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http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050521/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_saddam_photosQuote:
U.S. Condemns Saddam Photo Publication
BAGHDAD, Iraq - The U.S. military condemned the publication Friday of photographs showing an imprisoned Saddam Hussein naked except for his white underwear, and ordered an investigation of how the pictures were leaked to a tabloid. Some Iraqis expressed anger, but President Bush said he did not think the images would incite further anti-American sentiment.
More revealing pictures were published Saturday in the British tabloid, The Sun, including one of Saddam seen through barbed wire wearing a white robe-like garment, and another of Ali Hassan al-Majid, better known as "Chemical Ali," in a bathrobe and holding a towel.
Regardless of any effect the images may have on Iraq's insurgency, they were certain to offend Arab sensibilities and heap more scorn on an American image already tarnished by the prisoner abuse scandal at Abu Ghraib prison and allegations by Newsweek, later retracted, about desecration of the Quran at the U.S. prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
"It is clear that the pictures were taken inside the prison, which means that American soldiers have leaked the pictures," said Saddam's chief lawyer, Ziad al-Khasawneh. He said the photos "add to acts that are practiced against the Iraqi people, and of course we remember what happened in Abu Ghraib and we remember what happened in Guantanamo."
The Sun, owned by Rupert Murdoch, said the photos it published Friday and Saturday were provided by a U.S. military official it did not identify who hoped their release would deal a "body blow" to the insurgency.
Sun managing editor Graham Dudman told The Associated Press that the newspaper paid "a small sum" for the photos. He would not elaborate except to say it was more than 500 British pounds, which is about $900.
The New York Post, which is also owned by Murdoch, also published the photos on Friday.
Saddam's attorney said he would sue the newspaper "and everyone who helped in showing these pictures."
The U.S. military in Baghdad said the publication of the photos violated U.S. military guidelines "and possibly Geneva Convention guidelines for the humane treatment of detained individuals."
A spokesman, Staff Sgt. Don Dees, said the military would question the troops responsible for Saddam.
Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said U.S. military officials in Iraq believe the photos are "dated" — perhaps more than one year old, although no specific date has been established.
"This is something that should not have happened," Whitman said.
Army Maj. Flora Lee, Multinational Forces spokeswoman in Baghdad, said the photos could have been from January 2004 to April 2004, "based on the background of the photos and appearance of him."
Saddam, who was captured in December 2003, has been jailed at a complex near Baghdad airport named Camp Cropper, which holds 110 high-profile detainees.
Lee would not confirm an NBC report citing Pentagon sources that Saddam was moved to a different cell in another location and that the photos were taken by 24-hour surveillance cameras.
Aside from U.S. soldiers, the only others with access to Saddam are his legal team, prosecuting judge Raed Johyee and the ICRC.
The International Committee for the Red Cross, which is responsible for monitoring prisoners of war and detainees, said the photographs violated Saddam's right to privacy.
"Taking and using photographs of him is clearly forbidden," ICRC Middle East spokeswoman Dorothea Krimitsas said. U.S. forces are obliged to "preserve the privacy of the detainee."
Alongside the photo of Saddam in Saturday's editions, The Sun ran photos of a man and a woman. They were identified as al-Majid, who faces charges for his role in poison gas attacks against Iraq's Kurdish minority, and Huda Salih Mahdi Ammash, a biotech researcher dubbed "Mrs. Anthrax." who got her nickname for her alleged role in trying to develop bio-weapons for Saddam.
The man, grizzled and gray, is shown hunched wearing a bathrobe, leaning on a cane and holding a towel as he rises out of a chair. The woman can be seen wearing a headscarf, walking outdoors and looking forlornly in the distance.
Some Iraqis called the photos of Saddam the latest in a series of insults to Arabs and Muslims. Others, however, said the humiliation is just what the 68-year-old former dictator deserved.
