be on the Senate floor for debate and vote sometime in mid-May.

2.) The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) proposes to change the rule governing which categories of "white-collar" workers are eligible for overtime compensation. Secretary of Labor, Elaine Chow, and the Bush Administration’s goal is to expand the definition of who is a "white-collar" worker, thereby determining who can receive overtime compensation. However, the change could cut overtime compensation for millions of white collar workers both in the public and private sector.

WE NEED YOU TO CONTACT YOUR MEMBER OF CONGRESS TODAY!

You can contact your members of Congress by calling (1-800-839-5276). Ask the operator to connect you to your member’s office. Then tell your member to "keep Washington’s hand off your paycheck" by voting against (H.R. 1119/S. 317). Also tell them to oppose the DOL’s proposed rule change on who can receive overtime compensation.

http://www.waerp.org/news.htm

[FredScuttle]

16. Oh really, Mitch? "No reason to show them"?

and yet it was fine and dandy to foist that soft-core porn screed (aka The Starr Report) on us because "the public had a right to know"? Which is it, you owl-faced git?

[w13rd0]

35. Bush and these jackasses...

...are giving the SAME EXACT SPEECH they gave when "Corporate Malfeasance" came to light. And what do we have to show for that? MARTHA STEWART! I'm hearing the SAME EXACT SENTENCES. Anyone else feeling deja vu?

[Thor_MN]

83. What we have are CEO salaries up 27% for the last year...

.

[Tellurian]

90. Whenever these racist Republicans opens their mouths to speak,

a chorus assigned to this task should open up and sing these exposed kavorkianesqe rascists off the stage.

[Skittles]

11. oh PLEASE

will they blame all violence against our troops and civilians on the abuse photos???

[0007]

15. Screw Warner

[Just Me]

19. Trying to censor what is going to trickle out is just plain dumb! n/t

[Racenut20]

20. We all know where this is going.

It is too awful for our tender eyes and ears to see and hear.

So we will put it out of our minds.

They will go on and court martial a few privates and maybe a sargent

All the asswipes who engineered it and turned their heads will walk free just like the Lt. Calley case many years ago.

The excuse being, continued discussion and showing would endanger the troops in Iraq..

There is a solution to that. Bring them home.

[nadinbrzezinski]

25. You mean this is NOT a HOLLYWOOD production

I still remember the outcry when Private Ryan was released

Too graphic

Too much for our tender sensibilties

Well tought shit next case, that movie, as graphic as it was, did not even start to tell the truth about warfare and why we should never let the dogs of war loose, if there is not a good reason.

So they are trying to protect us from the true horror of war.

Tought shit, release them!

Let Muricans BEAR WITNSESS to what we have allowed to happen... yes even US, who have scremed the loudest

[maxrandb]

78. Don't look at this, but please go see "The Passion" n/t

[bluestateguy]

22. They will come out anyway

There are enough staffers in the Pentagon and up on the Hill who want to get in good with the media, and they will be leaked if need be.

A word of advice to the Pentagon (I don't do this often): just release it all now and take your medicine. You are better served by a few days of a firestorm, rather than a daily drip drip of leaks.

As for the Americans being in danger due to the photos release, they are already in a great deal of danger. Those in Iraq who are genuine terrorists will not be swayed by these photos either way. And if American "contractors" fear for their safety, I would suggest that they leave Iraq. Unlike the soldiers, they have a choice. If the government wants to protect the safety of the soldiers, the best thing can do is to bring them home.

[SidDithers]

97. I would imagine there are a few staffers at the Pentagon...

or at the Hill who would like nothing better than to squeeze Rummy's head. It's probably hard enough keeping a happy staff from leaking to the press - and I doubt Pentagon career staff are happy.

Sid

[NNN0LHI]

23. These pics are like having a drawer full of dead stinking fish...

...and some idiot says close the drawer. These people never learn.

Don

[leftchick]

34. or a closet full of dead bodies...

this is the BFEE after all. Wait, make that a house full of dead bodies. Or perhaps a city full....

[saigon68]

66. Rove is blowing this one Don--- the issue is now censorship

First we'll take them apart on that one.

I did promise the Mods not to Spam the board as they come out--- however my prediction is some one will leak this stuff and SOON

I'LL BE THE FIRST TO START IT.

