Yesterday, in a surprising move, the President made it clear that he is pushing to not have the next round of torture photos released. I found myself dismayed at this decision. It seems as though the President has truly flip-flopped on this issue.

So I am left wondering if I agree with his decision regarding these photos. Our president clearly stated that he worries this will whip up more anti-US sentiment in the Muslim world and empower Taliban and Al-Qaeda propaganda with new imagery, and that is an honorable concern. That said - he promised to be more transparent. So far he truly has been, as much as any modern president can be, and given our Security issues in America today. If this really will put our troops in harms way, I am more likely to trust this President for now.

I also have a feeling that these pictures might be far worse than we have been led to believe. Even the President's press secretary had trouble explaining why Obama changed his mind on releasing detainee photos. A lot of pundits and reporters are out there wondering why the President released the torture memos and not these photos. I think it is very important to remember that the president did not voluntarily release those memos - he did so at the court's ruling.

I believe this will happen again regarding these photos. It is actually politically savvy. The President has stated that he wants them released. However, there is a lot of push back from the military. Rightfully so? I don't know - I am not a military person. But politically, the best way to accomplish the release of these photos might be through the courts - even if that means going to the Supreme Court. So far the lower courts have sided with the ACLU on this issue. That is something else to remember - this is an ongoing court case.

Let it go to the Supreme Court. Then no one can say the President was out for vengeance, and no one can say he put our troops in further harm's way. Remember one thing - those pictures were taken when someone else was pResident. That person was the one who was responsible for the torture - and ultimately it was George Bush, Dick Cheney, Condi Rice, Don Rumsfeld, George Tenant, Colin Powell, Jay Bybee, John Yoo, Karl Rove, Alberto Gonzales (to name a few) - who put our troops in harm's way with this illegal war. They are the ones responsible for ALL of this.

The whole world knows about these photos. I don't really need to see them right at this moment. What I want ultimately isn't photos - it's prosecutions. Maybe - just maybe - that is what this is all about. Only time will tell.


:peace: and :heart:

Raine