More Stonewalling on Abu Ghraib

The New York Times reports in Saturday editions that the Pentagon is "refusing to cooperate with a federal judge's order to release secret photographs and videotapes related to the Abu Ghraib prison abuse scandal." The evidence, which was ordered released back in June by federal district judge Alvin Hellerstein, at the request of the ACLU and other groups. The deadline for release of the photographs and videos was Friday, but attorneys for the Defense Department filed a letter late Thursday saying "that they would file a sealed brief explaining their reasons for not turning over the material."

While I have zero desire to look at any more images from the disgraceful episodes at Abu Ghraib, I believe that the Pentagon should comply with the judge's ruling. Abu Ghraib is a horrifying and shameful episode that Americans should face and learn from, not try to shove under the rug.

As I wrote back in April, it is long past time for an independent, or at the very least a Congressional investigation into the abuses at Abu Ghraib. Every word I wrote in that earlier post holds true today, including my conclusion: "There is no excuse for abuses like this, and there can be no excuses made for not uncovering the full truth and holding to account those who are responsible. It is the right thing to do."

[Update: Just after I wrote the above I read this article from Saturday's Washington Post. It notes that leading Senate Armed Services Committee Republicans John Warner, John McCain and Lindsey Graham recently received some arm-twisting from Vice President Dick Cheney, who is lobbying on behalf of the White House against legislation sponsored by the senators that would "bar the U.S. military from engaging in 'cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment' of detainees, from hiding prisoners from the Red Cross, and from using interrogation methods not authorized by a new Army field manual."

According to Administration sources, Cheney told the senators that "legislation on these matters would usurp the president's authority and ... interfere with his ability to protect Americans effectively from terrorist attack." Ugh. The paper notes this is the second time Cheney has met with senators "to tamp down what the White House views as an incipient Republican rebellion." I have one short thing to say about that: it's about time for a rebellion!

McCain, says a spokesperson, plans to introduce legislation next week that would "set uniform standards for interrogating anyone detained by the Defense Department and would limit interrogation techniques to those listed in the Army field manual on interrogation" and "require that all foreign nationals in the custody or effective control of the U.S. military must be registered with the International Committee of the Red Cross." Another proposal from McCain would "prohibits the 'cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment' of anyone in the custody of the U.S. government."

The measures (and others to be introduced by Graham and others) will likely be attached as amendments to the Defense Appropriations bill. The White House issued a thinly-veiled threat against the proposals Thursday, saying that Bush would veto the bill "if legislation is presented that would restrict the President's authority to protect Americans effectively from terrorist attack and bring terrorists to justice."

What a great example that would set as Bush's first veto.

I hope that McCain's amendments are introduced, and I hope they pass. I'm glad, as always, that there are still people like Warner, McCain, and Graham in the Republican Party to stand up to the shameful stonewalling trend seeping down Pennsylvania Avenue. If there are three senators best suited to twist arms back, it is them. -- 11:50 p.m.]

[Update: I've posted some new info on this story here. -- 23 July, 6:32 p.m.]