Abu Ghraib photos: judge implies commanders knew about abuse

[moodforaday]

Look at what the judge said on Aug 30:

The judge said he recognized the pictures might be useful to the public as it answers questions about the prison scandal, including whether those in command knew about the abuse and how extensive it was.

http://informationclearinghouse.info/article10046.htm

So he says the photos "answer the question" about whether commanders knew. Now imagine the answer is "No" - how could any photos show those in command DIDN'T know? It's impossible logically. If there are no photos indicating the commanders knew, it doesn't prove that they didn't.

Photos - any pictures - cannot prove absence of knowledge. Photos CAN prove the opposite, though - they can prove knowledge. If a photo shows a high-ranking officer participating in the abuse, it's a proof of knowledge.

The judge says the photos asnwer the question. There is only one way photos can do so.

[Ian David]

1. Are we going to see Donald Rumsfeld giving a "thumbs-up" next to penises?

That would be interesting.

[hootinholler]

5. Or maybe raping a kid?

That seems more his style.

-Hoot

[tridim]

17. That's what I've been thinking

Maybe even "fake turkey boy" posing next to a naked pyramid. I'm sure the cameras were clicking that day.

[MelissaB]

2. kicking for a good find.

:kick:

[MelissaB]

3. and a big

:kick:

[Solly Mack]

4. no wonder they're fighting the release so hard

[MelissaB]

6. For the truth!

kicking!

[MelissaB]

7. .

[annabanana]

8. damn

[MelissaB]

9. for kicking?

I'm a determined woman. This board is moving too fast tonight.

[Lerkfish]

18. I'll kick this thread and raise ya.

I think you're right.
I think SOMEONE important is in at least one of the photos, but my guess is its the "interim" governor we set up there who promptly misplaced 8 billion dollars.

hmmm...what was his name again?

[Liberty Belle]

10. Could commanders be SHOWN in the photos?

Observing or participating in the torture?

[Hubert Flottz]

13. Civilian Contractors I'd say...

Or CIA spooks.

[schrodingers_cat]

20. This would make sense for the argument that they made

regarding the need to obscure people's faces before release....

[deadparrot]

11. What does this mean in terms of the photos' release?

I'm sorry, I haven't been keeping up on this case.

Are they getting any closer to the judge ordering them to be released?

[MelissaB]

14. I think this is the latest link from Raw Story:

http://rawstory.com/news/2005/ACLU_argues_for_release_of_new_Abu_Ghraib_ph_0830.html

Also, try this thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4504791#4509438

The judge hasn't ruled yet, but evidently will soon.

[deadparrot]

15. Thanks for this.

:hi:

[MelissaB]

16. You're welcome!

:hi:

[me b zola]

12. Wow. Thanks for this

:kick:

[wtmusic]

19. Forget about fucking rule of law

He said troops in Iraq ``face danger every day and don't deserve to have that danger enlarged.''

Now the judge is making legal decisions based on what he thinks the troops "deserve".

``A judge cannot look at these without thinking to himself how quickly they'd be put on the 6 o'clock or 11 o'clock news and how easily they could be subverted to create a false picture of this country,'' he said.

Or maybe an accurate picture. There's the problem.

:grr::grr::grr::grr::grr:

[Mnemosyne]

21. .

:kick:

[Czolgosz]

22. How bad ARE those pictures he WON'T release? n/m

[Disturbed]

23. So far a few "bad apples" have been charged.

The remaining photos and Videos will show a few more "bad apples".

Of course, the Commanders knew nothing about the abuse and torture. Yeah.. right!

[mpendragon]

24. just like the rest of the administration

The only defense they have to offer is that they didn't know because they weren't doing their jobs. It would be funny but people keep dying because of it.

[lala_rawraw]

25. Remember? Standing outside the court house

Showing that "we want to know" might sway things.

[truebrit71]

26. Kick.

AG Gonzales authorized the use of torture...And I'm sorry Your Honor, but the people in Iraq ALREADY KNOW what's in those pictures and on those tapes...they LIVE THERE...THEY'VE HEARD THE STORIES AND SEEN THE EVIDENCE, FIRST-HAND...

Releasing the tapes will not increase any violence, the insurgents already want the troops dead...what it WILL do is further erode the piss-poor standing the US has in the world and REALLY turn up the heat on the bush junta currently running this country...

[lonestarnot]

27. Release the pictures....