WE HAVE A RIGHT TO THE TRUTH WARNER--- YOU DISEASED CYST

[MasonJar]

26. I hate to feel this way, but the beheading comes at an opportune

time for Georgie Porgie...it is an excuse not to release the photos... and the young man had seen the prisons.

[CaptainClark23]

32. indeed.

And isn't that convenient. As timely as a new shade of alert level fresh from Ridge's office.

[SayitAintSo]

87. He was ALSO an expert in communications ....

You have to wonder what the rest of the story is.

[kskiska]

28. If there were pictures of Bill & Monica

would they have posted them in the Starr Report or would they have been deemed too graphic for public consumption, never mind the text?

[CaptainClark23]

30. Protect Me!

Protect me from all that is unclean, ruinous and blasphemous.

Protect me from craven images and ideas.

Protect me from independent thought.

Protect me from the temptation to question, and allow me to believe in my protectors with unerring faith .

Have we really become so weak?

I always wondered how 20th Century Germany, even with the WWI reparations and all that involved, could slide so quickly into the absolute fascism of the Nazi regime.

Now I know.

[MGKrebs]

67. I think you've got the wrong idea.

This isn't to protect our sensibilities, it's to (attempt to) protect our soldiers. And I agree with that.

Have the Iraqi insurgents seen these pics? I don't know. Has the Iraqi public? I don't know. But if they haven't, we should at least delay publishing this stuff until we have time to get our guys out of there.

If we are so base as to accept the rage and subsequent deaths that will come from releasing these images for political gain, then I feel a lot worse today than I already did about our future.

How can we talk about not stooping to their level...by stooping to their level??

We will have to beat Bush without using this as a weapon. The pics have been shown to Congress. They have seen them. We know they exist. They aren't going anywhere. They will be released. Are we worried that the pics will somehow disappear? If so, then perhaps we would be better served by insisting that they be held by a neutral party, or in escrow somewhere.

We are way beyond political leverage here. At least in my world.

[Tellurian]

91. I don't believe that is true..

The Iraqi insurgents are wallowing in victory..they have made complete fools of the US and made us the laughing stock of the universe.

The death toll has lessened since the photos have gone public. The Iraqis are being heard by the World. They have made the association Bush is no better than Saddam. And our troops are better off now, than they were a month ago.

[MGKrebs]

93. And what, we should therefore change the dynamic

by publicizing horrific torture pics of innocent Iraqis?

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[damnraddem]

38. The Republican chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee ...

cautioned the WH agaisnt releasing more photos of torture of Iraqi prisoners by US troops, saying that Bushistas and other Republicans could be hit in revenge votes on November 2.

Sen. John Warner also attempted to censor reporting on the pictures by other elected representatives of the people.

'I think we've got to be extremely cautious as we finish our whitewashing this afternoon and then fulfill our obligations to speak at photo ops ... that our interpretations of these photos, the sight of which we will deny to the public, not incite or in any way further anger against our flacks or any others working in the partisan cause of the GOP.'


Sorry, but it just seemed that some of the language in the report needed clarification.

[dArKeR]

41. Where are the official military interrogation videos which I'm sure they

taped each interrogation just like you see on TV cop and TV war movies. What about the hidden cameras in the cells to catch the prisoners talking about terrorism? What about the military intelligence undercover prisoners put in the cells to befriend the prisoners and get them to talk. Are we to believe that military intelligence did nothing but ask questions during the interrogations? I believe the interrogators were the ones who performed the most sadistic acts and not the guards!

[saigon68]

47. Thank you John Warner you dumb Idiot

This is America have you forgotten that we are a free and open country. If I wanted censorship I would move to Russia or some other evil place.

You will never get the respect of the world

UNTIL WE TELL THE TRUTH

and obviously you don't care about the truth


WHAT A DISGUSTING MOTHERFUCKER.

[duvinnie]

52. I LOVE the last part

"incite anger...against..those.. working in the cause of freedom."

At least now we know the repub. definition of freedom!

(edited - add 'those')

[saigon68]

56. The Dip Shit could have said

"incite anger...against..those.. KILLING CHILDREN in the cause of freedom."

