The Real Shock and Awe

A judge has ruled that a full release of photos and video be made from the Abu Ghraib Torture Scandal. Of course, the Bush Administration would rather sweep this scourge under the proverbial rug instead of face up to the consequences of their policies.

From the AP via Yahoo news:

Gen. Richard B. Myers, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, had maintained in court papers that releasing the photographs would aid al-Qaida recruitment, weaken the Afghan and Iraqi governments and incite riots against U.S. troops.

Hellerstein said in his 50-page opinion that he respected Myers' arguments. But he added that his job was "not to defer to our worst fears, but to interpret and apply the law, in this case, the Freedom of Information Act, which advances values important to our society, transparency and accountability in government."

I wrote in a comment at Booman Tribune that "it's disgusting that these acts occurred to even be photographed. Maybe it will shock some of the coma-induced Bush minions to see what their government has wrought by blurring the lines of torture."

Far too many Americans have blindly followed the Bush War Council down a path of violence and divisiveness. There is a running "joke" in liberal blogs that short of George eating a baby on live television, his supporters will march behind their emperor. There is just enough truth in that statement to cause alarm.

The photos and videos will cause revulsion; but we can't erase the fact that these inhumane acts occurred. The lines of torture were blurred by this government, with Attorney General Alberto Gonzales playing a key role. While the release of these additional images may cause an uprising across the world, perhaps they will finally be the zap that shocks this nation out of their Bush Apologist coma.

Accountability will come. It is only a matter of time.