In Baghdad coffee shops, Iraqis watched as some Arab satellite networks — including Al-Arabiya — showed the front page of The Sun, with its picture of Saddam standing in his underwear. Other published photos show him clothed and seated on a chair doing some washing, sleeping and walking in what is described as his prison yard.
"This is an insult to show the former president in such a condition. Saddam is from the past now, so what is the reason for this? It is bad work from the media. Do they want to degrade the Iraqi people? Or they want to provoke their feelings," said Baghdad businessman Abu Barick.
Others were not so kind.
"Saddam Hussein and his regime were bloody and practiced mass killing against the people, therefore, whatever happens to Saddam, whether he is photographed naked or washing his clothes, it means nothing to me. That's the least he deserves," said Hawre Saliee, a 38-year-old Kurd.
Bush said he didn't think the images would energize the insurgents, thought to be led by Sunni Arabs who were favored under Saddam's regime but largely excluded from the new Shiite-dominated Iraqi government.
"I don't think a photo inspires murderers," Bush said of the insurgents. "These people are motivated by a vision of the world that is backward and barbaric."
Later, however, White House press spokesman Trent Duffy said the photos could be perceived by members of the insurgency in much the same way as revelations of detainee abuse at Abu Ghraib.
"This could have serious impact, as we talked about, with the revelations of prisoner abuse," he said. "What the United States did in both of those situations, however, is recognize that, take immediate steps to investigate and get to the bottom of why it happened and how it happened and take steps to make sure that ... people are held to account."
The photos did not provoke much of an outcry across the Middle East on Friday, when businesses are shut and people take the day off and try to avoid the news.
But those who did notice expressed strong opinions when questioned.
In Dubai, Sabine Hajj, a 25-year-old Lebanese, said the pictures were "shameful and controversial. It's an insult to human beings, regardless of who he is or what he did. This is a breach of privacy."
Rawad Nasr, a 30-year-old Jordanian salesman, said the pictures were "shocking."
"Regardless of what he did, they shouldn't have been published. This is an insult to humanity, and whoever published them must be prosecuted," Nasr said.
In Bahrain, Ali Yousef, 21, said he "cracked up" when he saw the pictures.
"I don't care about Saddam, he was a ruthless dictator and he deserves worse," Yousef said.
Muhammed al-Sabah, Kuwait's foreign minister, said he had no sympathy for the man who invaded his country in 1991.
"What happened to him on this earth is really of minor consequences. I certainly believe in my heart of hearts that he's going to go to hell," al-Sabah told CNN. "He is a villain."
Charges against Saddam include killing rival politicians during his 30-year rule, gassing Kurds, invading Kuwait and suppressing Kurdish and Shiite uprisings in 1991.
Iraq's planning minister, Barham Salih, said Friday the chief justice of the special tribunal in charge of prosecution in Baghdad had told him that "within the next few months Saddam Hussein could be brought before the court."
It is not the first time there has been an outcry over images of Saddam.
Pictures and video images of Saddam being examined by a medic after his arrest were widely criticized. A top Vatican cardinal, Renato Martino, said American forces treated the captive Iraqi leader "like a cow."
But Duffy, the White House spokesman, said Friday that the military had released the photos after the arrest "to demonstrate to the Iraqi people and the insurgents that Saddam Hussein was in fact in custody, which we believed was important to help quell the insurgency."
Although Arab television networks broadcast the pictures of naked or semi-clothed prisoners being abused by American forces at Abu Ghraib, at least one — Al-Jazeera — chose not to air the Saddam photos.
Al-Jazeera spokesman Jihad Ballout said the network didn't show them for ethical and professional reasons. "The photo is demeaning to Iraqis," he said, adding: "from a professional side, it is not news."
"There is a big difference, because the pictures were the news in Abu Ghraib," he said.
Dudman, The Sun's managing editor, defended the decision to print the pictures.
