May 28, 2009
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Naked Rape Photos
President Obama is trying to block the release of photos of the rape and torture of Iraqi prisoners that had been abused by troops.
While President Obama was running for president, he said he would release the photos as part of a new openness in American government. Here is the link: Link
I just think he knew I would post them on xanga on Memorial Day and he didn’t want everyone to get offended.
There is a concern that the photos will cause troops around the world to be endangered. President Obama is sounding more and more like the President Bush we all loved.
It is being reported that one photo ”showed an American soldier apparently raping a female prisoner and another was said to show a male translator raping a male detainee.”
Do you think we should release photos of Iraqi prisoners being raped?
Comments (105)
No. It’s unnecessary.
Uh. I don’t know. SWEET first time ever I got second.
There’s a documentary out… I’m not sure if it shows everything but we had to watch snipets of it for our poli sci class. It was… disturbing.
Yes. The facts need to be revealed.
Of course not.
I think it was a foolish promise in the first place. Now that we’re here, however, he is going to sound a lot like the former administration if he reneges on his promise to release evidence.
No, I’m not sure of the benefit of such action.
I think Americans should know the truth. But I don’t think seeing the photos is necessary
I don’t really think it’s necessary. It’s just humiliating to the victims and graphic for everyone else. It’s sort of like those horrifying abortion pictures we see around sometimes. Like we don’t know what abortion is, graphic pictures are unnecessary to get a point across.
I LOVE President Obama. I trust his judgment. Once he has all the information. Unlike Dubya who was a stupid idiot who barely passed any grade I mean hello. Who will I trust the man with brains or the man who never had brains. As my president. It is no contest
sick please stop.
What is with you and rape lately?
That would make him such a great leader.
I think the Obushama Administration, should face the consequences of their actions, in this case, lying to the people about government “openness”. It’s like everybody in the media is too scared to say anything against what the ‘new’ administration is doing.
Why would people take pictures of somene being rapd to begin with?
i think something needs to be done. releasing it would only cause more problems. but it obviously needs to stop.
really don’t think that would help.. but we all have the right to know and see the truth of the world. The truth of what is really going on
Obama is FINALLY understanding the world in which we live!!!
I don’t see waht anyone would stand to gain from it. Do i think the message needs to get out? Sure. But does it need to pictures to go along with? ARe there really people who would NEED that as proof?
What good would it do to release the pictures? I don’t know why he would agree to do such a thing.
No. I would never want to see those. As long as we know its there that should be enough.
I think our government shouldn’t have a policy of raping and abusing prisoners, and then we never would have had this question come up. I think he promised transparency and has gone backwards on that.
At the same time, I don’t agree with releasing photos of rape, not because of protecting the troops but because that would be re-victimizing the victims.
I do think though that the photos are legitimate evidence for criminal trials, which ought to happen.
msnbc! Ok let me know when some place with bit of credibility runs the story.
I so love saying that after all the fox bashing.
Funny how Obama seems so much like Bush now that he is in office. I’m still hoping for some change. Other than being taxed to death
No no no no no no no no no! I don’t need to see that. You don’t need to see that Obama does not need to see that. Its just going to hurt us and give thwe news somthing to do for the next month.
Obama released hundreds of thousands of documents related to torture, he’s being true to his word about transparency. He just knows pictures are far more incendiary. Think muslims rioting over cartoons of mohammad. Imagine the backlash to pictures of american men raping their women *and* men.
I don’t want to see it, but if it’s a matter of proof that it’s happening, and that it needs to stop (and furthermore, that it’s sick, disgusting, and not telling of the kind of world we want to live in), then release them.
I’m really sad to hear that Obama is not immensely different from Bush. I hated Bush and reveled in how much they made fun of him for all his fuck-ups. But I don’t want to do that to Obama. John Stewart and and Stephen Colbert are very awesome at helping me understand what the hell is going on with their “different” views. Lmao.
ew why?
