Hide the Photos but Bring the Real Criminals to Light

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.

Comments

[research]

The Damage was done when we Tortured.

What were we going to do,

Keep anyone we tortured in solitary confinement

Forever?

[hapiday]

We are dealing with two Obamas on this issue. Obama the citizen like ourselves who has an opinion who could hide behind his computer before president and say the pictures are just horrible and people need to be prosecuted. But then we have Obama the president of this country. Who has the congress, the citizens of this country both (Democrats and Republicans), the military, the CIA, the FBI, international leaders and it's citizens all waiting with baited breath waiting for an answer. Everyone is screaming for his decision to be the one they support. Obama the citizen and the candidate is no longer able to just spout off opinions off the top of his head. Obama the president, is a totally different thing and people need to calm the heck down and give this man a chance to govern. I don't give a fly "F" what the media, people on this blog say I'm not going to judge his presidency based on four months. Calm the heck down and let this play out.

[markusmarkus]

Releasing the photos without having brought those responsible for the torture to justice would have merely highlighted this country's failure to fulfill its legal obligations under the anti-torture treaties.

[Jezreel]

Kudos Mr. Ellis for writing such an insightful and reasonable article on this issue. I wholeheartedly agree with your perspective.

[XME]

I have to agree whole-heartedly, and for those who are angered by them not being released, it seems they're only thinking of ideology and the moral highground they feel America should stand on. Like it or not, Obama has a duty to think about the sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters, who are currently serving in the Middle East, and about not doing something that may give radical nut cases another "excuse" to use those Americans as the scapegoats for the sins this country has committed. Those type of people WILL blame our family members and friend serving there, because they are the people they CAN blame...they're sitting ducks.

[duxguts]

The reason the generals convinced Obama not to release the photos is because another investigation (not a whitewash) may implicate people further up the military food chain this time.

[incognito-ergo-sum]

I keep wondering who took all these pictures? People with cell phones or regular cameras. Remember some of them were taken to be slipped out of Iraq.

How many pics are there and who all took them.

[johnsonc20]

The Obama kool-aid stopped working for me some time ago. This is another cave in and there will be no trials. With any luck, the court will require that these photos become public so we can show what ugliness has been done in the world in our name. We can't hope to prevent it in the future if we cover it up today.

[research]

Obama is playing very complicated and subtle politics, in a deadly dangerous hostile environment.

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.

[Koolmorning]

81% of Americans do not want to know anything about these photos or any other.

Of course the photos are just the tip of the tip of the iceberg.

[Snuffleupagus]

If serious investigation of Bush crimes were under way, you would have a point. If President Obama had not been blocking, downplaying and obstructing this much needed torture inquiry, the idea of not releasing photos would have merit.

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

[rmwarnick]

It was a dumb call, from a President who's usually very smart. Until we finally see them (and we will), the issue throughout the world will be: what is in these photos that's worse than AbuGhraib? Worse than bombing 95 Afghan children? Because that is President Obama's logic. Unless he's just exploiting "The Troops" for political purposes like Bush/Cheney.

[johnsonc20]

I don't know how you define "usually." Since becoming elected this is a decision that seems in line with most of the other ones he has been making.

[jmpurser]

I can think of a lot of things that could and should be done. President Obama seems to be against all of them. No since Pelosi's "Impeachment is off the table" comment have I been so frustrated.

[IllinoisTexan43]

I have to agree. Hold on to the photos until they can be shown in a court of law. Police investigations withhold evidence from the public sphere all the time so that it can be more useful in court. IMHO, if the photos of Abu Ghraib are not enough to outrage you, nothing will. I personally had co-workers post these photos(Abu Ghraib) in their work station lockers as empirical evidence that Bush was doing the right thing and that those eye-rack-ees were getting their just desserts. If these photos are as bad or worse than the ones we've seen, use them to show guilt and prosecute, whether republican or democrat, all who were complicit.

[bronceye]

Is it torture or not? That is one major question. Let's see them and decide, yes or no, that's torture or that's good. Stalin never published any pictures but we knew he tortured or enhanced freely. Did he torture then or did he keep his country safe from invasion? All of this fear and insecurity was and is being spread by the neocon/men. Show it and they will shut up about it being such a good thing.

[Malkin71]

If you aren't going to punish those who did it...releasing the photos is the WORST idea in the world.

[research]

Let's have a Fair and PUBLIC trial,

let's see all the evidence,

Let shatter our illusions,

and free ourselves of comforting myths,

the have rendered us powerless for so long.