(Trigger warning)

Last month, the Obama administration agreed to release a “substantial number” of photographs from U.S. facilities in Afghanistan and Iraq. It was to be the first time any images were released since the infamous leak of Abu Ghraib photos during the Bush years. But that offer was quickly retracted. Robert Gibbs said that “nothing is added” by the release of “sensationalistic” pictures.In seeming contradiction, President Obama released a statement the next day emphasising that the photos “are not particularly sensational, especially when compared to the painful images we remember from Abu Ghraib”.

Courtesy of the Daily Telegraph, some details about what those pictures contained has come to light and they are  horrific:

At least one picture shows an American soldier apparently raping a female prisoner while another is said to show a male translator raping a male detainee.

Further photographs are said to depict sexual assaults on prisoners with objects including a truncheon, wire and a phosphorescent tube.

Another apparently shows a female prisoner having her clothing forcibly removed to expose her breasts.

Detail of the content emerged from Major General Antonio Taguba, the former army officer who conducted an inquiry into the Abu Ghraib jail in Iraq.

Allegations of rape and abuse were included in his 2004 report but the fact there were photographs was never revealed. He has now confirmed their existence in an interview with the Daily Telegraph.

Maj Gen Taguba, who retired in January 2007, said he supported the President’s decision, adding: “These pictures show torture, abuse, rape and every indecency.

“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.

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

There are more details at the source that I’d rather not reprint here. A common argument given for not releasing the photos is that they will inspire anti-American sentiment and put our troops in danger. But it seems as though the lack of photos combined with the leaking of details about what they contained would be even worse for our overseas reputation. Maybe it wouldn’t have been an issue if the Obama team hadn’t put the offer of the photos on the table. But they did and their retraction and sweeping of the matter under the rug doesn’t inspire a great deal of trust in our government’s ability to be transparent if they even under situations they’ve established.