McCain Backs Obama Detainee Photo Decision

The New York Times:

Senator John McCain on Thursday welcomed President Obama's decision to oppose the release of photographs documenting prisoner abuse in Iraq and Afghanistan by United States military personnel, even as criticism continued from groups of the left.

"We are still in a war," said Senator McCain, the Arizona Republican who is a member of the Armed Services Committee. "The publication of those photographs would have given help to the enemy in the psychological side of the war we are in. I applaud the president's decision."

Read the whole story: The New York Times

Comments

[Mintcondition]

01:54 PM on 05/15/2009

Here are the photos- Do not view if you have a weak stomach.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/photos-us-doesnt-want-seen/2006/02/14/1139890737099.html

[Le`Cheer]

11:21 AM on 05/15/2009

Before ya know it, President Obama will have the entire republican party inching over to our side. Way to go Mr. President you are so enticing....Love it!

[musselmanm]

09:03 AM on 05/15/2009

I am glad that our President does not rush to judgement like our last President.
Lets release all the photos after our men and women return from the war fronts, we really do not have enough troops in these arenas to defend themselves against another counter insurgency, I believe.
Let our troops be as safe as possible for now.
I am about as far to the left as one can get. Belief in actual Socialism is about two steps to the left of me.
I am not a troll.

[Tugar]

06:08 AM on 05/15/2009

I AGREE WITH SEN. MCCAIN...

WE ARE STILL AT WAR, AND OUR TROOPS ARE STATIONED IN COUNTRIES WHERE THEY MUST WORK WITH THE PEOPLE IN THOSE LANDS TO ACHIEVE A LASTING PEACE !

IT WILL SERVE NO GOOD PURPOSE TO START PULLING OUT PHOTOS OF THINGS THAT HAPPENED DURING THE LAST ADMIN., WHICH MAY JEOPARDIZE WHAT WE WANT TO ACCOMPLISH IN THE WORLD ! I KNOW PRES. OBAMA PROMISED "TRANSPARENCY", BUT I AM ALSO SURE, THAT HE NOW REALIZES, MANY THINGS ARE BETTER LEFT ALONE, AND SIMPLY WALK FORWARD !

I HAVE BEEN AN OBAMA SUPPORTER FROM HIS VERY BEGINNINGS, BACK DURING HIS CHICAGO DAYS, WHEN HE WORKED DILIGENTLY FOR THE PEOPLE THERE !

[planetjeffy]

05:18 AM on 05/15/2009

We must release the photos, even if it puts the troops in more jeopardy. Unless we face the truth, we will never move forward.

[SeymourButz]

08:46 AM on 05/15/2009

oh please. is your son over there?

[PhilipTaylor]

03:45 AM on 05/15/2009

Keep that 01L Flowing at any COST!

$ Funding -------Senator------
From 0il Interests

7,248,188 McCain,John AZ R
4,775,296 Hutchison,Kay Bailey TX R
3,252,163 Inhofe,James M OK R
2,808,220 McConnell,Mitch KY R
2,729,625 Obama,Barack IL OLD D
2,205,808 Voinovich,George V OH R
2,113,813 Landrieu,Mary L LA D
2,068,281 Cornyn,John TX R
1,715,309 Specter,Arlen PA D
1,497,451 Bingaman,Jeff NM D
1,463,423 Bond,Christopher S (Kit) MO R
1,411,926 Clinton,Hillary NY OLD D
1,410,590 Craig,Larry ID R
1,344,715 Smith,Gordon H OR R
1,326,469 Vitter,David LA R
1,288,841 Thune,John SD R
1,240,632 Burr,Richard NC R
1,220,804 Kyl,Jon AZ R
1,204,989 Chambliss,Saxby GA R
1,185,710 Coleman,Norm MN OLD R
1,167,976 Allard,Wayne CO R
1,145,305 Baucus,Max MT D
1,088,488 Rockefeller,Jay WV D
1,083,248 Kerry,John MA D
1,075,871 Reid,Harry NV D
1,075,388 Ensign,John NV R
1,069,314 Shelby,Richard C AL R
1,051,905 Bunning,Jim KY R
1,044,800 Alexander,Lamar TN R
1,027,622 Sessions,Jeff AL R
1,017,588 Conrad,Kent ND D

[Ri Miller]

01:05 AM on 05/15/2009

Sheesh. No point in hiding the photos now...they can be found on the net!

