General says photos could incite attacks

[magic99]

General says photos could incite attacks

August 14, 2005

BY LARRY NEUMEISTER
NEW YORK -- Releasing photos and videotapes of detainee abuse at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison would aid al-Qaida recruitment, weaken governments in Iraq and Afghanistan and incite riots against U.S. troops, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff warned in court papers.

The American Civil Liberties Union seeks the release of 87 photographs and four videotapes taken at the prison as part of a lawsuit it filed in October 2003.

Gen. Richard B. Myers wrote in recently unsealed court papers filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan that it was ''probable that al-Qaida and other groups will seize upon these images and videos as grist for their propaganda mill.''

The ACLU complaint seeks information on the treatment of detainees in U.S. custody and the transfer of prisoners to countries known to use torture. It also contends prisoner abuse is systemic.

The government submitted a request to the court Friday arguing that some information in its court papers that remains blacked out should not be made public.

In a response to the arguments by Myers, the ACLU submitted a declaration by retired Army Col. Michael Pheneger, who said Myers ''mistakes propaganda for motivation.''

'Bring them into the sunshine'

Pheneger, a military intelligence officer from 1963 to 1993, said that Iraqi insurgents average 70 attacks a day and that they ''will continue regardless of whether the photos and tapes are released.''

Pheneger said he thought that releasing the photos would lead to a thorough public examination of the administration's decision to approve interrogation techniques that the Army had long prohibited.

''The first step to abandoning practices that are *****nant to our laws and national ideals is to bring them into the sunshine and assign accountability,'' he wrote.

Myers said his views about the pictures were supported by Gen. John Abizaid, head of the United States Central Command, and Gen. George Casey Jr., commander of the American forces in Iraq.

Myers said an investigation into the abuse continues.

U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein, who will decide whether to release blacked-out versions of the pictures and videotapes, has said photographs ''are the best evidence the public can have of what occurred'' at the prison.

http://www.suntimes.com/output/terro...nws-abu14.html

[AT3Weins]

I agree that releasing the photos and videos would endanger our troops, contract workers, the Iraqi police, military, government, and average citizens even more.

[magic99]

Originally Posted by AT3Weins

I agree that releasing the photos and videos would endanger our troops, contract workers, the Iraqi police, military, government, and average citizens even more.

Yes, the public and the Muslims must never know what actually goes on in these prisons least it hurt the war effort.

[Snowden]

Magic, the word is "lest," not "least." "Least" has to do with amount; "lest" means "because it may." Is English your first language?

This thread is not in the correct place - and your attitude show small evidence of improvement. I'm moving this and closing it for review.