[Judi Lynn]

68. Kaye Bailey Hutchison just told Wolf Blitzer she believes the Pentagon

should be allow to use its own judgement and NOT disclose the photos if it feels it should retain them.

When he asked her if she saw any murders, she said that she HAD seen some dead people in the photos, but it really wasn't clear that there was any connection to the prison.

:crazy: :silly: :dunce:

Do you think they had a photo of the dead President John F. Kennedy, for chrissakes?

[Karenina]

70. Na$$y $lime.

[struggle4progress]

71. The rest of the world already knows about this ...

the point of holding back the photos is to keep Americans from learning about it. "National security" has always been a great excuse to hide politically damaging stuff.

[boobooday]

73. A new one just surfaced -- this may be the one they fear

http://www.wgoeshome.com

[freeforall]

84. boobooday, this one should be published

The real photos and the abuse are no laughing matter, but this one should be sent around. (I did get a laugh from it because it is true!)

[The Stranger]

76. RELEASE THE PHOTOS.

THE TRUTH MUST COME OUT.

[Judi Lynn]

77. GOP leaders oppose release of more abuse images

GOP leaders oppose release of more abuse images
Lawmakers view pictures, video clips in private
Wednesday, May 12, 2004 Posted: 6:02 PM EDT (2202 GMT)


WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Top GOP leaders said Wednesday they oppose the release of hundreds of fresh images showing the abuse of Iraqi prisoners, saying they could compromise the prosecution of those soldiers implicated in the acts and further inflame tensions in Iraq.

The congressional leaders made the statements after lawmakers gathered behind close doors to view what several described as "appalling" and "horrifying" pictures, slides and video clips of abuse and sexual acts.

"Take our word for it. They're disgusting," said Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the majority whip.

McConnell, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tennessee, and Sen. John Warner, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, all said the pictures should be kept under wraps
(snip/...)

http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/05/12/congress.abuse/index.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sure hope they don't get by with this.

[hunter]

86. "GOP leaders oppose bad weather"

From now on there will be sunshine and happiness everywhere!

[Q]

80. Warner is simply protecting Bush...as he has always done...

...but to the rest of the world it looks like a coverup. It should go without saying that they're 'classifying' the most damaging photos and information in order to give Bush* & Gang an escape route.

- I wonder what the world would have thought if all the evidence against war criminals would have been classified at the Nuremberg trials?

- Nothing short of public trials and all information released will do in a Democracy. Truth never fears the light of day.

[Solly Mack]

81. The "rumor" of those pictures will fuel more unrest than the reality of

them. Show them..and then there is no guessing.

[freeforall]

85. I agree

Bushco is screwed either way. If they show the photos, they will enrage people even more, but if they don't show them (and especially if they don't make anyone accountable - which it looks as if they won't - people will be very suspicious.

I say, SHOW THE PHOTOS!

[Voltaire99]

88. How long until the inevitable leaks? (n/t)

[daleo]

89. I heard Bush was in one of the photos

Nah, not serious, but it gives an idea of how speculation and rumors could be worse than the real thing. Unless the real thing is really, really, bad.

I think there are people out there with copies besides those in the government's possession. They will leak them if the government doesn't come clean.

[lebkuchen]

94. Yeah, soldiers are probably carrying harddrives around their neck

attached to their dog tags.

Those that aren't released can be easily sold to Larry Flynt for a tidy sum. He'll publish them.

[Tinoire]

95. CBS: Prison follow-up/ Senators who WERE contacted 1 yr ago (Joe, Levin)

Watch it here if you haven't seen it yet: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=109x8903


It's NO wonder Senators don't want this stuff released! Even Democratic Senators totally failed us... :( This explains why the Senate Hearing with Taguba was such a garden party.

From the 60 minutes follow-up:

<snip>

Girman and Canjar's families say they tried to bring attention to the problems at Camp Bucca.

They say they called Donald Rumsfeld's office repeatedly, and sent letters, emails and faxes to the White House, and to several senators, including Arlen Specter, Rick Santorum, Joe Lieberman and Carl Levin nearly a year ago.

The letters say that the "camps are in complete disarray with no reasonable voice of leadership..."

The letters also described the camp atmosphere "as a b-rated movie, filled with incompetence..."

The families say no one called back.

<snip>

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/05/11/60II/main616849.shtml