The president's decision not to release more images of past torture was the right, real-world call. As noble as full transparency may seem, in this case it never should have been on the table in the first place. At least not now. Promise access to historians, say even as early as ten years from now, but the only purpose the new images would serve right now would be as new recruitment cover art for al Qaeda or al Qaeda-wannabe death cults.
We progressives have had the luxury of abstract thought for decades. Our noble ideas for a better society had zero chance of becoming reality so we were freed from real-world constraints.
We're in power now and wielding it well is often complicated and sometimes ugly.
It would be easy to be distracted by this small battle to lose sight of the larger war. The sickening actions of some twisted soldiers are the effects, not the cause of why this land of the free is now known as the land of torture. Releasing more photos will not help change that perception.
The current Senate hearings are the platform from which we need to begin reassuring the world that never again will this superpower be so cowardly and so stupid as to torture.
The president could help more by pressing aggressively for significant punishment of the high-level wrongdoers. That would not only be the right thing to do morally, but it would have the opposite effect of the publishing of the photos.
Desperately poor and angry youths in Pakistan and Somalia, Yemen and Iraq would see America led by a compassionate and moral leader. That just might give them pause the next time a fanatic tries to convince them to turn themselves into a breathing bomb.
What were we going to do,
Keep anyone we tortured in solitary confinement
Forever?
How many pics are there and who all took them.
Yes, React, I do.
Sunshine the greatest disinfectant! Lets see it ALL.
But I still have Hope that Obama has a good plan and honorable goals.
Of course the photos are just the tip of the tip of the iceberg.
But since most of us can see the horrible pro torture writing on the wall, we have every reason to believe Obama is working harder to protect Bush than he is to uphold the rule of law and to heal our nation.
Since this indefensible position by Obama is further evidenced by his refusal to release the torture photos, people are right to view it all with suspicion and to fight it.
In this context, the release of the photos could only result in more public outrage and more support for investigations and prosecution. This is why we want them, and why Obama is opposed.
Blindfolds anyone? Earplugs? Kool aid?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/matthew-filipowicz/obama-to-offer-blindfolds_b_203657.html?show_comment_id=24338825#comment_24338825
let's see all the evidence,
Let shatter our illusions,
and free ourselves of comforting myths,
the have rendered us powerless for so long.