Obama Speaks About Detainee Abuse Photos

After Roberts Gibbs was grilled by reporters over the President's decision not to release the detainee abuse photos earlier today, the President himself made a statement this afternoon. He reiterated his concerns about the safety of troops and echoed much of what Gibbs said at the presser. He said that, in this instance, the Pentagon had not attempted to conceal or justify these wrongful actions. "It's therefore my belief that the publication of these photos would not add any additional benefit to our understanding of what was carried out in the past by a small number of individuals. In fact, the most direct consequence of releasing them, I believe, would be to further inflame anti-American opinion and to put our troops in greater danger."

Obama also alluded to Gibbs's obscure argument that releasing the photos would discourage documentation of further abuses. "Moreover, I fear the publication of these photos may only have a chilling effect on future investigations of detainee abuse," he said.

This is rocky terrain for the President. Just a couple of weeks ago he was heavily criticized by conservatives for his decision to release the OLC memos regarding interrogation techniques. Today's announcement (which is a reversal of the Administration's previous decision not to fight the court order demanding the photos be released by May 28) has angered the civil liberties and rights activists. Moreover, as CBS's Mark Knoller pointed out at the briefing, it contradicts a statement Obama made on his second day in office. He said: "I will hold myself, as President, to a new standard of openness.  Information will not be withheld just because I say so."  Sorry sir, but it looks like you're saying so.