The Obama administration must release photos showing abuse of prisoners in Iraq and Afghanistan according to a federal court ruling. The administration has long tried to bury the disturbing images fearful that publication would result in terrorist attacks. The judge gave the government two months to decide on an appeal. (Associated Press, March 21, 2015, by Jennifer Peltz)
The judge said a Defense Department certification from 2012 to bury the images was “deficient because it was not sufficiently individualized and it did not establish the Secretary’s own basis for concluding that disclosure would endanger Americans.” The American Civil Liberties Union has sought the release of the images and said to suppress the photos would set a dangerous precedent of suppressing evidence of government misconduct that would damage the public’s right to pass judgment on policy. (Politico, March 20, 2015, by Josh Gerstein)