Pentagon Blocks Release of Abu Ghraib Images: Here's Why

[cyberpj]

Pentagon Blocks Release of Abu Ghraib Images: Here's Why

By Greg Mitchell

Published: July 23, 2005 6:00 PM ET

NEW 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.

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000990590

[ThomWV]

1. Why Aren't Those .....

Fucking pentagon lawyers in jail right at this moment. Has our system of checks and ballances failed completely? Does the judiciary have no check over the executive?

[acmavm]

2. "the judiciary have no check over the executive?"

Nope, not as it stands right now.

What we need is some ethical and moral judge with a firm grasp of the law to issue an arrest warrant for Donald Rumsfeld. Then maybe these guy wouldn't be so smarmy and arrogant and flaunt all the laws that make this country and civilized place to live in.

[goclark]

5. Do we have any hope of getting these out to the public?

This is the biggest "We Won't Tell YOU Anything" administration I have ever heard of.

[rooboy]

3. They're at Rumsfeld's house...

and he can't be bothered taking them down from the walls of his study.

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

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

[truth2power]

12. Aha!

Not that I don't understand your bit of hyperbole there, but the truth is, if we REALLY knew how perverted these people are, we'd all :puke: in our morning coffee.

[trof]

6. Why, that just can't be. My congressman sez...

Jo Bonner (1st District, R-AL) had Rep. Robin Hayes (R-NC) on his Sunday morning propaga...um...informational TV show "Congressional Report".

They discussed Gitmo and said that it was practically a Holiday Inn.
And that's a quote.
Plus, it's full of mudering bastards.
Almost a quote.
Can't get a transcript, but you can watch it here:
http://bonner.house.gov/HoR/AL01/

if you have the stomach for it.
Best done after breakfast has time to settle.
:puke:

[babylonsister]

8. Like a Holiday Inn? OMG!

:wow: Words fail me that this admin can do whatever the hell they please with no repercussions.

[Toots]

7. They are openly admitting now that their actions have made Americans

Less Safe. It is not the photos that will make Americans less safe it is what is shown that will create the problems. They show what this Administration is doing to people. It is those actions that are making Americans less safe and they are admitting it. Only they are blameing pieces of paper and not the actions shown.

[ecdab]

9. You got that Toots,

If people see those images, our great leaders will have a much more difficult time explaining their lack of action on this front. It's a cover-up that is in plain view.

[Lannes]

10. This is probably their last chance to stop it

If the judge rules against them they might come out soon but we cant be sure.


"The Pentagon lawyers said in a letter sent to the federal court in Manhattan that they would file a sealed brief explaining their reasons for not turning over the material. They had been ordered to do so by a federal judge in response to a FOIA lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union. The ACLU accused the government Friday of putting another legal roadblock in the way of its bid to allow the public to see the images of the prisoner abuse scandal."

[CantGetFooledAgain]

11. If these photos and videos have been in their possession

all this time, why haven't there been any additional prosecutions for those responsible?

It almost seems as though the tacit argument is that until the information becomes public, no crime has been committed and nobody needs to be prosecuted.

It goes without saying that the entire chain of command responsible for rape and murder in American controlled facilities needs to be criminally prosecuted and punished in proportion to the crimes committed. All the way up to Rumsfailed.

[lostnfound]

19. Very, very good point. nt

[jbnow]

13. They are probably concerned with something

not in their brief. So many senators (who have seen them) are presenting bills or amendments to defense spending or initiate senate investigations on prisoner treatment. The republican senators involved are getting a lot of pressure from cheney and pals to NOT do this. bush says he will veto bills that limit how they can treat prisoners, even if it is the defense spending bill. They say they need the flexibility to "protect America".

If these are released at the same time this fight is going on their pressure tactics would be unlikely to work. Even with their bs that these were just a few bad soldiers it sure would trigger the discussion of the differences in treating overseas prisoners. The Senators would get a lot more pressure from voters to pass it.

If their point is it will outrage the international community they are right. I hope this time it outrages ours even more.

[mopinko]

15. the international community is already outraged

they already know what is in those photos and videos. it is our own people that they are hiding them from.

[jbnow]

29. I know that they are

but the pictures will be so much worse then hearing the words, even for us. I mean by "us" those who have paid attention and know what to expect in the pictures. I can't imagine how much it will hurt...and lord, imagine how it hurt to be the victims in the pictures.

