Sorry to do a link and run diary, but I find this astounding. The AP is
reporting that U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein has questioned the wisdom of releasing the catalog of photos documenting torture by the US military at Abu Ghraib:
more below the fold
NEW YORK (AP) - A judge said Tuesday he was hesitant to release pictures and videotapes of detainee abuse at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison while top government officials insisted that deaths could result.
U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein commented as he listened to Manhattan's top government lawyer and an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union, which was seeking release of the pictures.
The judge questioned whether he could disregard arguments by Gen. Richard B. Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who has warned that releasing the photos would aid al-Qaida recruitment, weaken the Afghan and Iraqi governments and incite riots against U.S. troops.
I wonder if this will be the accidental BushCo administration pre-holiday Friday news dump. I wish I could suggest some form of action here, but it seems like those in favor (including me) of complete disclosure of our actions in Iraq have will suffer a major blow.
I've had cases in front of federal judges before on the trial and appeal levels and I will say this: Sometimes a judge (smartly, in my mind) voices questions that seem to favor one party or another but rules in the exact opposite way. It gives each side the feeling they've been heard and considered and makes a complete record for appeal.
But these questions do sound ominous for those in favor of full disclosure.
If this has already been diaried, let me know in the comments and I'll delete.