Prison Abuse Photos

President Barack Obama will try to block the release of around 2,000 photos of U.S. troops abusing prisoners in Afghanistan and Iraq. On May 13, 2009, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs explained that Obama believes that if the abuse photos were released, the images could endanger U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.CNN.com: Obama Orders Stop to Detainee Photo Releases (May 13, 2009)

According to the Telegraph, instances of U.S. soldiers committing rape are shown in the suppressed photos. The May 27, 2009 report is based on an interview with former U.S. Army Major General Antonio Taguba, who led an inquiry into the abuses at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison. Taquba said that one female and one male prisoner are shown being raped separately, among other depictions of sexual abuse.Telegraph: Abu Ghraib abuse photos 'show rape' (May 27, 2009)

The ACLU sought the release of the photos under a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit. In April 2009 the Justice Department said the U.S. government would not fight the court order and would release over 44 images showing prisoner abuse at the hands of U.S. troops. The Department of Defense planned on releasing the photos by May 28, 2009. On May 12, 2009, an administration official said Obama met with his legal team and directed his attorneys to object to the release of the images.CNN.com: Obama Orders Stop to Detainee Photo Releases (May 13, 2009)

Despite Obama's objection, on May 14, 2009, it was reported that new prison abuse images were released in Australia. According to The Telegraph, the prisoner abuse images were originally obtained during the Abu Ghraib scandal in 2006 by the channel SBS.USAToday.com: Purported detainee abuse photos leaked (May 15, 2009)Telegraph: New "Prisoner Abuse" Photos Emerge Despite U.S.... (May 14, 2009)