And I'm upset and disappointed as well.
Barack Obama promised a clean break with the Bush Administration's approach to the war on terror, especially when it came to issues of torture, secrecy, and detentions of foreign fighters. And Obama has done some of that:
- A promise to close the prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
- A ban on torture by all U.S. forces, including the CIA
- Reluctance to prosecute former and current officials responsible for ordering the use of harsh interrogation techniques that amounted to torture.
- The continued bombardment of civilians in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Often predator drones attack inside Pakistan from across the border in Afghanistan in our hunt for al-Qda and the Taliban. (See the article Afghan Villagers Describe Chaos of U.S. Strikes.)
- Obama Moves to Bar Release of Detainee Abuse Photos
- Obama Set to Revive Military Commissions - washingtonpost.com
These actions are a step away from open and honest government. We need to know what is being done in our name - it will come out sooner or later anyway.
It is time for citizens to take action and demand that the President remember why many of us voted for him.
Do you see this the same way as I do or differently? What constitutional principles are involved here?
Update 1: I've seen a couple of news items in the last day or two that suggest the U.S. is at least being sympathetic to civilian suffering as a result of U.S. bombings. (See A Vow to Cut Afghan Civilian Deaths)
6 comments:
I agree that President Obama should stay true to his promises he made earlier. However, releasing the photos could do harm to our country so maybe he is being reluctant with releasing them to protect our country. Why does it really matter if we the public see those pictures anyways? Sure it gives us reassurance that those interrogation techniques were being used and that they were in fact unconstitutional according to the Geneva convention laws but I think it will just cause more anger within people when they are able to put an image to the torture. What good does more anger do for us? It will not only anger American citizens but Iraqi's and other foreign countries.I'm not saying that it isnt important because it most definitely is, but there are more important issues to be dealing with than pictures of torture that Americans want to see. Trust in Obama and trust that he is being honest. I dont think we as a country should base his honesty off of some pictures.
-Alexis Jones
I agree that President Obama should stay true to his promises he made earlier. However, releasing the photos could do harm to our country so maybe he is being reluctant with releasing them to protect our country. Why does it really matter if we the public see those pictures anyways? Sure it gives us reassurance that those interrogation techniques were being used and that they were in fact unconstitutional according to the Geneva convention laws but I think it will just cause more anger within people when they are able to put an image to the torture. What good does more anger do for us? It will not only anger American citizens but Iraqi's and other foreign countries.I'm not saying that it isnt important because it most definitely is, but there are more important issues to be dealing with than pictures of torture that Americans want to see. Trust in Obama and trust that he is being honest. I dont think we as a country should base his honesty off of some pictures.
-Alexis Jones
I think that we the public are spending way to much time on one small issue of Obama realising the torture photos.It is not a big deal. Obama wants to have an open and honest presidency which did not happen the lasy 8 years in our country. People do need to see what else is happening around the world. Obama is keeping to his promises. Alot of poeple expect Obama to instantly clean up everything in our country right away. Which he can not do because there is alot to clean up but he is focusing on the issues going on now and what he can do and the things that he can not do right away he is making up a plan for them. People just need to have a little more patients. And this photo is an example of how open our government will be with us now.
I think that the pictures should be released, not only because of how important they are themselves but because this is a test of how open the government will be with the people of the united states. If the photos are not released the people will start to distrust the government already. If the photos are released it will be the opposite, the people will start to build trust. This is besides the point that people deserve to see any proof of the unconstitutional acts according to the Geneva convention.
-Conner Spani
The pictures should be released because they are really important, also this is a test of how open the government will be with the people of the united states. If the photos are not released the people will start to distrust the government already. If the photos are released it will be the opposite, the people will start to build trust. And people deserve to see the unconstitutional acts according to the Geneva convention.
-Megan Amacker
I think that the pictures should be released. i think that people would trust the government more if they would release these photos. i dont think people would trust the government as much though if he doesn't relase them. i do not think this is a really big issue though. Obama just wants to stay honest to the country by keeping his promises.
Spencer Truong
Period 5
EXTRA CREDIT
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