"They are a fantastic, iconic set of news pictures that I defy any newspaper, magazine, or television station who were presented with them not to have published," he said. "He's not been mistreated. He's washing his trousers. This is the modern-day Adolf Hitler. Please don't ask us to feel sorry for him."
I want to say something witty here, but I can't think of anything. I'm sure the rest of you will have better luck.
"Well when I talk to people I don't have to worry about spelling." - wannabuyamonkey
"If Schumacher’s last effort was the final nail in the coffin then Year One would’ve been the crazy guy who stormed the graveyard, dug up the coffin and put a bullet through the franchise’s corpse just to make sure." -- From a review of Darren Aronofsky & Frank Miller's "Batman: Year One" script
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Joined: Mar 2003
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faggot 15000+ posts
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Quote:
In Dubai, Sabine Hajj, a 25-year-old Lebanese, said the pictures were "shameful and controversial. It's an insult to human beings, regardless of who he is or what he did. This is a breach of privacy."
Uh, he's in jail. He has no privacy. They poop in front of people.
Old men, fear me! You will shatter under my ruthless apathetic assault!
Uschi - 2
Old Men - 0
"I am convinced that this world is of no importance, and that the only people who care about dates are imbeciles and Spanish teachers." -- Jean Arp, 1921
"If Jesus came back and saw what people are doing in his name, he would never never stop throwing up." - Max von Sydow, "Hannah and Her Sisters"
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Joined: Dec 2004
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500+ posts
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Quote:
President Bush said he did not think the images would incite further anti-American sentiment.
Yeah, that ship's kinda already sailed, I would think.
Bob Burden said:
Pie for the pirates,
wine for the dogs.
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 24,106
faggot 15000+ posts
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faggot 15000+ posts
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 24,106 |
Old men, fear me! You will shatter under my ruthless apathetic assault!
Uschi - 2
Old Men - 0
"I am convinced that this world is of no importance, and that the only people who care about dates are imbeciles and Spanish teachers." -- Jean Arp, 1921
"If Jesus came back and saw what people are doing in his name, he would never never stop throwing up." - Max von Sydow, "Hannah and Her Sisters"
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 232
200+ posts
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Retards.
what genius thought that showing a humiliated Arab leader being undignified by his Imperialist Christian captors would quell the resistance?
Probably the same genius that assured us that WMD's would be found, the Iraqi's would greet us with flowers and that the oil proceeds would pay for the invasion.
How many U.S. servicemen will now die in order to give these repugnant neoconservatives their jollies and laughs?
We show not one shred of decency or respect for (international) laws and treaties that we demand of others for ourselves.
This is just more gasoline on an already incindeary situation. I hope all the conservaitve jerks out there yukking it up will sign up to replenish those unfortunate soldiers who will suffer and die as a result of outrage this will cause.
Unfortunately though we all know that won't happen.
"The British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa." - George W. Bush State of the Union speech Jan 28, 2003
"mission accomplished" - George W. Bush May 2, 2003
It does not require a majority to prevail but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brushfires in peoples minds". Samuel Adams said that. Pretty deep for a guy that makes beer for a living - The Boondocks
"A conservative is one who admires radicals centuries after they're dead" - Leo C. Rosten
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6000+ posts
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Quote:
I hope all the conservaitve jerks out there yukking it up will sign up to replenish those unfortunate soldiers who will suffer and die as a result of outrage this will cause.
Man, you are such an ass-hole. How can someone be so insecure that they demonise the opposition and assume that anyone on teh other side is a "jerk". Well here's a quandry for you. A majority of soldiers are conservitives, so it looks like WE ARE the ones replenishing the ones who died, that's right US. A friend of mine who's a staunch Bush supporter just returned from the front lines? What do you have to say to him? Nothing because you're a self righous prick who cares little for our troops save to what degree you can capitalise on thier sacrifice to support your world view.
Putting the "fun" back in Fundamentalist Christian Dogma.
