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September 29, 2005

Judge Orders Release of Abu Ghraib Photos

This could definitely complicate a Gonzales nomination:


At the end of the process, the leading contenders include current and former high-ranking administration officials with long ties to Bush: Atty. Gen. Alberto Gonzales and White House Counsel Harriet Miers, as well as former Deputy Atty. Gen. Larry Thompson, who is now the general counsel of Pepsico and would be the court's third African-American justice.

Bush has long said he would like to name the first Hispanic to the high court, and Gonzales is the only prospect to emerge at the end of the summerlong selection process.

Of course, Hellerstein has made similar rulings in the past only to be outsmarted by the Pentagon yet again. Who knows what will happen.

From the AP:


Saying the United States "does not surrender to blackmail," a judge ruled Thursday that pictures of detainee abuse at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison must be released over government claims that they could damage America's image.

U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein ordered the release of certain pictures in a 50-page decision that said terrorists in Iraq and Afghanistan have proven they "do not need pretexts for their barbarism."

The ACLU has sought the release of 87 photographs and four videotapes taken at the prison as part of an October 2003 lawsuit demanding information on the treatment of detainees in U.S. custody and the transfer of prisoners to countries known to use torture. The ACLU contends that prisoner abuse is systemic.

The judge said: "Our nation does not surrender to blackmail, and fear of blackmail is not a legally sufficient argument to prevent us from performing a statutory command. Indeed, the freedoms that we champion are as important to our success in Iraq and Afghanistan as the guns and missiles with which our troops are armed."

Ah, here is an updated version of the story, with this key sentence:


The ruling was expected to be appealed, which could delay a release for months.

Ultimately, the appeal will go to the Supreme Court, so in many ways this whole post is just one big circular argument.

Posted by Mike at September 29, 2005 02:35 PM

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