NYT: Officials Grapple With How and When to Release Images

[AngryWhiteLiberal]

WASHINGTON, May 9 — The Defense Department is planning to provide Congress with many more pictures of the abusive treatment of Iraqi detainees, but has not decided whether to release them to the public, Congressional leaders and Pentagon officials said Sunday.

In the end, President Bush is likely to make the determination on making the images public, aides said.

Inside the White House, several of Mr. Bush's aides have argued that he has little choice but to make them public. Sooner or later, they say, the images will leak out, prolonging the pain, fueling Iraqi and Arab suspicions of a Pentagon-orchestrated cover-up, and giving new life to calls for Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld's removal.

Many in the Pentagon, though, are resisting. Pentagon officials warned that a public release could jeopardize its criminal inquiry. They theorized that defense lawyers could cite a governmental release in motions to dismiss charges, arguing that their clients could not get a fair hearing. So far, seven soldiers are facing charges related to abuse of Iraqi detainees.

In meetings this weekend, officials who took part said, some senior military officials argued that releasing the pictures would only further inflame Iraqis, fuel the insurgency and make it nearly impossible to gain help from Arab allies. Moreover, the officials expressed fear in those meetings that any captured American soldiers would be placed at greater risk.

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Who wants to lay odds that Shrub will claim executive priviledge and have the most damning photos and all video suppressed under the auspices that they will "damage the war effort"??

JB

[The Traveler]

1. I ain't betting against ya

Alas. I believe the Bible when it tells us that only the truth can set us free ...

But the truth does not serve these gray, faceless men.

[AussieInCA]

2. they will get out, just make him look worse by withholding them now

the chimp loses either way. Serves him right for lack of management and controls in place.


Out of touch and no accountability should be his mantra.

[maddezmom]

11. agree...Sy Hersh has them, CBS has them....no telling who else has them

[yardwork]

3. They will be leaked to the internet. It's inevitable.

The WH just wants time to figure out how to spin this.

edited for spelling. time to hit the sack!

[Erika]

6. Bush's Emergency to Enter Iraq

He knew he had to protect us because the Iraqis were capable of dropping nuclear weapons on us within 45 minutes aand ending American life.

He couldn't wait for the troops to be trained in civilities and war rules. We could be decimated within 45 minutes. Sarcasm off.

He wanted to pay back his rich buddies and he figured out a way to do it. The day may indeed come when Bush is tried as a war criminal.

[Skittles]

9. and the beauty is

there's no way to f***ing spin this. Even Rush cannot use his "frat boy" idiocy on rape and murder.

[Whoa_Nelly]

4. Grapple is an interesting word to choose re: release of photos

sounds so graphic.

[The_Casual_Observer]

5. The pictures were taken on government property on government

time of government employees and prisoners. I believe that we paid for these pictures, we have a right to see what we paid for.

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. After the furor this week

they will make the argument that you have no right
for national security.

Never mind the furor was justified, ok....

By the way, google Leo Strauss, this is what we are dealing with,
Strausians of the first order

[The_Casual_Observer]

8. Does national security work when crimes have been committed?

I don't think they can avoid disclosure. All the same, I think that they are finally over the barrel on this one.

[hang a left]

10. Personally, I have seen all I want to see. My mind had imagined

what is possibly in store. I don't want to see anymore. But, I want them to be seen by those that have the stomach for it.


I find it amusing that they don't cite 'administration* Backlash' as the main reason they want to hold them back.

Fair trials.....there is a concept.

[symbolman]

12. Did I miss the link?

Want to read more about this...

those photos and troops AND this COUNTRY does NOT BELONG TO YOU, BUSH.

As a matter of fact, we are giving you notice..

You're FIRED. GET THE FUCK OUT OF OUT WHITE HOUSE.

[NNN0LHI]

13. It would be better to leak just a few a day right up to election day

That way every time a few come out the media gets to ask the Crackhead In Chief about them as they do come out slowly. I wonder how many more times Chimpy can apologize until November?

Don

[Cooley Hurd]

14. Hi AngryWhiteLiberal

You must provide a link to a story you're posting. Please feel free to repost when you have a link to the story...

Thanks! :hi: