Al-Masakin: President Obama should not release photos of detainee abuse

Missoula, May 13 (Al-Masakin)–Release of photos of detainee abuse will not advance the investigation of detainee abuse and will contribute nothing to the outcome of those investigations.  The release of those photos will in fact do little more than contribute to enemy propaganda campaigns and boost their recruiting efforts.

In addition to that it will contribute to the wide spread belief that America is waging a war on Islam.  The detainee abuse that has occurred is one injury not only to the detainee who was abused, but is also perceived to be an injury to the Muslim people.  The release of the photographs of that abuse will be perceived by the Islamic world as a new injury added upon old injuries.

It is my educated opinion that the insurgency privately seeks the release of those photos to ‘fan the flames in the theater of war.’  Therefore, I believe the release of those photographs would not be in America’s national security interest and therefore unwise.

Photos of detainee abuse are instruments of a law enforcement investigation.  The argument to ‘openness’ in my opinion fails.

EHC / EHC