White House denies UK torture report



SEE VIDEO HERE

By David Edwards and Stephen Webster~Raw Story

Following an explosive report that some of the torture photos President Obama is withholding depict graphic sexual abuse, the Department of Defense and White House came out to vigorously refute the claims.

In a surprisingly broad denial, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs cast doubt on the entire British media.

“I don’t want to speak generally about some reports I’ve seen over the past few years in the British media,” he said. “And, in some ways I’m surprised it filtered down. Let’s just say if I wanted to read — if I wanted to read a write-up of how Manchester United fared in the Champion’s League cup, I might open up a British newspaper.

“If I was looking for something that bordered on truthful news, I am not entirely sure [British papers] would be the first stack of clips I picked up,” deadpanned Gibbs.

“Are you saying the report is completely false?” asked CBS reporter Chip Reid.

“I would refer you … to the statement that DoD put out, that the article is wrong and mischaracterizes the photos that are in question,” said Gibbs. “… None of the photographs in question depict the images described in the article.”

Helen Thomas, pitching a follow-up, asked Gibbs if he had actually seen the photos.

“I have not seen the photos,” he replied.

The Pentagon also asserted Thursday morning that the Telegraph has “an inability to get the facts right.”

“That news organization has completely mischaracterized the images,” spokesman Bryan Whitman said Thursday. “None of the photos in question depict the images that are described in that article.”

“Maj Gen Taguba, who retired in January 2007, said he supported the President’s decision [to withhold the photos], adding: ‘These pictures show torture, abuse, rape and every indecency,’” reported the Telegraph.

“I am not sure what purpose their release would serve other than a legal one and the consequence would be to imperil our troops, the only protectors of our foreign policy, when we most need them, and British troops who are trying to build security in Afghanistan,” Taguba told the paper.

“The mere description of these pictures is horrendous enough, take my word for it.”

Members of Congress viewed the unreleased photos on May 13, 2004.