NEW YORK - Pictures of detainee abuse at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison must be released despite government claims that they could damage America's image, a federal judge ruled Thursday.
U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein said terrorists in Iraq and Afghanistan have proven they "do not need pretexts for their barbarism."

The American Civil Liberties Union sought the release of 87 photographs and four 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.

Brutal images of the abuse at the prison have already been widely distributed, but the lawsuit covers additional photos not yet seen by the public.

Gen. Richard B. Myers, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, had maintained in court papers that releasing the photographs would aid al-Qaida recruitment, weaken the Afghan and Iraqi governments and incite riots against U.S. troops.

Hellerstein said in his 50-page opinion that he respected Myers' arguments but noted, "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," Hellerstein said.

The U.S. Attorney's office in Manhattan, which argued the case for the government, did not immediately comment on the ruling.

CAN ANYONE TAKE A WILD GUESS WHO THIS "HONORABLE" JUDGE WAS APPOINTED BY?

Alright all of you enlightened Liberals.

What could the ACLU possibly want with these.

The obvious answer is to try to blame this on President Bush also.

I anxiously await your answers.






These ought to be good.

I thought the ACLU served to protect, what about the prisoners liberties? What about the solders' (not all of them are guilty even if they are in the photos)? What harm is being done to them by releasing these photos?

Another obvious answer is to smeer the US Military.

It is not really a smeer when it is the truth. If it is only a few bad souls and their higher ups didn't order it what is the big deal with brining it to the public light. If the military is so worried about it tarnishing their image or this countrys image they should have keeped a better eye on their troops.

I am close friends with a former MP that witnessed the abuse, testified, etc. He told the commander in charge immediately after he witnessed the acts, and the commander basically said don't worry about it.

If the release of these pics somehow bring charges to those who really should be charged (higher ranking officers), then i am all about releasing them.

Even in light of the fact that it is going to place our troops currently in theater in more danger than they already are?

I disagree a lot of photos and new storys about this have already come out. More photos coming out coinciding with the fact people have been sent to jail and punished, IMO, will not do much more damage than has already been done. But if we hide the fact that this happened and do not show the photos it makes it seem like a cover-up. The truth is very important.

With the things already going on in Iraq this will make an unmeasurable difference in attacks if it makes a difference at all.

Please let me know when you are going to enlist I want to witness the Oath.

I'll even wear my Class A uniform.

That's true. Releasing some pics may provoke more violence. Maybe the Bush-hating NY Times is helping the release campaign. I am sure they would love more criticism about Bush's war.


So, i wonder why the government doesn't talk about Abu anymore? All they do is imprison a few privates, and call it a day.

If that's all the further the blame and responsibility for the action goes, then yes, that's all that's necessary.

What is the purpose of releasing these photos? Is going to prove abuse happened? We already know it did.