Changey McHopefulness Does a Somersault on Detainee Abuse Photos

Wheee! now that’s some changey mchopefulness right there!

President Obama will oppose the release of several dozen photos depicting abuse of detainees held in U.S. military custody abroad, reversing his previous position on the grounds that the pictures could inflame anti-American sentiment and endanger U.S. troops.

In announcing the shift today, the White House said in a statement that Obama “strongly believes that the release of these photos, particularly at this time, would only serve the purpose of inflaming the theaters of war, jeopardizing US forces, and making our job more difficult in places like Iraq and Afghanistan.”

Yes, because the Iraqis had totally forgotten about that, and we don’t want to make them mad again.
why, everything’s been so quiet there lately and we don’t want to stir up trouble by taking responsibility or anything like that.

Oh and look: our old friend and Obama mentor Joe Lieberman played a helpful role:

Sens. Joseph I. Lieberman (I-Conn.) and Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) wrote Obama last week to urge him to fight the release of the photos.

“The release of these old photographs of past behavior that has now been clearly prohibited can serve no public good, but will empower al-Qaeda propaganda operations, hurt our country’s image, and endanger our men and women in uniform,” wrote Graham and Lieberman.

Goodness me, it’s just a bunch of old photographs that serve no public good. like this one. or this one. or this one. Nope, there’s no public good in remembering or rectifying atrocities. If we remember them, we’ll have to say never again, and goodness me, we don’t want to do that do we?

Hoooray for President Hopey McChange, who has also changed his mind on Military Commissions in Guantanamo! Oh but don’t worry: it’s not as kanagarooey as it was under Bush (just not quite in line with our normal standards fo justice either):

Yay! I’m so filled with change and hopeyness I have to throw up!

7 Comments

lyvwyr101 on May 13, 2009 at 7:10 pm

So much for “change” and “transparency,” eh?

Brendan Skwire on May 14, 2009 at 7:39 am

yeah, and his camapign promises about single [payer health care?
not so much.

and ya wonder why people like me are disillusioned with politics.
- BooMan on May 14, 2009 at 7:56 am
  
  brendan, use the google and find me any promise of single-payer that Obama made on the campaign trail. A comment in 2003 expressed his opinion on what is the best solution. He did not campaign on it because it ain’t passing through the Senate. The block on all truly transformative progressive legislation is the Senate. We get 33 votes to end usury, 45 votes for cramdown.
  - Brendan Skwire on May 14, 2009 at 8:45 am
    
    nope, not buying it anymore.

BooMan on May 14, 2009 at 8:14 am

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration’s new drug czar says he wants to banish the idea that the U.S. is fighting “a war on drugs,” a move that would underscore a shift favoring treatment over incarceration in trying to reduce illicit drug use.

In his first interview since being confirmed to head the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, Gil Kerlikowske said Wednesday the bellicose analogy was a barrier to dealing with the nation’s drug issues.

“Regardless of how you try to explain to people it’s a ‘war on drugs’ or a ‘war on a product,’ people see a war as a war on them,” he said. “We’re not at war with people in this country.”

Mr. Kerlikowske’s comments are a signal that the Obama administration is set to follow a more moderate — and likely more controversial — stance on the nation’s drug problems. Prior administrations talked about pushing treatment and reducing demand while continuing to focus primarily on a tough criminal-justice approach.

The Obama administration is likely to deal with drugs as a matter of public health rather than criminal justice alone, with treatment’s role growing relative to incarceration, Mr. Kerlikowske said.

link

Brendan Skwire on May 14, 2009 at 8:46 am

whatever you say.

i’ll believe that one when I see it.

Salunga on May 14, 2009 at 8:27 pm

Not releasing the pictures is only going to make things worse when they do come out and they will. This is a dumb move by the administration. No future in it. Purge this shit let me see what my was done in my name.

lyvwyr101 on May 13, 2009 at 7:10 pm

So much for “change” and “transparency,” eh?
- Brendan Skwire on May 14, 2009 at 7:39 am
  
  yeah, and his camapign promises about single [payer health care?
  not so much.
  
  and ya wonder why people like me are disillusioned with politics.
  - BooMan on May 14, 2009 at 7:56 am
    
    brendan, use the google and find me any promise of single-payer that Obama made on the campaign trail. A comment in 2003 expressed his opinion on what is the best solution. He did not campaign on it because it ain’t passing through the Senate. The block on all truly transformative progressive legislation is the Senate. We get 33 votes to end usury, 45 votes for cramdown.
    - Brendan Skwire on May 14, 2009 at 8:45 am
      
      nope, not buying it anymore.
BooMan on May 14, 2009 at 8:14 am

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration’s new drug czar says he wants to banish the idea that the U.S. is fighting “a war on drugs,” a move that would underscore a shift favoring treatment over incarceration in trying to reduce illicit drug use.

In his first interview since being confirmed to head the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, Gil Kerlikowske said Wednesday the bellicose analogy was a barrier to dealing with the nation’s drug issues.

“Regardless of how you try to explain to people it’s a ‘war on drugs’ or a ‘war on a product,’ people see a war as a war on them,” he said. “We’re not at war with people in this country.”

Mr. Kerlikowske’s comments are a signal that the Obama administration is set to follow a more moderate — and likely more controversial — stance on the nation’s drug problems. Prior administrations talked about pushing treatment and reducing demand while continuing to focus primarily on a tough criminal-justice approach.

The Obama administration is likely to deal with drugs as a matter of public health rather than criminal justice alone, with treatment’s role growing relative to incarceration, Mr. Kerlikowske said.

- Brendan Skwire on May 14, 2009 at 8:46 am
  
  whatever you say.
  
  i’ll believe that one when I see it.
Salunga on May 14, 2009 at 8:27 pm

Not releasing the pictures is only going to make things worse when they do come out and they will. This is a dumb move by the administration. No future in it. Purge this shit let me see what my was done in my name.

Changey McHopefulness Does a Somersault on Detainee Abuse Photos

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