Although I believe some facts needs to be revealed, I’m not sure many would be ready to see these photos. But I wonder if we do really need to see it? I mean, I like the sound of “openness of American government” to the society but hmm.. aahh, just thinking about it is disturbing. Both men & women being victimized.. shit.. x_x
Yes because it is our right to see them, if this truly is our country. Government is supposed to help regulate, not control. And I see no need for protecting those that rape and humiliate others out of ignorant hatred.
omg.
No, the public has no need to see such photos, any more than photos of other rape victims. They should only be used as trial evidence. And I’d just like to add that people who allow photos to be taken of themselves committing crimes are just idiots.
Yes
Absolutely not. Confirm that the photos do indeed exist, and depict the acts described? Yes. There is no need to release the photos.
Yes. Don’t do the crime, if you can’t do the time.
Well, I certainly do thank God for the United States of America! And yet, at times I’m finding it quite a bit harder to be pro-American. People who inflict such horrible torture on their fellow humans, even though they are at war with one another, are committing horrendous war crimes. Americans who have committed such disgusting offences are FILTHY, ROTTEN CRIMINALS! I find it hard to believe they were able to get away with what they did!
NO, DON’T RELEASE THE PHOTOS. Use them, where necessary to obtain convictions against the criminal American military members who committed the acts. I hope I never see such photos again! My heart goes out to the poor Iraqi prisoners.
Do you wonder why so many around the world despise Americans! You’re a lucky nation and you don’t deserve what your fathers and grandfathers died to give you!
And humiliate the prisoners all over again?
Just hearing/reading about it makes me squirm. ><
Only if they show that the privates who took all the heat for the torture were actually following orders and thereby innocent of the charges. Other than that releasing them would serve no purpose.
It’s the principle versus practicality/reality. I understand both sides.
-David
Isn’t knowing that it happened enough to piss everyoine off? I don’t think I would want to see them… I want to know what’s being DONE about it.
Eh. I’m not sure how that would be any good. :
Obama has been lying since Day 1. He’s just a puppet for wall street. He said he would bring our troops home and he’s actually increasing the number in Afghanistan. Then this bailout nonsense? Now of course he’s blocking the photos.
http://leonidas.xanga.com/703123550/item/?nextdate=1488166889&direction=n#1488166889
We’ve seen enough of the problem with the few pictures that were released. We don’t need anything more horrific to explain that it was wrong. I’m certain our new government has enough problems without stirring up the painful past right now. They’ve already made great strides to make sure it never happens again and to punish those responsible.
no
No
On principle, I think that the photos should be released, (government openness and all that). Practically, though, both arguments make sense to me. But I’d still say release them.
@saintvi - Yet again, you beat me to the ol’ ONE-TWO punch. Nicely said.
I’d have to say that there isn’t a reason to release the pictures other than to incite. The documents should suffice for the general public. Making us aware of what happens is great but photographic evidence of this nature is unnecessary.
No. I don’t know why anyone would want or feel the need to look at them. Just knowing that the incident happened is enough. You don’t need pictures. And who took those photos anyway??
The ignorant Americans (and there are so many of them!) need to see as close to first-hand as possible what our military and government is REALLY like!
Hell yes, make them available to the public. Broadcast it over our media. I so wish they would, but it will NEVER happen.
I don’t see the point.
Actually, withholding them and taking it to the Supreme court seems like a win win situation. The troops on the ground are not endangered, the damage is delayed, and then we get to set a precedent for how to handle cases like this in the future. Hopefully those photos will be released eventually. It’s important to have transparency and accountability.
NO! That’s horrible! Why would anyone want to see that???
No, don’t need to see any pictures. I believe it happened. Please no comparison of Obama and Dubya. One has a brain the other doesn’t. I think you can guess which one doesn’t.
I answered with a pic…
http://x28.xanga.com/79bf17f727330234512047/m185145851.jpg
I don’t think so. I personally would never want to see photos like that. I would never want anyone to accidently come upon photos like that. I think it is unnecessary. Personally, I think everyone needs to realise, Obama hasn’t been in office for that long. He can’t fix everything right away, it is impossible. There is a lot of fixing that needs to be done. Unfortunately, no matter what people will always be unhappy with the president. Something will always be wrong.
Releasing photos of the horrid acts would not help anything.