Do you know if Americans in these pictures are a different group or those already charged?

[mopinko]

30. i have no idea who is in the pictures

i sure hope it is not my nephew, who could very well be involved. but only the lowly have been charged, anyway.

[The Night Owl]

14. Can someone with a legal background please explain what is going on?

Is the Pentagon move to block the release of the toture photos a legal maneuver? Is the Pentagon merely delaying the release of the torture photos or can it really keep the photos out of the public as long as it wants?

What good is a Freedom of Information Act if it doesn't free information?

[fooj]

16. Excellent point!

Peace.

[converted_democrat]

18. I can't do it, but

there is a poster here by the name of Hepburn that is really good at this kind of stuff. Really, really good at it.

[cyberpj]

20. And why the court has not responded with a DUE DATE for this secret

memo or at least called them on contempt of court for not producing such info earlier?

[LizW]

22. They're walking a fine line

I haven't read the actual legal filings, but my experience is that when the court orders you to turn something over that you've been trying to keep secret, it's over.

Sending a judge a letter at the 11th hour saying essentially, "No, we won't be turning these over, and we'll file a secret brief later explaining why," is extremely unusual.

I think most lawyers would expect to be jailed for contempt. However, I was not a government lawyer, and maybe they get more slack from the judges. Even so, I think this is bound to piss off the judge, and for a lawyer to take such a risk means the photographs are hideous and they're desperate to keep them secret.

[The Night Owl]

23. The sealed government filing to block the release...

Was the sealed government filing to block the release of photos filed with the same judge that released the photos in the first place?

[cyberpj]

26. Here are some NAMES from a previous article re the JUDGE and US ATTY

And remember, they've already stiffed this judge once, and extended the deadline...


Pentagon to release new abuse photos
The Abu Ghraib images will mask victims' identities
Eric Rosenberg, Hearst Newspapers

Sunday, June 19, 2005

In issuing his order, U.S. District Court Judge Alvin Hellerstein of New York City gave the government until June 30 to get the photos ready by removing information in the pictures that might identify the victims.

David Kelley, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, has asked Hellerstein for an extension -- until July 22 -- to get all the images, both video and pictures, ready for release.

The Bush administration is likely to pay a public relations penalty for failing to release all of the Abu Ghraib images sooner.

"There would have been short-term discomfort and pain but then it would have been over with," Nikolas Gvosdev, a senior fellow in strategic studies at The Nixon Center here and an analyst of the Abu Ghraib abuse scandal. "These pictures may all be of the same event but they might convey the impression that the abuse is ongoing."

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/06/19/MNG0NDB1GU1.DTL&feed=rss.news

[Bucky]

25. I'm not a lawyer either, but this sounds more like crossing a clear line

I've never gone for the clumsy Nazi analogies that get tossed around here too easily. But this a blatantly criminal act, backed up only by the fact that Pentagon is positioned to physically resist a court order. It's lawlessness of the sort that South American republics began to reject a generation ago. This is Peronism. This is militarism. This is Pinochetism.

The craziness continues.

[The Night Owl]

27. One more question... How long?

How long can the Pentagon continue to delay the release? Can we expect movement any time now? Or, are we talking months here?

[wookie294]

32. The lawyers can be found in criminal contempt of court

The lawyers, and Rumsfeld, can be put in prison for refusing to release the photos. I imagine the Pentagon is trying to delay the release of the photos until August, when Americans are in a deeper sleep and on vacation. Granted, the delay won't help reduce the outrage. But I do believe the photos will be released soon.

[Bucky]

17. Just like Rush says... So soft there, you could call it Club Gitraped.

"refused to cooperate with a federal judge's order."

I want my Constitution back. Now.

[OfireitupO]

21. Imagine if one of us

Imagine if one of us defied a court order and pretty much told them to shove it.

We'd be in prison right now.

The judge needs to order the lawyers and Rumsfeld in contempt of court and send them to jail.

That is, if the judiciary even has control over the executive anymore, which doesnt appear to be the case in the Bush Regime

[MetaTrope]

24. Don't you know the administration is above the law?

As if it hasn't been obvious enough for the past five years?

[jbnow]

31. Maybe we'd be OK

if we defied the order as long as we nicely promised to send our reason in a secret file later.
Cause if rumsfeld can they'd surely let us.

[stubtoe]

28. Recommended.

Everyone needs to read this.