For some time, high-level military and government officials have been fighting against the release of the remaining Abu Ghraib photos and videos. A judge ruled late last month that the government must release the remaining pictures after the ACLU sought release of the pictures through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, after viewing a number of these pictures screened for Congress, described the pictures:

The American public needs to understand we're talking about rape and murder here. We're not just talking about giving people a humiliating experience... We're talking about rape and murder -- and some very serious charges.

When U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein ruled in favor of the ACLU last month, he gave the government a deadline for release of one month, however ongoing appeals by the government are expected to further delay the release of the photos. Many supporters of the Bush administration and war in Iraq have claimed that releasing these pictures would inflame terrorists, causing more American casualties. Judge Hellerstein rejected this argument, saying that it amounted to blackmail and that the terrorists "do not need pretexts for their barbarism." He continued:

Our nation does not surrender to blackmail, and fear of blackmail is not a legally sufficient argument to prevent us from performing a statutory command. Indeed, the freedoms that we champion are as important to our success in Iraq and Afghanistan as the guns and missiles with which our troops are armed.

It seems we finally have found at least one judge who values openness in government and respects the people's right to know what is being done in their names with their tax dollars. Those who claim that releasing the pictures would cause harm to Americans fail to realize that those who "rape and murder" in our name have already harmed us more than any story. Suppressing the evil acts of our military does not serve democracy or freedom, and only ensures that future abuses will occur.