[img]http://www.smh.com.au/ftimages/2006/02/15/1139890768716.html[img]

Photo credits: http://www.smh.com.au/

“My Administration is committed to creating an unprecedented level of openness in Government. We will work together to ensure the public trust and establish a system of transparency, public participation, and collaboration. Openness will strengthen our democracy and promote efficiency and effectiveness in Government.” Barack Obama

Obama’s continuing vacillation on subjects of paramount importance to our nation’s well-being have hardly surprised me. My readers will recall that at a time when some of the most popular “left” and “progressive” blogs and even mainline news sources were singing the praises of the New Age in American Politics and its Coming Messiah, I chose to cast my vote for a dark-horse candidate because it was apparent to me that Obama was little better than his predecessor. His senate voting record, immediately prior to the elections, was proof enough for me that no matter how eloquently he spoke, he was little more than a shiny, new coat of paint over the rotting walls of our crumbling democracy.

http://sheeplerecovery.blogspot.com/2008/09/open-letter-to-mr-obama.html

http://sheeplerecovery.blogspot.com/2008/09/mccain-obama-fail-to-impress.html

http://sheeplerecovery.blogspot.com/2008/07/dear-mr-obama-why-did-you-lie.html

Since the election, Obama has proven my premise time and again. He’s wavered on everything from governmental transparency (at the heart of the current furor over non-release of Abu Ghraib torture photos) to his original intention of adopting a “mutt like me” rather than the high-priced, well-pedigreed and rather rare Portuguese Water Dog which now claims the title of First Dog. (Appropriate, no?)

And then there was the promise of the closing of Guantanamo Bay Prison:

Obama to order Guantanamo Bay prison closed
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/12/obama.gitmo/

Obama on Torture, October 4, 2007:
"The secret authorization of brutal interrogations is an outrageous betrayal of our core values, and a grave danger to our security. We must do whatever it takes to track down and capture or kill terrorists, but torture is not a part of the answer - it is a fundamental part of the problem with this administration's approach."

Consistent only in his inconsistency, of course, he’s more recently decided to continue military tribunals IN the aforementioned (and still quite open) prison. Is it any wonder why very few are taking his reform of the Bush-Cheney approved practices there seriously?

Oh, and by the way, if you are still sheepish enough to believe that the prisoners there might get a better deal than those before them, read this article regarding the “loopholes” in Obama’s no-torture policy. http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=12041

However, if you’ll forgive my brief digression above, let’s get to the original subject. Obama’s explanation for his about face regarding non-publication of the now infamous torture photos—no doubt seasoned liberally by Republicans and others with personal fears that they will be implicated in such misdeeds—are two fold. He has concluded that the photos, if released, will place our service men and woman at greater danger in the field from those who would seek revenge, and also that these photos would also give terrorist recruiting groups fuel for their fires. (As if we haven’t already given them enough!)

“Change.” “Hope.” Excuse me?? What HAS changed? And if, as it seems, the current president has realized that, thanks to his predecessor, he can damned well do whatever he wants without fear of reprisal, WHERE is the hope???

Today, my Kudos go out to Australian channel SBS for publishing a group of pictures believed to be among those Obama has chosen to keep hidden from polite company. Please see the rest of the photos at the SMH website: http://www.smh.com.au/photogallery/2006/02/15/1139890768970.html?page=3

I sincerely hope that the enterprising insider who leaked these photos will continue to do so. Hopefully, when Obama can no longer hide behind the aforementioned excuses, and the proverbial cat is out of the bag whether he approves it or not, he will have no choice but to pursue legal prosecution of those involved in the torture of so many men, women and children. ( Many of whom were innocent civilians captured and delivered for profit by military contractors at the price of $600 per head.)

Finally, I appeal to other bloggers and legitimate news outlets to republish or link directly to the Aussie website to insure that EVERYONE has a peek at what our government continues to sanction by their refusal to atone for and rectify their crimes.

Check out the following text and video links for fuller understanding of the practices at Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib and other facilities like them. If you’ve the courage to think for yourself, you will learn just how far we, as a nation, have sinned against our fellow men, woman and children for the sake of financial and megalomaniacal gains and you will refuse to allow it to continue.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2004/7/14/38300/-Kids-sodomized-at-Abu-Ghraib,-Pentagon-has-the-videosHersh

Little Known Military Thug Squad Still Brutalizing Prisoners at Gitmo Under Obama http://www.alternet.org/rights/140022/little_known_military_thug_squad_still_brutalizing_prisoners_at_gitmo_under_obama/

INSIDE ABU GHRAIB

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZ_Vxoyu8zY

Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksnDuQImCyo

Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnsC1Lt9H9E

Part 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4EfL3_etuI

Particularly disturbing video of US soldiers celebrating over tortured prisoner bodies
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOiDISopOBM

God Bless America?? Ha!
May God save our damned souls!