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Obama reverses on releasing photos
Ben Smith at Politico ...

As Democrats appear to be feeling the limits of national security politics, President Obama has reversed course and will object to the court-ordered release of photos depicting the abuse of detainees.

An official explains, on background:

Last week, the President met with his legal team and told them that he did not feel comfortable with the release of the DOD photos because he believes their release would endanger our troops, and because he believes that the national security implications of such a release have not been fully presented to the court.

At the end of that meeting, the President directed his counsel to object to the immediate release of the photos on those grounds.

Yesterday, during a meeting at the White House, the President raised the issue of these photos with General Odierno and told him of his decision to argue against this release.

Through his actions from the first days of his administration, the President has made it clear that the United States will hold itself and all the men and women who serve our country to the highest standards of conduct.

The President would be the last to excuse the actions depicted in these photos. That is why the Department of Defense investigated these cases, and why individuals have been punished through prison sentences, discharges, and a range of other punitive measures.
All of which was done during the term of President Bush, by the way ...
But the President 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.
The progressives are hyperventilating as you might guess. Andy Sullivan in particular might explode. But this is the correct decision, and the President should be acknowledged for it.

Posted by: Steve White 2009-05-13
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=269682