What sick person would take PHOTOS of someone being raped ? That is what disgusts me the most.
sounds like a whole new untapped market for internet pornographers
nope the pics is proof but is should not be out! its kinda obscene >.<!
Am I the only one that believes the photos should be released?
why?
I don’t think it’s necessary. I guess it’s just another promise Obama lied about. Hahaha, I love all this “change.”
no. the fact that that happened is enough. as long as people know what is going on, there doesn’t need to be any visuals. it’s completely unnecessary.
No, I don’t, as a matter of fact.
What about people who are raped in North America? I’m fairly certain there is a percentage of them that are videotaped or photographed. How about we just act like complete jackasses to the victims and release those photos as well.
My god.
I think America should know about it, but do not think the photos need to be revealed. For the same reason if you were raped in the ass by a gang one night Dan, would you want those photos on TV or the internet for the world to see? Probably not. Even if they blurred your face so no one knew it was you, I’m still guessing you would rather them not be shown.
Dear God, no! Are you crazy?
Yes, absolutely and Obama is a coward for reneging on his pledge to release those photos.
Heavens to Betsy. Maybe they should release the photos just to prevent rumors from spreading. Otherwise the alleged content of those pics could get pretty bad.
no, I don’t see why people need to see the actual pictures… its alright if everyone was aware of this issue, but showing them would hurt the prisoners more :S
Release the photos – no. Prosecute the offending soldiers and any superiors responsible, yes.
No, it will just cause unnecessary drama.
I want 2 c the pics
to what avail? it’s pointless.
I think that Obama appearing to be more like Bush is because of a reality check that he received when he took over office. Perhaps Bush wasn’t quite so bad after all. Perhaps the things he did that pissed people off so much are necessary. Perhaps the media made Bush out to be much much worse than he was and Obama much much better.
I think it’s already degrading enough to get raped in prison, but posting pics of it on the net is like throwing salt in a wound. And what kind of sicko wants to see pictures of prison sodomy anyway?
I seriously doubt the truth of the “rape pictures” news story.
WASHINGTON (May 28)
- The Pentagon on Thursday denied a British newspaper report that
photographs of Iraqi prisoner abuse, whose release U.S. President
Barack Obama wants to block, include images of apparent rape and sexual
abuse.Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said the Daily Telegraph newspaper had shown “an inability to get the facts right”. full article here
There are no rape photos.
What needs to happen is that the photos need to be brought as evidence to trial. From there, all participants should be dishonourably discharged; a la’ Guantanamo Bay. This includes those taking photos/video; as they should’ve stopped it.
Things like this… ruin the credibility of our nation and our armed forces.
As for Obama: Either stick with your promises, or leave the White House.
I don’t think it is necessary to see photos. The documentation is enough. We would protect victims from this kind of exposure here, why not protect these victims and their families from this kind of visual exposure?
Here’s a plan:
Let’s just end the war already.
I think if our president changed his mind on this one it shows that he’s smart enough to know when he made a mistake and brave enough to fix it. Rape photos should never be released. It’s like humiliating the victim and their family all over again. The men who raped those people need to face charges for what they did ….. that part should be public….the trial, the conviction…. those should be public. No one has the right to publish rape photos except for the men/women who were the victims. They should be entitled to publish the pictures if they like….
No, there’s a difference between transparency in the government and exploitation. This definitely qualifies as the latter. The victims have already been sexually violated; allowing the public to join in their humiliation would be disgraceful to say the least. I think that acknowledging the existence of such photos is sufficient.
No. Those soldiers need to be tortured and raped themselves, though. I say release those “hero” scum to Iraqi civilians and let them “handle” them. Real soldiers wouldn’t do any of that stuff.
I believe that the information regarding this should be fully disclosed, but I do not believe the photos shoot be. If you sit and think for a moment, those are likely to be some hard core photos. The ones that were leaked about the soldiers abusing their prisoners from when Bush was in office, well they were pretty hard core as well, and I doubt nearly half of bad as these would be.
I believe all involved should be dealt with in the highest form of punishment possible.
