Obama fights release of abuse photos

IN a U-turn, US President Barack Obama is fighting the release of dozens of new photos showing US personnel allegedly abusing prisoners in Iraq and Afghanistan, a White House official said.

Obama’s decision came after the top military commanders in Iraq and Afghanistan told him they feared the release of the photos could endanger their troops. Obama decided he did not feel comfortable with the release and instructed his legal team to challenge it in court, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Obama has instructed lawyers to make the case that the national security implications of such a release have not been fully presented, the official said.

The president informed General Ray Odierno, commander of US troops in Iraq, of his decision on Tuesday night. Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said the military “are concerned about the impact the release of these photos would have for the troops in Afghanistan and Iraq”.

In Afghanistan, release of the pictures this month would coincide with the spring thaw that usually heralds the year’s toughest fighting. Morrell also noted the release as scheduled would come as thousands of new US troops head into Afghanistan’s volatile south.

Federal appeals judges have ruled the photos should be released.

The American Civil Liberties Union, which is suing the government for the release, criticised the decision.

The official said Obama believes the actions depicted should not be excused, but he does not believe publicising them in such a graphic way would be helpful.