ACLU: "Obama administration is making itself complicit in Bush administration's torture policies" [View All]

[Better Believe It]

Obama reverses course on alleged prison abuse photos
From Ed Hornick
CNN

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Obama said Wednesday that he told government lawyers to object to a court-ordered release of additional images showing alleged abuse of detainees because the release could affect the safety of U.S. troops and "inflame anti-American opinion."

The release was ordered in response to a Freedom of Information Act request filed by the American Civil Liberties Union. It followed Obama's decision to release Bush-era CIA documents showing that the United States used techniques like waterboarding, considered torture by the current administration.

Amrit Singh, an attorney with the ACLU, said the president's decision "makes a mockery" of his promise of transparency and accountability.

"Essentially, by withholding these photographs from public view, the Obama administration is making itself complicit in the Bush administration's torture policies," Singh said. "The release of these photos is absolutely essential for ensuring that justice was done ... for ensuring that the public could hold its government accountable, and for ensuring that torture is not conducted in the future in the name of the American people."

Sen. Lindsey Graham, who sent a letter in March urging the president to hold off on releasing the photos, also weighed in on the president's decision.

The president "took to heart the idea it might do more harm than good," the South Carolina Republican said. "I don't know what the court will eventually do, but the troops need their commander in chief standing up for them, because the people that will be affected by the release of these photos have done no wrong."

Please read the complete article at:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/05/12/prisoner.photos/index.html