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Thursday, February 16, 2006 12:00 AM

Why we're publishing the new Abu Ghraib photos

America -- and the world -- has the right to know what was done in our name.

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  • Monday, February 20, 2006 09:21 AM

    Late but true

    Like most readers I found the publication of further photo's from Abu Ghraib distressing viewing. That these acts took place is an affront to all civil and law-abiding persons.

    As I understand the situation the pictures were only recently revealed to the media and as such are "new" news.

    Yes, we had previously seen similar (although perhaps not as graphic) images many months ago but beyond the inital outrage, finger waggling and muttering that "something should be done" very little has in fact happened.

    All this available evidence could have been thoroughly investigated and, after sentencing of the guilty (both those participating and those responsible for their conduct), released officially in the context of such a court case, perhaps accompanied by a series of hand-wringing media dissections and ideally, a Defense dept resignation or two. Line then drawn.

    But no, only those caught in the act are charged, no politician considered resigning, or heaven forbid, conducting a thorough investigation to then report publicly it's outcomes.

    Abu Ghraib quickly became another "non-topic" similar to Guantanamo Bay activities, extraordinary rendition, domestic wire-tapping, the basis of war in Iraq, expensive and permanent bases already built in Iraq, the likelihood of overt combat against Iran and again the real reasons for such actions.

    Yes it may seem irresponsible to provide the "enemy" with further ammunition in the form of these images but they are only as potent as they currently are because Abu Ghraib is still an open book.

    It is the moral relativism and ambivalence of US leaders that is the real outrage in this matter.

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