Kerry: Detainee Photos Could Be Terrorist Propaganda, But Truth Is Important

Senate foreign relations committee chairman John Kerry said on Friday that he was concerned the release of photos depicting the abusive treatment of detainees in U.S. custody could become "propaganda tool" for terrorist organizations.

In an interview with the Huffington Post, the Massachusetts Democrat was asked to respond to news that the Department of Defense would be releasing 44 photos pertaining to the harsh handling of detainees at prisons in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"I think showing the truth is always important," said Kerry. "But I do think it will be used as a propaganda tool and have some damaging impact. But this didn't happen under Obama, it happened under Bush and every one understands that."

Kerry stressed in the interview that this was not a decision made by the Obama administration. "They are not releasing them because they want to, but because there was a FOIA request and a judge is ordering them released," he said.

He also stressed that Obama had put an end to these interrogation tactics, which would, in due course, eliminate a galvanizing tool used by these same terrorist cells. "We are trying to move to a new place," he said, "and we have ended these policies." But he did concede that the pictures "will be used as a tool... as were the other photos [from Abu Ghraib]."

The remarks were part of a broader discussion with the Senator on current state of American foreign policy.

The release of the 44 photographs comes in response to an American Civil Liberties Union Freedom of Information Act request for all information relating to detainee treatment. Last week, the Obama White House released four OLC memos in response to the same FOIA request.

Lawyers for the ACLU hailed the move as another nod towards a more transparent approach by the White House. But CIA officials told ABC News that they were disappointed the Obama administration did not fight the FOIA request up to the Supreme Court.

"They should have fought it all the way; if they lost, they lost," said Dr. Mark M. Lowenthal, former Assistant Director of Central Intelligence for Analysis and Production. "There's nothing to be gained from it. There's no substantive reason why those photos have to be released."

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Comments

[markmac]

Let's be clear, nobody is going to be prosecuted for torture. Democrats do not have the stomach for it, especially if it exposes their own hypicrisy and their compliance with the Bushies. Releasing these pictures changes nothing. Our soldiers are already in danger because, well, war is a dangerous business. Terrorists did not need pictures such as these to muster recruits before 9/11 and they will not need them hereafter. Muslim dictatorships--and Muslim quasi-democracies--are over flowing with improvished young men with nothing better to do than take up a gun. Bill Clinton did not change this, Boy George did not change this, and neither will President Obama. Islam and the Middle East are petri dishes for radicalism and they will remain this way for some time to come. American policy in this region should focus on reducing our need for Middle Eastern oil, period.

[VeggieVeal]

Ah yes, Kerry was for "enhanced interrogation" before he was against it! Sound familiar?

[research]

Showing your inability to understand a

single event having multiple contrary effects

again?

Yes, your simplistic accusation are too familiar.

[hollace]

The families already know, their kids will know, on and on into the history books.

We know ,and a cover up can only make it worse.

[dav ram58]

Do we really need to see more torture photos and video? The "soft porn" was enough to give us a good idea about what went on. I for one do not need to see the XXX version of torture to understand what went on.

[research]

We need that outrage now to prosecute these war criminals.

I can barely stand to see the photos, and I don't go looking for them.

But I will probably glance at what comes out, it's important to understand the reality of it.

There are still people who think it wasn't torture. We have to shove it in their faces.

[morris111]

Wow, that's the first time I've actaully agreed with something Sen. Kerry has said in a long time. Does he have a fever or something?

[wordvarc]

Truth, honor, and human rights
became anti-US propaganda tools
as w/cheney took office in 2000..

[icon22]

I look forward to the 2012 election, when it will be the party that fights for the rights of terrorists against the party that didn't. I thought that Obama was at least a smart politician, if nothing else, until now.

Thank You!

