Just a quick Rant to mention this astounding piece of hypocrisy on the part of the Defense Department. According to a press release from the ACLU:

Through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit, the ACLU and the New York Civil Liberties Union have sought the release of photographs and videotapes, in addition to documents, that would shed light on the systemic abuse of detainees held by the United States overseas. The Defense Department has refused to turn over photographic evidence, stating that to do so would violate the government's obligations under the Geneva Conventions.

While the emphasis above is ours, the huge set of balls the emphasis points out are the Defense Department's. Wow. Quite frankly, that's more hypocrisy than even we thought these people were capable of mustering, and we already thought they were lower than subway roaches.

Everyone knows that the torture took place — that's an established fact that even the Defense Department acknowledges. So, one of two scenarios is true.

• The Geneva Conventions did not apply to the torture of prisoners in this case, as the government originally stated. We don't agree with this in any way, shape, or form, but if this is the case, then there should be no problem releasing the photos and videos. Hey, if these rules don't apply in this situation, then they don't apply.
• The Geneva Conventions did apply to the torture of prisoners in this case, which is the clear truth of the situation. If this is the case, then the government already violated (in every sense of the word) the rules as set out by the Geneva Conventions when they tortured the prisoners, and there's no way in hell that they should be able to prevent releasing more evidence of their crimes by invoking the very thing they pissed on to begin with.

The amazing set of cajones on these bastards is staggering. All we can say is "Wow."