Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Military RhetIraq: Gen. Myers
Who: Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Source: Associated Press (via Findlaw)
Quotes: From article titled, "Government: release of Abu Ghraib prison photos could cause riots"
Myers said the release of the pictures "pose a clear and grave risk of inciting violence and riots against American troops and coalition forces."
He said it was "probable that al-Qaida and other groups will seize upon these images and videos as grist for their propaganda mill," leading to violent attacks, increased terrorist recruitment, continued financial support and a worsening of tensions between the Iraqi and Afghani populaces and U.S. and coalition forces.
The arguments were submitted July 21 in a case in which the American Civil Liberties Union seeks the release of 87 photographs and four videotapes taken at the prison.
In a response to the arguments by Myers, the ACLU submitted a declaration by retired U.S. Army Col. Michael E. Pheneger, who said Myers "mistakes propaganda for motivation."
He said he does "not underestimate the propaganda impact of the release of additional photos of the degradation of Iraqi prisoners in U.S. custody, but the photos will not be the real cause of subsequent attacks."
"The first step to abandoning practices that are repugnant to our laws and national ideals is to bring them into the sunshine and assign accountability," he wrote.
U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein, who will decide whether to release redacted versions of the pictures and videotapes, has said he believed photographs "are the best evidence the public can have of what occurred" at the prison.
Source: Associated Press (via Findlaw)
Quotes: From article titled, "Government: release of Abu Ghraib prison photos could cause riots"
Myers said the release of the pictures "pose a clear and grave risk of inciting violence and riots against American troops and coalition forces."
He said it was "probable that al-Qaida and other groups will seize upon these images and videos as grist for their propaganda mill," leading to violent attacks, increased terrorist recruitment, continued financial support and a worsening of tensions between the Iraqi and Afghani populaces and U.S. and coalition forces.
The arguments were submitted July 21 in a case in which the American Civil Liberties Union seeks the release of 87 photographs and four videotapes taken at the prison.
In a response to the arguments by Myers, the ACLU submitted a declaration by retired U.S. Army Col. Michael E. Pheneger, who said Myers "mistakes propaganda for motivation."
He said he does "not underestimate the propaganda impact of the release of additional photos of the degradation of Iraqi prisoners in U.S. custody, but the photos will not be the real cause of subsequent attacks."
"The first step to abandoning practices that are repugnant to our laws and national ideals is to bring them into the sunshine and assign accountability," he wrote.
U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein, who will decide whether to release redacted versions of the pictures and videotapes, has said he believed photographs "are the best evidence the public can have of what occurred" at the prison.