[lungfish]

Where were your heroes when they threw Karpinski and the rest under the bus for the Abu Ghraib abuse? We know now that this was authorized treatment and was being used at Abu Ghraib, Bagram, GTMO and elsewhere. So why didn't your heroes, Dick Cheney and Bush and the rest, stand up for these people who were doing what they were told to do? Why did they get demoted or go to prison when they were clearly doing what they were ordered to do - soften up prisoners for interrogation?
These people in the Bush Administration never came close to combat, like you, and the entire system including the SERE school and the Judge Advocates of all four branches of service advised them against torture. But, like you, they are cowards.
You seem to want to mainstream torture... and if you do, then when its done to you and yours by the US or another country, you better just shut up. You are arguing for a precedent... be careful what you wish for in ignorance...

[snesich]

As if that will work. Ha ha.

Don't you conservatives realize by now that your tactics of fear, hatred and lies don't work anymore?

You called President Obama a "terrorist", a "Marxist", a "Muslim", a "Black Nationalist" and a year ago at this time you guys were absolutely gleeful, thinking this would destroy his campaign.

It didn't.

But you conservatives have nothing else. You have no policies, no ideas and nothing to offer except more of the same.

So it doesn't surprise me that here you are, all deluded and gleeful, convinced that "this time" it will work. It won't.

As long as this is all you have to offer, get used to being out of power for a long, long time.

[HGMercury]

Don't forget the oft-repeated "Hussein" middle name!

[Dunderslapoldmen]

Nite Libs....we've "tweaked" enough tonite...see ya manana...

[research]

you just showed your stupidity.

[ConfuciusSay-]

If you really have nothing to say, please - say it.

[Dunderslapoldmen]

al-Jazeera is reporting tonite that Obama's 1/2, 1/3, 1/8, whatever, brother in Kenya has applied to become a full time Somalia Cruise Director...developing....

[research]

You didn't even know that the conservatives plotted to assassinate FDR,

You seem to know nothing.

[secondedition]

I tend to agree that the pictures serve no real purpose being released for all to see. And, I agree with Senator Kerry that they will most likely be used as a tool against us in the US. I just pray there are no lives lost because of these pictures.

[theclosetconservative2]

Have you ever noticed that all the people who think America is so rotton don't just move away. If European socialism is so great, why not just go there. If Leslie Stahl thinks Cuba has a first rate health care system, how come Americans aren't lining up to renounce their citizenship? And why do the natives of Cuba risk death by sharks floating to Miami in makeshift boats made from popsicle sticks? If America is evil and "tortures" people how come this isn't happening.
The left has built such a gigantic tower of babble, that by 2010, no one will be listening, except the hardcore koolaid drinkers. http://theclosetconservative.com

[dav ram58]

This is the same stupid rhetoric all conservatives spout. "USA, love it or leave it." So ignorant. People that really love their country, or anything else, want to do their part to make it even better than it is. That's what constructive criticism is.

[American-nonUS]

I'm proud of my country, I love it, and I live in it. But it doesn't mean I am proud of its past military dictatorship, nor that I respect or forgive the government that tortured and killed many innocent people. On the contrary, because I love my country I'm shameful of it, and of our political system for not bringing the criminals to justice (they say we must 'forget' and 'move forward'). That's not what I love and sweared to defend.
Loving your country is more that loving a piece of land, or a government, or a way of life. It's loving your people and the principles of the nation. True patriots stand by the law they have swore to defend, even against their government, and even if that's not an easy position (people may accuse them of being "unpatriotic" or even "traitors"). That's what real heroes do.
Some people will shout "homeland," "God bless my country," and so on. But a nation is not made of words, or songs, or flags. It's made of people and of the principles that people live by. When you renounce to them, you renounce to your inner identity as a nation and become a different one. It doesn't matter if the name of the country and the colors in the flag remain the same : that's not what your founding fathers fought for.

[ConfuciusSay-]

Considering how bad the first set of photos were, I'm dreading the content of the unreleased ones.

[obamanomics]

Duh...this isn't about whether or not it will be used as propoganda or for recruitment. This is about placating Obama's base, period. national security be d*mned.

[Dunderslapoldmen]

tough to do since Obama's base can hardly read..

[HC4BO]

I read your post quite fine, I thank you ...

Now allow me to retort ...

You are both moronic ....

[twiggy2]

you seem to lack integrity; which is what is missing in the gop.

