May 14, 09 | 9:27 AM

Torture Pictures: When a Flip-Flop Isn’t a Flip-Flop

by Michael Wolff

Sure as shootin', the torture pictures will be released. The courts will authorize them or some exceptional leaker will free them. In the digital age, if you know a picture exists and it’s in hot demand—whether it’s a nude Miss California or a gruesome bit of aggressive interrogation—there’s little or no chance it won’t be found.

So what’s the Obama game, opposing the release of photographs he knows will be public and whose release he previously supported?

What we’re starting to see emerge here is the Obama PR doctrine. It’s a series of ritualistic bows, and even the appearance of tacit submission, to the other side.

Opposing the release of the pictures is like the flag pin in his lapel. Having made the pin an issue in the early stages of his campaign—precisely articulating what all non-flag-pin-wearing people feel—he then reversed himself. This was a tacit victory for the pin-wearers, while at the same time sending an altogether different signal to the non-wearers: We have to fight the people who make us wear these pins.

Now, having almost single-handedly raised the issue of the pictures and helped make their release inevitable, he’s vainly trying to stand in their way. He’s talking for the military. He’s appearing to give them something. At the very least, he’s giving them the appearance of a moral victory—they’ve convinced him that the torture pictures might endanger US troops (in addition to making them look bad).

But, effectively, the issue is moot, because the pics aren’t going to be hidden.

Obama gets it both ways: torture pictures for all to see, with the proper humbling effect on the military and on the Republicans, and, as well, an IOU of thanks from the generals for, however late, opposing their release.

Here’s the doctrine: Bend over backwards when it doesn’t cost you anything. The courts will take care of the pictures; Obama will mollify the military.

Such an appearance of accommodation is, after a few decades in Washington of purposeful polarization and triangulation, of dominance and submission, something of a relief. Everybody feels they’re getting something. Everybody leaves feeling a bit better than when they came.

The volume is turned down.

The president receives the thanks of a grateful nation.

Or, at some point, inevitably, we begin to see him as the manipulator-in-chief.

The premise that you can somehow always get what you want, that you can, if you properly pull the strings, keep most people happy, that if you can’t fool all of the people all of the time, you can fool enough of the people enough of the time, is a sketchy one, which, likely, comes to grief.

http://www.newser.com/off-the-grid/post/147/torture-pictures-when-a-flip-flop-isnrsquo3bt-a-flip-flop.html

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This isn't the first time Obama has used deceit - He's used the same strategy with:

public campaign financing
lobbyist appointments
earmarks
now military tribunals

Saying one thing, doing another. No genuine change of "ethics" exist in this administration.

As a mother of a soldier in Iraq and friends to many...I surely hope these pics do not get out. Our soldiers will be in much peril over these. It will outrage the masses as well as the soldiers there. The killing will start up again in mass.

KEEP THOSE PICS RIGHT WHERE THEY ARE until our people come home!!

Kat

theres one posted on DrudgeReport.com....it's hardly torture...

I believe damage has allready been done. Now everyone knows there are pics of the gitmo detainees. All anyone can do is speculate over what they are. And I guaranty the speculating will be the worst case scenario.

All of this should have just been left alone in the first place!
But no,because some have had a hatred for our former president for 8 years, they need to bring up things of this nature, not thinking of the consequeces, or harm it might cause others, mostly our soldiers overseas.

Thank you congress!!!!!!!!!!

I agree...if Obama wanted to keep these pictures from ever being shown...all he has to do is sign an executive order...which he has so much experience doing...by the way...hows the bailouts going...lol...GM...Chrysler...are doing well...gulp !!...a question ?...what are they going to do with all of these cars...when they close these dealerships ?...which by the way Obama is making them do...does anyone realize that hes doing all this without the approval of Congress ?...ummmmmmmmm...can you say " Dictator "...how about " Facist "...just call him " Juan Obama "...unless you prefer " Barack Peron "...

and people wonder why I ask questions about what is happening with the "investigation" when all the flip flopping happens???

I hear...oh yes...he is going for it....then I read he won't push to prosecute CIA etc now not releasing the photos.

my question is...I can see our soldiers (whom I have great respect for) being put in danger....but do they have to be released to the public right now??? can't they just be used during a trial?