Nearly twenty years ago, Danny Rolling came to Gainesville, FL and committed the worst crime our city has seen, killing 5 college students in 3 days and terrorizing this city. I was living only a couple of miles from the nearest victims, and I was still feeling the effects of his actions for months afterward. Eventually, Rolling went to trial, and he was found guilty of their murders a few years later.
A few years after his conviction, there was a push to release the photographic evidence collected in the investigation. Very few people have seen the pictures, but there were rumors that he hadn't just killed his victims, but tortured them as well. One of the rumors about the pictures said that one of the victims had been decapitated and her head placed on her dresser. The photos were never released, however, and I think it was a good thing to keep them out of the public eye. Nothing would have been served by showing the grisly details of the investigation, and it might very well have brought back the fear many of us felt for those 3 days, and caused even greater pain to the victim's family and friends.
Now we are arguing over the additional torture photographs that were to have been released. In this case, while conflicted, I at least have to acknowledge that it is likely a very difficult decision for Obama to make. He is hearing from all sides now about the effects these pictures will have. Some believe the release will be cathartic, and less us heal a little more. Some, including his military, believe it will put our troops at greater risk.
Some months ago, Obama met with General Petraeus about the withdrawal of troops from Iraq. Obama argued that he understood the general's concern, but that he had to weigh other interests as president. Now, Obama is in a similar tight spot. He has to try to weigh every interest against every other interest and try to choose which one is best, or in this case, least bad out of several terrible options.
He does have to know that these photos, released now, will be seen by many people around the world. Some will be recognizable as a son, or brother, or uncle, and will cause tremendous pain, fear, and anger. I can't know for sure that there will be violent retaliation, but it certainly seems plausible. And the targets will not be those responsible, but the nearest available substitute, perhaps an American soldier, or diplomat, or maybe some poor American contractor caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. Maybe it will just be an excuse for others to go after long time political opponents.
In the end, Obama is making a decision that he sees this and is trying to avoid the worst of it. Maybe he is wrong, but I do believe that he is making this decision based upon this being a realistic outcome.
Whatever we think is the right thing to do, Obama must still deal with reality. I think given the chance, he would release the photos, prosecute all those involved in the torture, and remove our troops from hostile territory in Iraq and Afghanistan. But these are problems without easy solutions, and the unintended consequences may cause more damaging problems as a result.