WASHINGTON — The Obama administration asked a federal appeals court Thursday to halt the release of disturbing images of detainee abuse, saying the photos could incite violence in Pakistan as well as in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The court papers filed cite partially secret statements from two top U.S. generals, David Petraeus and Ray Odierno.
Such arguments have failed to sway the court in the past.
In the new filings, Petraeus, who oversees U.S. military operations in the Middle East and Central Asia, said the images could also lead to more violence in Pakistan because it deals with Taliban attacks.
The filings underscore just how worried U.S. officials are about the increasing violence in Pakistan.
While past arguments about the photos referred generally to the Middle East, Petraeus’ statement spends several pages discussing Pakistan’s recent struggles against militants and terrorism.
The photos were ordered released as part of a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit that was brought by the American Civil Liberties Union.
ACLU lawyer Amrit Singh said the new filing by the Obama administration "has no new arguments” and will be opposed. She also criticized the Obama administration for redacting parts of the generals’ arguments about the safety threats posed by the photos.
"It’s troubling to us that not only is the government withholding the photographs, but it’s also withholding its arguments for withholding the photographs,” Singh said.
by the associated press
The court papers filed cite partially secret statements from two top U.S. generals, David Petraeus and Ray Odierno.
Such arguments have failed to sway the court in the past.
In the new filings, Petraeus, who oversees U.S. military operations in the Middle East and Central Asia, said the images could also lead to more violence in Pakistan because it deals with Taliban attacks.
The filings underscore just how worried U.S. officials are about the increasing violence in Pakistan.
While past arguments about the photos referred generally to the Middle East, Petraeus’ statement spends several pages discussing Pakistan’s recent struggles against militants and terrorism.
The photos were ordered released as part of a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit that was brought by the American Civil Liberties Union.
ACLU lawyer Amrit Singh said the new filing by the Obama administration "has no new arguments” and will be opposed. She also criticized the Obama administration for redacting parts of the generals’ arguments about the safety threats posed by the photos.
"It’s troubling to us that not only is the government withholding the photographs, but it’s also withholding its arguments for withholding the photographs,” Singh said.
by the associated press
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