Rape, Torture In Pics, Ex-U.S. Gen. Says

Antonio Taguba, Who Led Abu Ghraib Prisoner Abuse Probe, Agrees Photos Should Not Be Released

(AP)  A former U.S. general said graphic images of rape and torture are among the photos of Iraqi prisoner abuse that President Barack Obama's administration does not want released.

Retired Major Gen. Antonio Taguba, who oversaw the U.S. investigation into the abuses at Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison, was quoted as telling Britain's Daily Telegraph in an article Thursday that he agreed with Mr. Obama's decision not to release the pictures.

"I am not sure what purpose their release would serve other than a legal one and the consequence would be to imperil our troops, the only protectors of our foreign policy, when we most need them," Taguba was quoted by the Daily Telegraph. "The mere description of these pictures is horrendous enough, take my word for it."

It was not exactly clear what photos Taguba was referring to.

A U.S. military official in Baghdad, however, said "the photos referred to are ones that Taguba is not aware of." The official spoke on condition of anonymity Thursday because he was not authorized to release the information.

The military is referring all questions on the matter to Washington. The Obama administration did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Iraqis called for an investigation into the Daily Telegraph report.

"The Iraqi government must demand the reopening of the Abu Ghraib scandal case again," said Ali Kadom, 45, who works at the Ministry of Transportation.

Khalid Bashi, 35, a trade office owner in Baghdad, said Mr. Obama should release the photos to put a stop to a possible scandal.

"Sooner or later, more scandals will appear that show crimes against humanity carried out by American troops in Iraq," Bashi said.

The prisoner abuse scandal at Abu Ghraib exploded after photos taken by soldiers appeared in 2004.

Click here to see alleged photos of prisoner abuse.

According to the Telegraph, the new photos depicted much more serious abuses than previously documented. One photo reportedly showed an American soldier apparently raping a female prisoner and another was said to show a male translator raping a male detainee, the paper reported.

The Telegraph said the photos related to 400 cases of alleged abuse between 2001 and 2005 at Abu Ghraib and six other prisons. It was not immediately clear from the newspaper report who had seen the photos or how they might have been obtained.

The newspaper said the images in the photos were backed up by statements from Taguba's report into prisoner abuses at Abu Ghraib obtained under the U.S. Freedom of Information Act.

[Dgunner]

If the guilty parties are not revealed then the next time and the next time will be become the norm. The pictures need to be revealed so the parents of the soldiers whom are held at a reverent level by thier parents and wives and children can know what animanls they raised married and are supposed to be looking toward for moral compass.They need to imprisoned at the very least and in the cases of undoubted guilt shot in public in the town squares of the cities and towns they came from. What sickens me is the soldiers who didn't commit the physical crime are in my mind more guilty for not shooting the POS in the brain pan. I personally killed hundreds maybe had a hand inthousands of deaths related to combat. Never did I or anyone to my knowledge rape any of them. I know this went on in vietnam but not in my line of sight or I wouldn't be here . I would have probably been fragged or shot in the back by FRIENDLY fire.

[mariahwelch]

Thank you, CBS News for this. Thank you, quiller6...
sportsnut50 says, "Does the public really need to see that stuff anyway?"
YES.
For all the soldiers who weren't creepy sadists
who had to follow creepy sadists
and still have nightmares about it
YES stop it by showing it...

[quiller6]

The policy of not releasing photographs is nothing to do with protecting American troops. It has to do with protecting America's image. If the Germans decided not to release photographs today of atrocities committed by their troops - we would all say "coverup". If America cannot stand the truth - that is America's problem. All closed organisations have a problem with the spotlight. If the same argument is applied to police misdemeanours, then we can see what the result of coverups is. It is about time America got over the culture of "our boys, right or wrong".

[markth_wi]

The concept of officially sanctioned state torture was exactly the kind of stuff we have fought wars and suffered the loss of many of our servicemen and women to prevent.

But now according to some of our friends over at the AEI, this perverse behavior is acceptable somehow. I think the founders would be appalled and we SHOULD be ashamed of ourselves.

Circumstances in prisons and in wartime are bad as it is, one need only review the circumstances at Andersonville to understand that, but to so easily discard the rights and privileges that we certainly would want extended to ourselves, if the situation was reversed is what underscores the racist and short-sighted nature of the defense of torture arguments.

The next time we have a major war, and our prisoners are not treated well, the neoconservative politicians advocating for no prisoner rights , or accountability or advocating outright torture will of course be found to be utterly reprehensible with the lives of others, but until then we must bear the demented rumblings of those who would deny rights to one particularly despicable group.

We certainly would not tolerate this discussion if we were talking about our children or fellow citizens, but ONLY because these guys are allegedly bad dudes and wrapped up in the terrible events of 9/11. The problem that becomes pregnant is what is the "next" argument - who get's such "special" treatment is it Al-Queda guys, just citizens like Jose Padilla, or maybe just regular criminals and other "low life's".

So it seems our responsibility - as citizens - to say we must draw the line - here - no further. This is unacceptable for all the reasons of history and all the worse things similar rationalizing will do to endanger our nation in the future.

[Mixolydian8X11]

"war and torture go hand in hand. There are more important things in this world that need to be solved besides worrying about a few suicide bombers that were tortured."

. . . Then what are you defending? Doesn't sound like you're defending the America envsioned in 1776.

[Mixolydian8X11]

Torture is wrong. No exceptions. Disagree? Throw your bible in the trash, take your crosses off the wall, and bury your American flag.

[evilbusheviks]

TORTURE IS TREASON, TORTURE IS INSANE , TORTURE IS IN-HUMANE

TORTURE IS ANTI AMERICAN
Posted by Strike-Hold
*******************

Ok guys, here is the deal from the rest of your country.
posted by McHineguy
*****************

Hardly from the "rest" of the country.....only the minority party of those still condoning illegal TORTURE as they continue to worship the immoral bushevik cabal.

You'll never get it, since the republiCONS always put party first before country, and then try to twist in the wind.

The EVIL busheviks need to be tried for WAR CRIMES, and if found guilty, hanged for their immoral crimes against humanity!

[evilbusheviks]

by sportsnut50:

"Or they can ask John McCane to come and discribe....."

******************

This country has already heard enough out of mcpain's mouth, as he makes the best case for term limits as a professional politician!

[evilbusheviks]

notblue delusionally states:

"Try to do this without insults and name calling."

****************

You mean just like rush limp-rod and the FUUXX NoNooz propagandists like hannity, beck and o'liely? Pot...kettle......black.

Making excuses for the most immoral and EVIL mis-administration in our nation's history is not helping the republiCON cause.

[sportsnut50]

Or they can ask John McCane to come and discribe how ALL people are treated as prisoners of War over the past 200 some years. He can discribe in detailed for them with out pictures how they did it in Viet-Nam what they did to those guys for years, to get confessions and information, most people wouldn,t have the stomic to hear it never less see it in a picture. Most prisoners are treated the same in all the wars we have had. Im not saying its right but that the way it is, so why now after all these years has the world gotten some moreral value over this kind of war time extracting information, besides trust me when the Soldiers get captured over there there not treated great either. Not saying its right but there isn,t any rules in war time no matter what anyone thinks, there is no such thing as a sivilized war and there never will be when you kill other humans to win.