Abu Ghraib Rape Photos: Pentagon Denies Report

Reuters:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Pentagon on Thursday denied a British newspaper report that photographs of Iraqi prisoner abuse, whose release U.S. President Barack Obama wants to block, include images of apparent rape and sexual abuse.

Read the whole story: Reuters

Comments

[FairTalk]

Ist of all, I think the report of rape photos is to provoke the release of the photos as a way to prove rape is not there.

2nd, I really don't understand why these photos were not classified. Then they wouldn't be released until they are declassified.

What am I missing here?

[jmpurser]

First, you're missing the fact that at least one source for the rape allegations is Retired General Taguba who's well respected. Personally I'd trust his word over "the pentagon" having just spend 8 years listening to pentagon lies and propaganda as an American.

Second, we don't, or at least shouldn't, be classifying things because they're embarrassing or evidence of criminal behavior. That's how tyrants run their countries.

[jmpurser]

Who do you believe: Retired General Taguba or the Pentagon who just spent the last 8 years lying to you?

[blood1]

The longer those in government protest, the less we believe them...we have read the transcripts of what happened in GTMO, AF and Iraq...and just don't believe that these uncontrolled agents that were tasked and pressured to find information went so far off the reservation that it is very conceivable that they abused prisoners beyond the Class III techniques from SERE.

The American people should DEMAND that the entire UGLY episode be exposed...as the longer the cover-up the worse the consequences. Figure out how to "compensate" the people of these countries and then and only then can we move on.....waiting for 50 years (like we did to the Asian Community in the US during WWII) and centuries (like we did for Native Americans) allows the wound to fester and get worse....and ultimately used against our country.

NO ONE FORGETS BAD DEEDS!

[Paulo1]

This is what you get Mr. Obama when you hide the truth behind some sophist argument.

Given that no one is allowed to see the photo's the Pentagon can say anything it wants and it will in turn be viewed as a potential lie by anyone with a thread of critical thinking skills. You did not make the military safer all you did was throw up the question about whether the military is a bunch of liars as well as thugs. Not the vision I want of the good young people who are putting their lives on the line for us.

Give them back their honor. Publish the photo's and prosecute those responsible all the way up to the TOP.

[jmpurser]

Agreed and well said. It's now a security matter. We NEED to release those pictures and empower an independent prosecutor to follow the torture trail wherever it may lead.

[loki]

we will never know now will we. Its down to the he said she said argument, and there is no way to prove it either way.

[gakabani]

The damage has been done and it us coming back to hunt all of us. America or Nazi America, you choose.

[billw8017]

Polls indicate the Iraqi people want us out, Over 90% say things can't improve until we leave. A majority says it is virtuous to kill Americans.

Bush meant to create an enduring base for future middle eastern military actions. Maybe we can seize something on the water by Basra and turn it into a sort of Gitmo (without the prison).

Every humane and democratic principle says we should leave Iraq. The occupation also commits troops we don't have to spare. We will leave a hostile and anguished population behind us, but we should simply honor our treaty obligation to leave and mark up the rest as the cost of an illegal war and a grossly mismanaged occupation.

We can survive their hostility. The people who think we shouldn't buy foreign oil can only be pleased if foreigners don't want to sell oil to us.

[JoeBlough]

We aren't talking about photos, we are talking about video-tape. Nice side-step.

[doneflyin]

Release the damn photos! Americans need to see what has been done in their names.

When I was a kid, in the late 40's early 50's there were these tent shows that went around the country at county fairs. I got into one of these shows with my dad.
They showed concentration camp pictures and war scenes. Those images are burned in my memory to this day. I've had a horror of torture and war ever since.
More people should be exposed to the dehumanizing practice and cruelty of torture. For the life of me I cannot comprehend why so many here in the country are so supportive of killing and torture.

At the end of WWII when the allies got into the camps, Eisenhower was so enraged that he marched the local towns people thru the camps to see first hand just what had been happening outside their villages.
We need an Eisenhower to march our own people thru tent shows showing these pictures and what has been done in America's name.

Shame on us. Shame! Have we no decency?

[TeeLolly]

Amen!

[jmpurser]

Agreed and thank you for bringing a sense of real outrage and historical perspective to this conversation.

[kimleehan]

Someones lying, they both can't be telling the truth.

[DavidMcK]

Obama is allowing the American people to become angry and demand justice. Folks let's demand these pictures. If GW is coming out of the closet, I think they're getting scared and things are getting heated. Keep demanding those pictures.

[VictoriaP]

RP from Execution:
-----------------------------------------------------

And you know that how? There are 2000+ photos. And how many prosecutions? These photos include not just sodomy and rape but also murder.

Flashback: Torture photos depict "rape and murder," Sen. Graham said in 2004

In spite of the White House and Pentagon"s synchronized rebuttal to an explosive story by the Daily Telegraph alleging the White House is suppressing images of prisoners" sexual abuse, almost nothing about the paper"s Thursday morning report was new, least of all the charges of rape.

"The American public needs to understand, we"re talking about rape and murder here," said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), telling reporters in 2004 why the Abu Ghraib photos should not be released as former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld faced calls for his resignation. "We"re not just talking about giving people a humiliating experience. We"re talking about rape and murder and some very serious charges."

[LemonMeringue]

Excuse me but enforced nudity IS sexual abuse.

[pghnappyrhino]

they need to quit while they are behind.

[PlayTOE]

With all the pictures of the USA keeping prisoners naked, sexual abuse is a given.

The Pentagon denial is unbelievable.

Even China should be demanding the USA undergo sanctions for human rights abuses.

[delta7777]

.
first,
there is no evidence that the Pentagon is in possession of all extant photographs.
second,
there is no basis for the Pentagon to make any unauthorized statement whatsoever
with regard to posssession or distribution of these photographs.
third,
authorization for release of photographs does not lie in the Pentagon..
it lies within the presidential power as Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces,
this notwithstanding,
the seriousness of the situation would indicate that review and advisement
by Congress is advisable, in order, and appropriate.
.