Abu Ghraib photos need to be released
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President Barack Obama’s administration is trying to improve the image of the United States on the international stage, but are still paying for the mistakes of the previous president.
Details have surfaced about a group of photos taken at Abu Ghraib prison, which depict even more grisly torture by American soldiers to detainees than seen earlier in 2004. The photos, which are part of 400 alleged abuse cases at Abu Ghraib and other prisons in the area between 2001 and 2005, reportedly show American soldiers torturing and raping prisoners at the Iraqi prison. Obama originally wanted the photos released, but has since reversed his position and is trying to make sure the pictures never see the light of day.
Releasing these photos is a difficult proposition for the president. If made public, the U.S.’s reputation in the Middle East will diminish even further. Americans seem to have come to terms with the earlier abuse scandal, but these new, more graphic photos will put the controversy back into people’s minds. The previous administration deflected some public outcry by creating a debate around the idea that torturing for information is necessary for a military. But there’s no way the government could claim these photos were taken to gain information.
The photos could likely bring a new level of disapproval toward the military, which Obama is trying to avoid. But maybe outrage is exactly what the military needs.
Obama should release these photos. News reports have made it very clear what occurs in these pictures and one could argue that the impact has already been done. The U.S.’s treatment of detainees is not a new subject; releasing these photos would just further damage the country’s already poor reputation. However, by preventing their release, it makes Obama appear like he’s just covering up for the military’s mistakes. No penalties towards the soldiers involved have been made public, which means it’s uncertain if they were punished at all.
With such little information, it seems like Obama is letting the government avoid responsibility.
People can’t be satisfied this. The real, physical evidence of these atrocities needs to be seen. News vendors won’t run photos that are too graphic, so it’s likely anyone who doesn’t want to see the pictures won’t have to. Damage will be done to our country’s image, but there’s a more important message Obama could send.
He could release the photos and pair with them a full explanation of what happened, and why it can’t happen again. Use these incidents as a way to condemn the policies of the George Bush Administration and say this kind of behavior will not be tolerated under this new regime. Prisoner abuse is one of the many failures in the war on terror and Obama would be better served to treat it like one.
Unfortunately, these kinds of things happen when the military goes unchecked. The public needs to be able to show their resentment toward the military and voice what they believe it should be doing. Abuse scandals are just evidence the military needs to be held more responsible for its actions. The biggest problem many countries have with the U.S. is our out-of-control military spending. The U.S. puts far too much value into its military, both in terms of money and in terms of importance.
If Obama is going to block these pictures, it just looks like he’s protecting that flawed judgment.
Commentary
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Jake
(06/01/09 9:50am)Report
“He could release the photos and pair with them a full explanation of what happened, and why it can’t happen again.”
Military troops are just like ordinary folks – there are going to be a few bad apples mixed in with the good guys. Unless President Obama is going to personally tour with every regiment, I doubt he can promise that this will never happen again.
Releasing these photos won’t make a lick of a difference. If you truly believe that all other countries on Earth have perfectly behaved militaries, you’re deluding yourself. All this will do is infuriate the Arab nations even more – which is ironic since they have no problem torturing and beheading their captives.
If you really have such concerns about the military, sign up yourself. Otherwise let them do their job and accept that sometimes war is not pretty.
Tim
(06/01/09 11:49am)Report
I often don’t agree with President Obama, but he has rightly changed his mind in this case.
Releasing the photos will put our troops in harm’s way – and for what? To please liberal journalists and those who wish to smear the job that our troops on the ground.
You’ve let your disdain for GWB cloud your judgment. The safety and security of our troops should be the main concern – not settling old political scores.
President Obama made the right call. We should applaud him for it.
Informed
(06/01/09 11:56am)Report
“News reports have made it very clear what occurs in these pictures and one could argue that the impact has already been done.”
Yes, if one understands absolutely nothing about media, psychology, social psychology, global politics or any of the other relevant fields here, one could indeed argue that. One would be wrong.
Jack I am right with you...
(06/01/09 12:05pm)Report
Wow, I love what you had to say. You really make me want to read more, just so I can see what your blogs have to say. I like your friends too, you are all so creative all of you.
Christina Mascaro
(06/01/09 2:35pm)Report
As a photojournalist, I usually vote for publishing both good and bad. Journalism is about truth — and sometimes truth is ugly. But then there are times when my photographs severely harm the subject matter that I’ve photographed, and does NOTHING to aid the cause, the subject, or potentially, anything. Releasing these photographs are not useful to anyone. It will hurt public morale, military morale, and create embarrassment for troops, and the US as a whole to other nations.
Shannon
(06/01/09 7:09pm)Report
I think that you guys would be right if this wasn’t a international cause.
Have you made consideration of what might happen to our soldiers? They are the ones in their country doing what we can’t. If these were to be published don’t you think that there is going to be some kind of backlash? What if our soldiers where to be kidnapped over there and have what was done to the people abu ghaid to them just because of the pictures? Would you people now wish that we didn’t! Should we humiliate the people in those pictures? The criminals already suffered through the crime now everyone gets to see it. The families would be pissed and hateful. If I were them I would want to get revenge.
America is suppose to be a country that others look up to at for good examples. Yes, the world should learn from our mistake but should we give them more ideas on how to destroy a persons spirit with a picture book on HOW TO BRAKE PEOPLE AND GET INFORMATION THATS A LIE.
I truly feel that people who wish to release the pictures have a macabre fetish. Why does anyone want to see that? Your sick in the head. Its not funny its very hurtful to the people that had to go through that. How do you guys feel when you see the al qaeda movies? Are you not sicked and revengeful? Tell me that those don’t affect you and that it didn’t make a lick of difference that you saw that.
~hi Christina