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Those of you in the “know” have probably heard about the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. Most of the buzz was about the alleged prisoner abuse taking place there. Luckily, the ACLU has sued the Justice Department citing the Freedom of Information Act to obtain photographs of the alleged abuse, and won. Furthermore, the Obama administration made it clear, in accordance with their policies of transparency, the photographs would be made public.
Alas, the Obama administration has flip-flopped. According to Robert Gibbs, the Obama Administration's press secretary, the photographs are now a threat to American soldiers. He said, "… the release of these photos could pose a threat to men and women we have in harm's way." He then added insult to injury by adding, “Nothing is added by the release of the photos”
The ALCU has released a statement saying, “The decision to not release the photographs makes a mockery of President Obama's promise of transparency and accountability.”
Unfortunately, both the high-ranking officials in the Obama administration who say the photos will put troops in harms way and the ALCU and critics of this flip-flop are correct. The release of the photos make American soldiers look even worse in the eyes of an increasingly hostile Muslim world. Yet, this does not excuse the Obama administration from withholding the photographs. According to their own policies which promise transparency and accountability, they might as well have tortured and abused the prisoners themselves. By refusing to release the photographs they are condoning the practices of their soldiers.
If Obama did not want transparency and accountability in his administration, he should not have promised it. If Obama wants to retain the faith of the American people he must release the photographs he already said would be released. With politicians on the left and right criticizing each other every day, this is just another smear on this administration’s image. If the American people wanted to repeat the last eight years they could have asked for a constitutional amendment to allow George W. Bush to remain in office. They did not. Therefore, President Obama, you must release the photographs, as promised. Without them, the credibility of your administration will continue to diminish until it is a shadow of its former self.