The "purpose" served by releasing the photos is a MORAL purpose. People need to be horrified at the things done in our names, and if it takes photos, so be it. As for our foreign policy, it is Abu Ghraib writ large across the world. Once again, our troops are used to "protect" such abominable policies. Therefore it seems clear that the release of the photos would accomplish exactly the right thing, if *as feared in Taguba's statement* such release would pull the plug on our foreign policy exploits and return our troops back home where they can help stop the destruction of America currently underway. - Ed.
At least one picture shows an American soldier apparently raping a female prisoner while another is said to show a male translator raping a male detainee.
Further photographs are said to depict sexual assaults on prisoners with objects including a truncheon, wire and a phosphorescent tube.
Another apparently shows a female prisoner having her clothing forcibly removed to expose her breasts.
Detail of the content emerged from Major General Antonio Taguba, the former army officer who conducted an inquiry into the Abu Ghraib jail in Iraq.
Allegations of rape and abuse were included in his 2004 report but the fact there were photographs was never revealed. He has now confirmed their existence in an interview with the Daily Telegraph.
The graphic nature of some of the images may explain the US President’s attempts to block the release of an estimated 2,000 photographs from prisons in Iraq and Afghanistan despite an earlier promise to allow them to be published.
Maj Gen Taguba, who retired in January 2007, said he supported the President’s decision, adding: “These pictures show torture, abuse, rape and every indecency.
“I am not sure what purpose their release would serve other than a legal one and the consequence would be to imperil our troops, the only protectors of our foreign policy, when we most need them, and British troops who are trying to build security in Afghanistan."
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