The Omniscient Obama, that Herald of Honesty, the Transfiguration of Transparency. Why does this not surprise me? This is just in from the WaPo.
Obama Reverses Position on Release of Photos of Detainee Abuse
By Michael D. Shear and Scott Wilson
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, May 13, 2009; 1:25 PM
President Obama will oppose the release of several dozen photos depicting abuse of detainees held in U.S. military custody abroad, reversing his previous position on the grounds that the pictures could inflame anti-American sentiment and endanger U.S. troops.
In announcing the shift today, the White House said in a statement that Obama "strongly believes that the release of these photos, particularly at this time, would only serve the purpose of inflaming the theaters of war, jeopardizing US forces, and making our job more difficult in places like Iraq and Afghanistan."
Justice Department officials told a federal judge late last month that the U.S. government did not intend to fight a court order to turn over a total of 44 photos, which were sought by the American Civil Liberties Union under a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit.
A U.S. attorney was unequivocal in a letter to the judge on April 23: "The parties have reached an agreement that the Defense Department will produce all the responsive images by May 28, 2009."
[...]
The administration said today that Obama met last week with White House lawyers and informed them that he did not "feel comfortable" releasing the photos because of the reaction they could cause against U.S. troops and because "he believes that the national security implications of such a release have not been fully presented to the court."
At the end of the meeting, Obama directed the lawyers to object to the release of the photos. He informed Gen. Raymond Odierno, commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, of his decision during a meeting yesterday at the White House.
[...]
Sens. Joseph I. Lieberman (I-Conn.) and Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) wrote Obama last week to urge him to fight the release of the photos.
"The release of these old photographs of past behavior that has now been clearly prohibited can serve no public good, but will empower al Qaeda propaganda operations, hurt our country's image, and endanger our men and women in uniform," wrote Graham and Lieberman.
No, Mr President and Sens LIEberman and Graham-cracker; these are assumptions, at best; bald-faced lies, at worst.
It serves the public, both domestic and international, by showing the actual depravity this country had stooped to. It proves acknowledgement, and paves the way for contrition. And your bloviation about 'hurting the countries image and endangering our men and women in uniform' is pure hyperbole; those things were accomplished over the last eight years.
From my viewpoint, NOT releasing them only exacerbates the problem, hurting and endangering even more. Do you guys actually, and honestly, think that releasing the photos will 'empower al-Qaeda propaganda operations'? Put yourselves in the terrorist's sandals for a minute.
Mohammad: "Now, the Big O has decided to not release the pics".With all this 'Sunshine' Obama's been promising, even 'Junket John' Boener is in danger of losing his tan.
Ahmed: "Alright!!!!!".
Mohammad: "Whadda mean, 'Alright!!!!!'? Is your tin-foil turban wrapped too tight? They've already admitted to torture and they acknowledge the pics exist".
Ahmed: "Holy Crap, Mo, that must mean that they're worse than we thought".
Mohammad: "Now you're smokin', Ahmed, pass me the hooka, we got us some recruitin' to do".
So Much for Transparency,
Brother Tim
9 comments:
Very Bushian of the Big O. Sounds exactly like an echo of the Bushies over Abu Ghraib. All we need are "few bad apples" part.
Pair that with the non-investigation of torture, and we have good old Republican-style total lact of accountability.
Oh, and whatever happened to Obama's promise to correct the FISA Amendment he voted for? (Crickets chirping)
I sure looks like the "If-America-does-it-then-it's-not-wrong" mentality has taken firm root in the new administraion.
Dave--
"I[t] sure looks like the "If-America-does-it-then-it's-not-wrong" mentality has taken firm root in the new administraion.I have a melancholy feeling it was already germinated on 11-04-08.
I love your website, seriously. I read it daily via my Greader
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Obama is bought and paid for all right like all our Politicians. Ultimately the courts will say Obama can not release them and Obama will have his cover for not being transparent!
Glenn Greenwald has a good piece on this.
Obama's Latest Effort to Conceal Evidence of Bush Era Crimes
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/05/14
Jim--
Looks like the 'savior' has 'feet of clay'. It's a good thing I'm not the type of person who would say, "I told ya so".
Dave--
I'm starting to feel like this latest cover-up for BushCo is the proverbial 'straw that broke the camel's back' for me. Little did I realize I was voting for a black Harold Hill.
I'm still upset with Obama for allowing the auto companies to go belly up along with hundreds of thousands of jobs, both directly and indirectly related to the auto companies.
AIG received more bailout money today and they don't have to jump through hoops or file bankruptcy to get it.
Those photos are important but the livelihoods of the millions who will be devasted over the auto companies going by the way side, is more important to me today.
Larry--
You're right, my friend, there are more important things. Also Chrysler is closing 789 of their 3200 dealerships. That's 25%.
I'm seeing more and more of the same behavioral patterns that distressed me for the last eight years.
Obama is the consumate con-man. What shocks me is, after all we've been through with BushCo, people still fawn over Obama like he's the Messiah.
As my Grandpappy used to say, "Actions speak louder than words".
You are Brother! But you don't have to I get it. Now he put another 80 billion for 4 more months of was, military tribunals back on, reversal on the torture memos. What the hell is next?
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