Text 15740, 100 rader
Skriven 2005-09-29 19:41:00 av Jeff Binkley (1:226/600)
Ärende: ACLU
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If there was ever a doubt that the ACLU was in bed with the terrorists, 
there is no reason to doubt it any longer....


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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-
dyn/content/article/2005/09/29/AR2005092901009_pf.html

Judge Orders Release of Abu Ghraib Photos

By LARRY NEUMEISTER
The Associated Press
Thursday, September 29, 2005; 7:00 PM



NEW YORK -- A federal judge Thursday ordered the release of dozens more 
pictures of prisoners being abused at Abu Ghraib, rejecting government 
arguments that the images would provoke terrorists and incite violence 
against U.S. troops in Iraq.

U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein said that terrorists "do not 
need pretexts for their barbarism" and that suppressing the pictures 
would amount to submitting to blackmail.

"Our nation does not surrender to blackmail, and fear of blackmail is 
not a legally sufficient argument to prevent us from performing a 
statutory command. Indeed, the freedoms that we champion are as 
important to our success in Iraq and Afghanistan as the guns and 
missiles with which our troops are armed," he said.

Hellerstein ordered the release of 74 pictures and three videotapes from 
the Abu Ghraib prison, potentially opening the military up to more 
embarrassment from a scandal that stirred outrage around the world last 
year when photos of 2003 abuse became public.

The photographs covered by Thursday's ruling were taken by a soldier. A 
military policeman who saw them turned them over to the Army. Some may 
be duplicates of photos already seen by the public.

An appeal of Hellerstein's ruling is expected, which could delay release 
of the pictures for months.

Gen. John Abizaid, commander of U.S. Central Command, said Thursday that 
releasing the photos would hinder his work against terrorism.

"When we continue to pick at the wound and show the pictures over and 
over again it just creates the image _ a false image _ like this is the 
sort of stuff that is happening anew, and it's not," Abizaid said.

The American Civil Liberties Union sought release of the photographs and 
videotapes as part of an October 2003 lawsuit demanding information on 
the treatment of detainees in U.S. custody and the transfer of prisoners 
to countries known to use torture. The ACLU contends that prisoner abuse 
is systemic.

"It's a historic ruling, said ACLU Executive Director Anthony Romero. 
"While no one wants to see what's on the photos or videos, they will 
play an essential role in holding our government leaders accountable for 
the torture that's happened on their watch."

The government argued that America's enemies might exploit the pictures 
for propaganda purposes by saying the photos represent the attitudes of 
all Americans toward the Iraqi people.

The judge acknowledged such a risk but said "the education and debate 
that such publicity will foster will strengthen our purpose, and, by 
enabling such deficiencies as may be perceived to be debated and 
corrected, show our strength as a vibrant and functioning democracy to 
be emulated."

Bridget F. Kelly, a spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney's office in 
Manhattan, said her office was reviewing the ruling and considering its 
options.

Gen. Richard B. Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, had argued 
in court papers that releasing the photographs would aid al-Qaida 
recruitment, weaken the Afghan and Iraqi governments and incite riots 
against American troops.

But the judge said: "My task is not to defer to our worst fears, but to 
interpret and apply the law, in this case, the Freedom of Information 
Act, which advances values important to our society, transparency and 
accountability in government."

The ACLU had sought the release of 87 photographs and four videotapes 
altogether. The judge viewed the pictures and videotapes and ordered 
some of them edited. Romero said those images apparently contained so 
many redactions that they would have been unintelligible.

The judge said the pictures were important because they were the best 
evidence of what happened and because they "initiate debate, not only 
about the improper and unlawful conduct of American soldiers, `rogue' 
soldiers, as they have been characterized, but also about other 
important questions as well."


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