Obama Seeking To Block Release Of Detainee Abuse Photos

YahooNews.com:

In a reversal, President Barack Obama is fighting the release of dozens of new photos showing U.S. personnel allegedly abusing prisoners in Iraq and Afghanistan, a White House official said Wednesday.

Obama's decision came after the top military commanders in Iraq and Afghanistan told the president they feared the release of the photos could endanger their troops.

Obama decided he did not feel comfortable with the release and last week instructed his legal team to challenge it in court, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the president's decision had not yet been made public.

Obama has instructed administration lawyers to make the case that the national security implications of such a release have not been fully presented to the court, the official said.

The president informed Gen. Ray Odierno, commander of U.S. troops in Iraq, of his decision during a White House meeting on Tuesday.

Gen. David Petraeus, the senior commander for both wars, had also weighed in, as had Gen. David McKiernan, the top general in Afghanistan. Gates fired McKiernan on Monday for unrelated reasons.

Good for Barry. Instead of pandering to all the Bush-haters on the Left, who seek vengeance on the previous administration regardless of whose lives might be at risk, Obama caters to common sense. Of course these photos should not be released. Of course these photos could endanger military people in hostile territory.

Obama is learning.