[research]

didn't raygun delay the release of the hostages in exchange for missiles fo IRAN,

yes he did.

[ConfuciusSay-]

"The core provisions of the Convention establish a regime for international cooperation in the criminal prosecution of torturers relying on so-called 'universal jurisdiction.' Each State Party is required either to prosecute torturers who are found in its territory or to extradite them to other countries for prosecution."
-Ronald Reagan, on the UN Convention on Torture 1984.

[Dunderslapoldmen]

If all you "pac-ifists" had been advising Truman, we would all be speaking Japanese

[research]

You mean FDR.

If you conservatives had you way,

FDR would have been assassinated

and a fascist Nazi friendly government set up

to replace democracy.

That's the facts.

[theclosetconservative2]

If research is your name, where do you get your research? MoveOn.Org?

[Dunderslapoldmen]

No...Truman had the ba-lls to drop the big one...unlike you paci-fists...

[research]

did you hit the wrong reply button?

[dav ram58]

To all you idot right-wingers, killing doesn't equal having balls. Having balls, and marbles, is being able to win without fighting.

[Dunderslapoldmen]

Overnight I changed my mind: I want Obama and crew to go ahead and indict, prosecute, and take to trial, Bush and all those that worked with / for him...Cheney...Rove...Gonzalez...Powell..Laura Bush...GHW Bush...Rice, etc.... The right has been in the doldrums since Obama was elected and needs a catalyst to wake them up. Pursuing prosecution of those that did their best to protect this country will be that spark. During any trial we will again see the WTC come down, the Pentagon get hit, and innocent Americans di* in a field in PA. We will hear from KSM as to how they planned the attacks...we will again see Daniel Pearl behead*d by hooded, radi^al Jihadi*ts..see footage of Madrid, Bali, London, Mumbai and others.. If the left thinks the immigratio# bill fight was big, wait 'til these trials begin....Average Americans will rise up and say enough is enough ! The "bitter clingers" will flood Congress...The Dems will be swept out in 2010...so go ahead. Get the witc@hunt started & be sure it goes thru Nov. 2010 and Nov 2012..

[ConfuciusSay-]

Yes, cause it's SO helpful to be the party defending itself from War Crimes, that no doubt there will be a veritable stampede of voters drawn to the Great Cause.

Have you no idea how much your position is stinking?

[Dunderslapoldmen]

Keep thinking that leftie...been in the real world lately??

[ReservoirDog]

Is that you Dickie-poo ?

getting a little desperate,huh ??

Get out your old posters: "Bring It On"; "Dead or Alive"; "Mission Accompolished"

putz

[Dunderslapoldmen]

I loved that movie R Dogs...

[lungfish]

Justice, my friend.
If you or your family members are arrested abroad and tortured, best keep your mouth shut. If a cop abuses you like the Texas Sheriffs who waterboarded arrestees, you got nuthin to say. You are arguing for a precedent.
You don't care about the past, the fact that we executed and imprisoned Japanese soldiers for waterboarding our people.
Everyone in the Military including the SERE program told the Administration that torture has a number of operational shortcomings including false info - and the CIA spent millions chasing false leads and torturing innocents who were fingered by other tortured souls.....
Zubaida gave up Padilla and KSM before he was tortured... and the LA plot was foiled well before torture was authorized by Bush and Cheney.
Waterboarding and torture has been illegal in the US since the Spanish American war and is against the War Crimes Act as well as the International Convention Against Torture, and the US is a signatory of that treaty.
Do your homework. Get a soul....
Obviously you have never been in combat and your bloodthirsty nature is born of cowardice.

[dphilip]

.just how many of you really think that Obama is going to allow you haters to derail his presidency?
I don't like him but he's too smart for that.

[dav ram58]

The only time anyone, or any country, needs to worry about being attacked is when they are threatening others. Nobody has ever attacked me in my life (45 years) and I don't see terrorists plotting to attack Sweden, Canada, Japan ect. Leave people alone and they will leave you alone. Stop trying to force people to live the way you want them to live and they won't bother you.