We Wouldn't Want to Inflame Anti-American Sentiment

by Glenn Greenwald

There are many bizarre aspects to Obama's decision to try to suppress evidence of America's detainee abuse, beginning with the newfound willingness of so many people to say: "We want our leaders to suppress information that reflects poorly on what our government does." One would think that it would be impossible to train a citizenry to be grateful to political officials for concealing evidence of government wrongdoing, or to accept the idea that evidence that reflects poorly on the conduct of political leaders should, for that reason alone, be covered-up: "Obama and his military commanders decide when it's best that we're kept in the dark, and I'm thankful when they keep from me things that reflect poorly on my government because I trust them to decide what I should and should not know." It's the fantasy of every political leader to have a citizenry willing to think that way ("I know it's totally unrealistic, but wouldn't it be great if we could actually convince people that it's for their own good when we cover-up evidence of government crimes?").

But what is ultimately even more amazing is the claim that suppressing these photographs is necessary to prevent an inflammation of anti-American sentiment in the Muslim world generally and Afghanistan specifically. That claim is coming from the same people who are doing this:

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/05/14-8

as much as the Repos did.

happens all the time

I can think of 100s of examples. (Police, military, church, regulators, government agencies, congress, corporations)

And I can't think of any where the opposite is true. Large organization sacrifices self to protect the public.
The government is a large organization. And the bureaucrats didn't get into positions of power without protecting themselves.

Military leaders don't want torture revealed because it will call into question the integrity of the military leaders themselves. Thank god they have the excuse of the troops...which had they been doing their jobs in the first place wouldn't be under undo risk to begin with.

Intelligence leaders don't want torture revealed because it will call into quesion the intelligence leaders themselves. Those houses have not been swept clean, the rats still live there.

This is no different than the church hiding child abuse.

What really terrifies the powers that be is that our country's anti-WAR sentiments could grow even louder, and reach a pitch that absolutely requires the government to bring the soldiers home. Demonstrators in the tens of thousands and voters by the millions have already made their wishes clear, but as long as leaders can continue bloviating about national security without having to the show the horror of what is really going on in our name, they're getting away with an ever-rolling war machine that will not stop.

The photos would put the demonstrators right back on the streets again, and this time the administration freedom-penning, tear gassing and pepper spraying the citizens would belong to Obama. Right now, the issue of withdrawal is being pushed aside by the economy and the latest Cheney 'rationalizing the irrational' media tour. New torture photos would knock other stories off the front pages, and the blatant refusal to get us out of these wars as promised would come into sharp relief. Responsibility would land right at Obama's feet.

Then there are those messy war crimes investigations...