Obama claims that he didn't want to release the torture photos because it would hurt the troops and the war effort. There is a better idea, one that would immediately improve America's image all around the world.
Release the photos, and at the same time announce that America was going to investigate torture, and prosecute everyone up and down the chain of command, from Bush to the lowest GI, if they helped or ordered torture. Nothing could do more to improve our country's image, especially in the Moslem world.
Let’s face the truth. After eight years of the Bush-Cheney regime, America's reputation around the world is in the toilet. We need to clean it up, especially if we ever hope to have good relations with the Moslem world in the future.
The entire world knows we tortured people. It’s not a secret. While it shames me as an American, we need to face the truth--America tortured people, sometimes to death.
The question is "what is America going to do about it now?" Are we going to attempt, as Obama is doing, to try and hide evidence of torture? If the answer is yes, then we are on a fool's mission. We know, along with the entire world, that America tortured people. Besides, we know these photos are going to come out anyway. So what good is trying to hide this evidence going to do?
Obama claims that releasing the photos will harm the war effort, and hurt our troops. While I do not believe that claim, it is based upon an unstated premise, the premise that after the photos are released, America will do nothing to bring the criminals who tortured people to justice.
But what if Obama took a different approach. What if he released the photos, and at the very same time said that torture was a violation of American and international laws and that there would be a full investigation? What if he said he would prosecute everyone up and down the chain of command, from Bush to the lowest GI, if they helped or ordered torture?
These actions would actually help rehabilitate America's image overseas. Our enemies would no longer be able to truthfully claim that America might torture people. Instead, the entire world would know that America acknowledges that torture happened, that torture is wrong, and that America will do everything in its power to make sure America will not torture people in the future. That's what prosecuting the highest American government officials will do.
Seriously, nothing would improve our image more. It would show everyone we are the nation of laws we claim to be. It would show America in the best light, as a country that will pursue justice no matter who commits crimes. In addition, prosecutions would help put this sorry chapter of American history behind us.
Importantly, this would help out troops overseas. We need our troops to be seen coming from a country that is devoted to justice. Our troops must be seen as coming from a country that is devoted to protecting the weak and punishing the guilty if we want them to be supported, and not despised, by the Moslem world.
Our troops cannot be seen as accomplices to torture. That only hurts our troops. Release the photos and prosecute. It’s the only way to make this horrible situation better.