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Those pictures are disgusting. Disturbing. Abhorrent. Shocking. To say the least. What's more troubling than these pictures' signifier is their signified.
These pictures represent power corrupted. Along with the gung-ho soldiers shown doing their "job," one can easily connect the dots of their hierarchy all the way to the White House.
In the military, the chain of command is posted everywhere; soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen are constantly reminded of who's on top. Boot camp hours are spent reciting the chain of command until it's structure is engrained. Squadbays full of soon-to-be-brainwashed recruits repeat the mantra day in and day out: "The vice president of the United States is the honorable Mr. Cheney."
What they're not told is that shit only rolls down the chain, not up it. The chain of command is like a turnstile; your orders come in one way but they cannot go back up.
