Barack trying to quash release of torture photos

[GeneralStriker]

http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE54C54Y20090513





By Caren Bohan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - In a reversal, President Barack Obama said on Wednesday he would fight the release of dozens of photographs showing the abuse of terrorism suspects, over concern the images could ignite a backlash against U.S. troops.

The decision was a blow to some liberals in Obama's Democratic Party who see the photos as part of a broader effort to investigate Bush-era officials and cleanse America's image abroad.As much as I'd love to see Dumbya, Rummy and the Dick swinging from an oak tree in the Hague, Barack has made the proper decision here. Those pictures would serve no greater purpose than to become a recruiting tool for the Binny Boyz and other assorted maniacs and cut-throats- and thereby adding fuel to the fires of hell. I believe that the war crimes prosecutions must proceed but the release of the pictures at this time is unhelpful to that end.

[Royal]

I agree. But an interesting move. Because if they want to keep the war going and generate more hate and fear ---> release the photos.

[mojo]

haha..bullshit.

the more things seem to change the more they stay the same.

barack, just another tool, the shade may have changed but the traces remain.

[pack3tg0st]

The release of the pictures has been squashed because it shows exactly how "widespread" the use of torture was...

Obama has already shown that he's willing to circumnavigate the rule of law to protect individuals from prosecution...

He announced the CIA agents wouldn't be tried...

Its not his decision... its the Department of Justice's decision... The DoJ is supposed to be appointed by the pres, but not "responsible" to him... We're just used to the politicization of the justice department to such an extent we don't remember how it's supposed to work anymore...

Meanwhile, Obama turns the torture debate into a political battle by refusing to appoint an independent consul to investigate... Now its Democrats Vs. Republicans... when it never needed to be...

Of course, fans of either party will blame their least favorite party for whatever result comes out of the torture investigations.

Divide and conquer... they have torn asunder the anti-torture movement by injecting uneeded politics... before you know it, it will all go away quietly into the night...

This whole nonsense about it being counterproductive to "look back" and we should focus on moving forward, is sheer bullshit. Crimes happen in the past and present...

We all have high hopes for Obama... but eventually everyone is going to have to face the fact that he is just another corporate shill... pandering to the Special Interest Groups and Power Elite of the country... He might want "change", but even he has said that its much harder to change washington than he thought...

Predictions for Obama's presidency:

1) He'll renew the assault weapons ban using the situation in mexico as an excuse.

2) Any "investigation" into torture will not yeild prosecution...

3) Money will keep siphoning off to the rich banking fuckers...

4) He will attack the Taliban in Pakistan and set up a puppet government.

And the people will thank him for it... every step of the way... Its amazing what a "cult of personality" can do, ya know?

All this, and I voted for the guy... so I'm not "anti-obama", I'm just a realist...

We should all just give it up, and welcome the newest CEO of America... because that is all he is... the new face of corporate america...

[Lexion]

And, in strolls Nancy Pelosi.

What a fucking mess.

Regards,
Lex

[skunk]

Amen packet. Great post.