Now that we have a sense for what is being done in our name,

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

the legitimate question that has not been answered, is, is the same type of "setting the proper conditions for subsequent interrogation" being done at Guantanamo? Since GTMO was apparently a template for the operations at Abu Ghraib (the notion that this was an abberancy of several junior soldiers is fading away fast), we have every reason to believe that it is.

Questions that should be asked, if not in Congressional investigation (which would be best), then by reporters to shrubco members, are:

1) Are there pictures like this of "softening up" activities of GTMO prisoners and those elsewhere in Iraq in Afghanistan? The purpose of asking this question is both to find out if there are pictures, and to try and inhibit the gov't from destroying such pictures once the question is asked (then the coverup is "obvious" on subsequent investigation).

2) Does what is represented in these pictures reflect the general policy of the current U.S. gov't. with respect to treatment of prisoners captured on the battlefield? (All current protestations to the contrary.) Is it just a matter of some folks maybe carrying the policy "a bit too far"?

3) Was the photography a matter of "souveneir" keeping, or was it in fact official policy to show such photos to other Iraqi/Afghan/GTMO prisoners?

[2Design]

1. amnesty open letter to bush and link to story on afgan war 2 years ago

If it was not for the pictures, this would not have become a headline. Iraqiis have known for months. Amnesty has reported this to our administration for over two years and have just published an open letter to Bush on their site. Take action on Amnestyusa.org site and sent letter to bush.

http://www.amnestyusa.org/news/document.do?id=77EC1B8868C9828F80256E8D0041F7B5
http://www.amnestyusa.org/news/document.do?id=B04794EDFE431D1885256E8D0051A241

Also another DU posted this about killing in afgan war
http://www.counterpunch.com/jones05082004.html

this is much, very much bigger than this admin is admitting. The world is watching. They can munipulate our media but not the world. And this is coming out. They have known and been notified for years.

This is a big cover up like all their other coverups

[cliss]

2. How true. "They can manipulate our media but not the world"

And that is turning out to be their Nemesis, their Achilles Heel. Everything they do has ramifications around the world, and they try to squelch it here at home.

However, they didn't count on cameras, nor did they expect troops to be collecting "trophies" of torture. And that was their undoing. They try, but they simply can't control the entire earth.

[laura888]

3. "If it was not for the pictures, this would not have become a headline"

I agree - this is huge.