I believe those victims should receive fully covered therapy, and anything else they need like medications to get through the day, and related things to get through their traumatic experience.
I also believe Obama still wants to have most things at full disclosure to the public, however, he likely saw these photos and was mortified, horrified and ashamed. I believe as a President, as much as you may say and desire to have full disclosure to your people, there are some things unfortunately, that should be dealt with carefully, or the result is outrage and rebellion, and murder.
What happened when Iraq was blamed for being terrorists?
People started hating on all Iraqis, even the innocent ones, and security posts were allowing “other” people through without such thorough checks before boarding planes, trains, etc. as they performed on Iraqi’s and basically anyone who was not Caucasian or Asian.
No. It’s not necessary to put images like that out to the public. The fact that we do know is enough.
I don’t think it’s necessary – we know it’s happening, do we need to see it?
No.
Out of respect to the victims, no. But all other photos should be released. And if there is some way that these can be released in some way that wouldn’t re-victimize the victims, as melissa_orchid said, it should be done. I’m sad that he is going back on his word.
…why are there pictures?
“In the nineteenth century, when a woman had been raped, or had
experienced sexual abuse in the family, the paterfamilias would say she
was crazy, get her declared `too dangerous’ to be free, and lock her up
forever so her story would be interred with her. That is what Obama is
trying to do with preemptive detention for these detainees.” http://www.huffingtonpost.com/naomi-wolf/busted-pentagon-why-the-p_b_209046.html
No – I think being aware of what is going on is enough. We dont’ need to see the pics!
Do you really want to see pictures of men and women getting raped?
If you were raped would you want photos of it broadcast internationally?
I think that whoever took part needs to be punished, but to post pictures of the act seems a bit more like you’re glorifying it than anything.
Use them in court? Yes, absolutely.
Allow them to enter the public domain where any tom dick or harry with a desire to force themselves on someone can see that and get off a little more… That’s dangerous. You never know how that’ll go. Some might take it as a release, but it may incite others to follow through with their fantasies.
And then there are those how have been raped. Do they really want to see it happening to someone else. It’s quite the sensational story, but some things are better left unfelt. Instead aim it at their punishment and maybe you could ease some minds or even give some the strength to come forward and admit they’ve been attacked.
And let’s not forget the general public. Though most would see it as just another story of the crazy things that happen in war there are the people who already don’t like the military or even who are on the fence and could use this to recruit more people against the US and bring together those who already oppose us. And that’s both inside and outside US borders. Don’t forget we still have our very own native enemies.
Now, why were you upset about the photos not being released?
Maybe he did say they’d be released. Maybe he hadn’t thought it through.
I’d rather he thought things through even after he said them.
We’re all human. We all make mistakes.
I don’t care of they are American or Iraqi, they should not be raped by anyone-especially the military. They need to arrest who is responsilbe and imprision them.
No way! People from around the world are just now starting ti like us. Something like this gets out and the thought will be that ALL our troops are evil and must be punished. No way. Keep them hidden. Just knowing it happened is plenty.
@radicalramblings - the facts are out, but i dont know about u but i do not want to actually look at rape photos but maybe that’s just me.
i think knowing the fact that it happened is enough. i don’t think there would be anything to be gained from releasing the pictures. i don’t want to see them.
No one needs to see that. Their privacy should be respected.
Yes I do think they should be released.
agnophilo As always you make a good point.
Images make a much bigger impact than most people seem to believe. My only concern is for the victims. If they give the okay to release photos, I think that’s the best way to get the truth across to the public. But that’s not going to happen so I don’t know.
no.
I don’t want to see these pictures. And I don’t think we want to encourage the sort of people who DO want to see these types of things. BUT often times I think that allowing the people to see what is going on is what is going to get them to DO something about situations that they didn’t really know the extent of before. I’m not very articulate today.
Give me a break, IF ANY OF THESE GUYS WHERE RAPED. I think its more B.S. form the left wing tree hugg’n baby killers. If aby a slim chance that they where raped they should take the guy out and shoot him on the spot and the jerk that took the photo. MORONS
I love how you wrote this post. And, yes, I think the photos should be released because I’m curious…
no