May 13, 2009 10:47pm
Closing Arguments: Obama’s 180 on Detainee Abuse Photos
EmailPresident Obama today reversed his position on the release of photos showing detainee abuse.
Obama defended the decision by saying that if made public, the photos would inflame "anti-American opinion" and "put our troops in greater danger."
Previously, Obama announced that the Pentagon would turn over 44 photos showing abuse of prisoners in Afghanistan and Iraq under President Bush.
So tonight, we ask you: Should the detainee abuse photos be released? Or do you agree with the president?
Tell us what you think.
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No, these photos should not be released. It serves no purpose. Obama is right on this one for a change.
The people of this country need to stop blasting ourselves in the image of the world. We keep shooting ourselves in the foot. We are the most caring and generous people this planet has ever seen. Our foreign aid in our short 233-year history exceeds the collective foreign aid of all the other nations of the world over all the annals of time. We should be seeking appreciation and respect from the rest of the world, not bad feelings.
Posted by: Proud Native American and Independent Voter | May 13, 2009, 11:47 pm 11:47 pm
Well !!! Obama finally does the right thing…It’s about time!!! Any fool should have realized that releasing the photos and documentation would put not only our troops, but our intelligence community in severe jeopardy. So I don’t know if this is a response to overwhelming sentiment from our military leadership or whether this is another ploy on the part of Obama’s Chicago-Clinton cabinet to garner some approval in the public opinion polls,,,this remains to be seen!!! But at least he made ONE correct decision. Maybe he has learned that a JUNIOR Senator-cum president is in no position to lecture the military and intelligence establishment on security matters…Since his cabinet has shown such a blatant lack of “intel” themselves.
Posted by: Nachthexe | May 14, 2009, 12:09 am 12:09 am
Detainee photos should NOT be released. It serves no purpose and nothing good can come of showing anyone, let alone the world, those images. Releasing the memos was bad enough. That in itself makes our country less safe.
Posted by: Susan Sims | May 14, 2009, 12:11 am 12:11 am
Releasing the photos serves no purpose and is hurtful.
What kind of sick sadists think they need to look at these photos anyway?
Posted by: We The People | May 14, 2009, 12:14 am 12:14 am
I agree that the photos don’t need to be released. Obama made the right call in reversing his decision.
Posted by: CJ | May 14, 2009, 12:14 am 12:14 am
No!! But these photos should be shown to more captured terrorist,,,,,,,,,
Posted by: Ron Boi | May 14, 2009, 12:15 am 12:15 am
The photos should be released. Our country needs to be cleansed and this will involve full disclosure. The rationale that the president gives does not stand up. If he continues his cover up he is failing in his given oath to uphold the constitution.
Posted by: sandbrownskin | May 14, 2009, 12:15 am 12:15 am
Finally, Obama listened to the generals in the field instead of the usual crowd of liberal idiots. Those pictures would have inflammed more hatred toward our American soldiers.
Posted by: Thirdheart | May 14, 2009, 12:16 am 12:16 am
I think the president should postpone the release of these photos until Pakistan has stabilized, but they must be released.
Posted by: mad-about-u | May 14, 2009, 12:17 am 12:17 am
i think that the photos in question should not be released,they would only fuel the fire and hate in those that have a dislike for this country.
Posted by: wayne c white | May 14, 2009, 12:18 am 12:18 am
NO! the photos should not be released.
This is one time I agree w/ Obama.
9/11 was perpetrated on OUR soil, against us, and many other innocent people from all cultures. We MUST protect our selves.
Posted by: v4gop | May 14, 2009, 12:24 am 12:24 am
No!!!! It’s either you are on the good side or the bad side. The “neutral” are automatically for the terrorists (it’s called silent collaboration).
Garry Owen Sir
Posted by: GarraiEoin | May 14, 2009, 12:25 am 12:25 am
It has been Looking like Obama is giving out the family secrets to the whole world, Why have a Unified government and then have the President toss it out the decisions of lawmakers before him by lighting fires all around the world of Hate for the American Citizens, If our President doesn’t like something the last president did, I believe he does not have the right to do our Laundry in the eyes of those who will twist and turn it to there advantage, this is Just what Obama is doing, If this is the type of Change Obama was talking about then I want no part of him, he is no Better then anyone else,
Posted by: Joseph Sadowski | May 14, 2009, 12:25 am 12:25 am
There is no good reason to release these
photos that I can even begin to imagine.
If some Americans don’t believe the release of these photos would be a national security issue and place our troops in greater harms way, let them all suit up and travel to the Muslim countries and see how long they would survive the love such transparency would
create.
Posted by: patbrown | May 14, 2009, 12:26 am 12:26 am
The only people I know interested in the photos are the news media. Could it be that getting more readers and viewers is more important than protecting our service personnel.
Posted by: Les Farrow | May 14, 2009, 12:40 am 12:40 am
I believe that President’s Obama’s reversal on releasing the photos of America soldiers has more to do with a:) the safety of our soldiers abroad, and b:) keeping Ex-VP Cheney and the Ex-Pres himself out of a war-crimes trial that should take place.
Our Soldiers need to know that they will not be subjected to the same kind of Geneva convention Convention breaking type of torture that the last administration doled out willfully and without concern for its consequences and with very little to show for it.
The Ex-VP and The Ex-Pres (King) need to stand and face the international laws they chose to break and found lawyers to write opinions to suppport their illegal activity.
The pictures aren’t necessary, a war crimes trial for the last Executive administration is in order.
42
Posted by: 42 | May 14, 2009, 12:49 am 12:49 am
Les Farrow…congrats…you hit the nail on the head…who is more interested???