" I know God exists because WBAM told me so. " - theory9
JLA brand RACK points = 514k 
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No. I got this attitude after a day romping thru internet MB's and reading the reactions from most conservatives since this story was published. It was just delight and ridicule with no regards for the consequences, legality, and passions this will inflame. Try going to Yahoo News to see what i mean.
The irony now is that President Bush is trying to downplay the situation by saying he doesn't think that a mere picture in a newspaper will cause rioting.
Quote:
``I don't think a photo inspires murderers,'' Bush said of the insurgents. ``These people are motivated by a vision of the world that is backward and barbaric.''
Wow. Who knew after all the demonization of Newsweek.....
"The British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa." - George W. Bush State of the Union speech Jan 28, 2003
"mission accomplished" - George W. Bush May 2, 2003
It does not require a majority to prevail but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brushfires in peoples minds". Samuel Adams said that. Pretty deep for a guy that makes beer for a living - The Boondocks
"A conservative is one who admires radicals centuries after they're dead" - Leo C. Rosten
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 10,919 Likes: 28
Doog the MIGHTY 10000+ posts
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Doog the MIGHTY 10000+ posts
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 10,919 Likes: 28 |
fuck Saddam. It'd have been funnier if they caught him jacking off to Playboy or Teen People magazine.
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 43,952 Likes: 6
Officially "too old for this shit" 15000+ posts
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Officially "too old for this shit" 15000+ posts
Joined: May 2003
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Quote:
PaulWellr said:
This is just more gasoline on an already incindeary situation. I hope all the conservaitve jerks out there yukking it up will sign up to replenish those unfortunate soldiers who will suffer and die as a result of outrage this will cause.
I assume you will post similar sentiments about Newseek's fake story about the Quaran, something like:
Quote:
PaulWellr SHOULD say:
This is just more gasoline on an already incindeary situation. I hope all the liberal jerks out there defending Newsweek's free speech rights will sign up to replenish those unfortunate soldiers who will suffer and die as a result of outrage this has caused.
Now, with that being said, while I'm sure that a sizeable minority of Islamic assholes will use these pictures as yet another flimsy justification for their irrational hatred of the US, it seems to me that an even more sizeable number of Iraqis ought to consider that this is the same guy that had no compunction about humiliating, torturing or even killing them while he was in power and not shed too many tears for Saddam.
Furthermore, while this may or may not have been a good move, it just goes to show how much of a bunch of, for lack of better term, wussies a sizeable portion of the world has become, when we get more bent out of shape over a pic of a terrorist or dictator in his underwear than we do over the pics of their victims in mass graves and/or jumping out of goddam buildings that some Islamic fundamentalist thought it was cool to fly a fucking airplane into.
If the Arab world is so damn sensitive that even this is an affront that justifies yet another round of terrorist attacks then you, Paul, and your anti-war crowd have just given us a perfect example of why the enemy is too irrational to EVER be reasoned with, and perfect justification for amping up the war on terror even more.
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fudge 4000+ posts
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I think we should focus on the issue at hand, and not what the various parties think of the other.
The fact remains, showing the picture was a clear violation of the Geneva Convention. And Bush was wrong when he said it wouldn't incite further rioting, which obviously, it will.
However, that doesn't mean that the political right, or Bush, is to blame for this. I think Bush stated an opinion he had, which noone can fault him. It was, however, naive of him to think so. But I have to say in his defense. I'd have thought it wouldn't incite rioting myself. But obviously that's a mistake to think
The picture shouldn't have been made public, but it is, and that can't be changed now.
And WBAM should remember that while many of the American troops who're in Iraq (who obviously by far outnumbers other nations troops stationed there) might be conservative, a large number of the troops from the allied nations are made up by liberals.
The current British government leans to the left side, does it not?
The Danish government, though one of the parties is the conservative, the other is built on liberal principles.
But still, the picture is there now, even though it shouldn't have been published.
The newsweek story is what I'd call truly outrageous, for that, there is no excuse
 Racks be to MisterJLA
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