[swo68]

12:41 AM on 05/15/2009

McCain needs to pull a Specter.

[mal0980]

11:29 PM on 05/14/2009

I think Obama made the right decision, I know it does reverse his earlier decision. Sometimes as a Candidate for President or a President in his early Presidency sometimes don't have all the facts or intel, and sometimes listening to a different valid opinions can be a factor as well that lead to his decision to not release these photos. It's not popular right now, but in the long run it will be regarded as the best decision.

[cautionbug]

07:43 PM on 05/14/2009

McCain supports an Obama decision = Obama made the wrong decision.

[DaynaMichelle]

08:50 PM on 05/14/2009

Agreed...

[XME]

09:52 PM on 05/14/2009

Actually, what it means is that SOMETIMES even John McCain is right.

[Mavsreader]

10:57 PM on 05/14/2009

No, when someone mentions safety or troops republicans must weigh in. Letting America know they're there.

[SayLessDoMore]

07:18 PM on 05/14/2009

The decision isn't "wrong" based on the ideology of the left, and it isn't "right" based on the ideology of the right.

It's wrong if done to cover up wrongdoing; it's right if done as the least evasive approach to protect our troops and to avoid unnecessary aggravation of an already bad situation. It is a VERY important fact that the current administration did not promote or accede to this misconduct and is not, therefore, trying to hide from its own poor judgment . . . or worse.

When your local nightly news doesn't broadcast graphic videos of a murder scene, they aren't "hiding" information to protect the guilty. It is done out of an overarching sense of decency. It provides some privacy to victims; usually aids the investigative process; and, prevents trials by lynch mob.

[genia]

06:52 PM on 05/14/2009

Petraeus had something to do with changing Obama's mind. Petraeus is their boy.....he may even run for office....maybe president.....then they can use this to their advantage. The power of Petraeus...
Hasselbeck was praising Obama also....now I know they are up to something...lol
Next Megan will be blogging ...praising Obama.

It's all about Petraeus.

Why does McCain get all this attention? Like he's the alter president or something. Suddenly he's this fatherly figure fuill of wisdom and knowledge...WTF? man doesn't know what kind of car he's driving...I still can't understand how that's even possible....I don't care how rich you are...you know your ride.

[JiminNC]

01:16 AM on 05/15/2009

I doubt a military man will get elected in this country for a generation.

[Lee Andrew]

06:26 PM on 05/14/2009

I know the senator and will say this - if he's on board the presidents decision is WRONG.

I know of what I speak.

Absentee Arizona ballot see who I voted fo it wasn't the "favorite son).

http://i577.photobucket.com/albums/ss212/lgbtpress/ballot08-1.jpg

And as a veteran military vet (disabled) I communicated frequently with McCain and his staff for twenty years and they never ceased to disappoint me in their lukewarm support of veterans issues.

I also had contact as CNN news crew member frequently at KTVK: (CNN and ARMY photos)

http://i577.photobucket.com/albums/ss212/lgbtpress/16-01-08-lee2.jpg

Yeap, we missed a McCain -Palin bullet.

O wish I could run in the primary against McCain ( I am a lifelong registered republican) the party is over.

[Daniel Carr]

06:12 PM on 05/14/2009

It was a wrong decision. This proves it.

Obama has retreated in the face of the enemy, showing weakness and cowardice to a rabid dog.

Most disappointing.

[Budokan]

05:46 PM on 05/14/2009

That right there is enough to convince me the decision was wrong.