Posted by: pro from dover | May 14, 2009, 12:52 am 12:52 am
Thank you President Obama for having the courage to change your mind about releasing the photos. It’s a fact that torture took place so we don’t need to further inflame our enemies by sensationalizing that fact. I’m proud of Obama!
Posted by: Debbie J. | May 14, 2009, 1:05 am 1:05 am
I really don’t think that releasing those photos is a way to cleanse our nation. What is it that we need be cleansed of? Will the photos do it justice? Once there is ‘Peace’, if there ever is, how will releasing the photos then be a way of cleansing? Besides that, this issue has already been addressed. Another thing is we have already been informed that our troops have to undergo the same ‘torture’ that they induce upon the prisoners. Not to mention that there have been no American POW because they kill all of them. Who knows, besides what they put on camera in the past, what they do to our troops once captured. I really don’t think we are the ones who need cleansing.
Posted by: openonions | May 14, 2009, 1:26 am 1:26 am
Releasing the photos would do a world of harm. Providing fodder for terrorists and others who despise the United States isn’t going help us one bit. Maybe President Obama is realizing he can’t be everything to everyone and more importantly, we shouldn’t be the ones fanning the flames.
We have to protect our own interests.
Posted by: Bill | May 14, 2009, 1:53 am 1:53 am
Yes release them, The Bush administration should be held completely accountable for ALL of their wrong doings. Even those that carried out the torturing. Stop hiding. By showing the military deaths, the illegal torturing, the secret memos and all of the other illegal conduct that was done it will hopefully help any future administration from behaving like this. This war is not invisible. This war has an ugly side. This war is hurting a lot of people on all sides. This war has accomplished very little to this day. This war has killed over 30,000+ civilians, 4,000+ troops and is costing $400,000,000. per month. Or is it a week? Not sure but either way the war put us into ridiculus debt well before any of the recent mess.
Posted by: jason | May 14, 2009, 3:19 am 3:19 am
Thank God President Obama finally came to his senses and reversed his decision to show the “world” these photos. The “world” is comprised of jihadist terrorists who are looking for any and all excuses to execute innocent Americans.
President Bush and his administration did everything in their power to keep our country safe, and they did not torture these poor terrorists.
Now let’s hope Obama gets on the right track and doesn’t release the terrorists from Gitmo. I would much rather see him flipflop in favor of our safety.
Let’s hope he doesn’t do yet another flip flop and release the photos anyway. Enough damage has been done to America in his first few months as it is; his learning curve is starting to rev up in the right direction finally, we can only hope and pray.
Posted by: CaliGal | May 14, 2009, 3:19 am 3:19 am
President Obama is making the right decision. This isn’t about government transparency; it’s about human decency. Which of us would want photos of us being abused (sexually and otherwise) plastered all over the news, internet and who knows where else? How enraged would you be if it were your grandson, son, father, husband or lover? We’ve seen more than enough photos already.
Posted by: Lori | May 14, 2009, 3:20 am 3:20 am
There sure seems to be a lot of people who think we, the people, don’t need an open, transparent government. The signers of the Constitution must be turning in their graves repeatedly.
If we ever hope to ensure that we don’t ever find ourselves in the position of promoting and utilizing torture, as a nation, our actions must be brought to the light of day and publicly repudiated. Didn’t we insist that Germany and Japan take similar actions after WWII to repudiate their actions? Why are we trying to exempt ourselves now?
Posted by: jan | May 14, 2009, 6:10 am 6:10 am
Well, folks, there are always two sides to every story. I’m actually amazed that Obamma, always quick to want “transparency” when it comes to the Bush administration now finds it hard to face the mirror when the tables are turned. My personal guess is that Nancy Pelossi will be thrown under the bus for this — just you wait my pretty — and the troops (our real heros in harm’s way) used as the easy shield for egg on Obamma’s face. After all, haven’t they been called “terrorists” and “cowards” by his counterparts? Ask me, “I” is the operative word — and Obamma will use it every time he wants to save face.
Hey Obamma — there is no “I” in the word team. No wonder George Steph’s hair is turning grey. We the people are catching on. This about face — while sounding Presidential — is (in my opinion) as bad as Johnny Cockran admonishing OJ Simpson’s Jury Panel “If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit.”
Posted by: WBGSJ | May 14, 2009, 6:28 pm 6:28 pm
As for the geneva convention, Was al-quaida playing by the rules when they killed 3000 innocent Americans in the twin towers, or beheaded innocent hostages??? As for the information and intelligence gained from methods used…how the hell do you know what information was gained…that is a matter for national security…next time know whereof you speak !!!! Now you’re screaming for a war crimes trial for something as innocuous as water-boarding and sleep deprivation…I know of no one who died or was mutilated by these methods, more than I can say for the methods used by al-quada and Bin- Laden. So pull your head out of your liberal a$$ and smell the coffee for a change !!!
If you want to have a witch hunt, make sure you’re HUNTING THE RIGHT WITCH !!!
Obama finally got one decision RIGHT..
Posted by: Nachthexe | May 15, 2009, 12:06 am 12:06 am
The release of the torture photo’s. First let’s ask the relatives of the American contractors, who were dragged through the streets,hung by one leg up on a bridge and then burned.
Screw all you bleeding hearts, torture is absolutely necessary, when dealing with these terrorist dogs. Go watch the movie “The Hanoi Hilton” then get back to me!
Mark my words Obama and Nancy Peelousy are going to destroy this country. Their first target our economy.
Posted by: crackmeuppp | May 16, 2009, 1:12 am 1:12 am