Torture photos to be released

As the debate continues over the release of the torture memos and what should come next, the Obama administration plans to release photos that show detainee abuse in U.S. prisons in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Los Angeles Times reports that the photos are “not as shocking as those taken at Abu Ghraib,” but do depict officers intimidating detainees by pointing weapons at them.

Additionally, other disclosures are being considered, the Times reports. Those include transcripts of detainee interrogations and a CIA inspector general report that has been kept secret.

President Obama currently faces the decision of how to release these materials – fully, partially redacted, or not at all.

All of the photos were taken between 2001 and 2005, before the Army Field Manual was revised in 2006 to strengthen detainee protections.

Meanwhile, the Obama administration continues to oppose an interrogation into Bush administration officials’ role in detainee abuses. The New York Times reports that Obama met with Democratic congressional leadership on Wednesday and said that such a panel would distract from the Democrats’ agenda.

jeremy.jacobs@digital-stage.thehill.com