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15 February 2006

U.S. Regrets Release of Additional Abu Ghraib Photographs

State Department legal adviser concerned that pictures might "fan the flames"

By David I. McKeeby
Washington File Staff Writer

Washington -– A newly released set of photographs documenting mistreatment of Iraqi detainees at the now-closed Abu Ghraib prison in Baghdad, Iraq, “shows once again just the reprehensible conduct that was going on in Abu Ghraib,” says John Bellinger, State Department legal adviser.

“It's unfortunate, though, that the photographs are continuing to come out, because I think it simply fans the flames at a time that sentiments on these issues are raw around the world,” he told journalists at a February 15 briefing at the Foreign Press Center.

Bellinger said that the U.S. government felt it was better that the photographs not be released because they were an unwarranted invasion of the privacy of the detainees and did not contribute any additional information regarding mistreatment of prisoners at the now infamous prison.  He also said that he hopes that they will not lead to further violence.

“People in our military have done bad things here,” Bellinger said, noting that “the difference is that people are held accountable.”

Bellinger told journalists that the United States continues to investigate the incident.  To date, Bellinger said, more than 2,800 people have been interviewed, 31 congressional hearings have been held, and numerous internal reviews have been conducted.  Twenty-five individuals have been prosecuted in connection with the incident, Bellinger said. 

“The president had originally said when the photographs had come out -- and other senior administration officials as well -- that we were repulsed by what we saw, and unfortunately, this is further photographic evidence of what went on,” Bellinger said.

(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)