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Introduction
Photojournalism plays a big role in providing evidence against many issues that were happening during the Iraq war. Photos had been taken of United States soldiers during the war that created a good image of patriotism. This was later tarnished by other images of torture done towards the Iraq prisoners that indicated very humiliating acts of inhumanity. Photojournalism played a big role in revealing the torture which would have continued to take place in secret. But later, there was visual evidence that was provided by the pictures and that was used to prosecute those involved.
The Iraq War
On 12th May the year 2009, the front covers of the New York Times indicated a picture showing three soldiers from behind. The soldiers were in a rocky bush in the green valley of eastern Afghanistan and were carrying sandbags on their backs. They were found putting on helmets and flack jackets. In addition to that, they were holding their rifles ready to attack. The soldier on the left side was Zachary Boyd and wore a flip-flop, a red T-shirt, a pink shorts decorated with the logo ‘I ♥ NY’. The photograph was taken by David Guttenfelder when the United States attacks forced Zachary Boyd to come out of the bunk, scantly dressed to be in position to protect his post. (Lange, pp 2).
The photograph brings out a report of a clear and an immediate view of how the battle was heated. The photograph can also create an assurance of how the soldiers were devoted and prepared in the fight. The image of soldiers holding on their rifles was an indication of their readiness for the attack. The image also indicated the aspect of patriotism by focusing on the logo of the shorts worn by Zachary Boyd. From his picture, one can see that this is a soldier in the war, not dressed for it due to circumstances but the logo is an assurance that he is doing this due to patriotism. The bravery of Boyd was later praised by the US secretary of defense, Robert Gates, as he declared that he could only wonder about the impact that was to be caused on the Taliban.
Guttenfelder was later on awarded a second place in the awards for ‘people in the news singles’ when the World Press Photo contest was year. His image also acted in place of front-page photographs that had not been seen in America during the period of the war between Afghanistan and Iraq. This was due to a ban on images of dead US soldiers or coffins bringing them back from the war. Guttenfelder’s photo was seen as positive since images of dead soldiers were highly criticized. The Associated Press released the photos of the wounded soldiers in September 2009. Gates seriously condemned (Lange, pp 7).
After much criticism of photography of the US soldiers during the war, another images emerged which fell outside the spectrum of the war. These were of Saddam’s hideouts that were taken by soldiers who stormed into it. Other photographs that brought controversies in America were those of coffins carrying soldiers that were being returned to America by a private contractor. These photos were taken by military personnel of prisoners in Abu Ghraib. These were not intended to be viewed by the public until when they leaked to the media.
Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse
Other photos were those taken by American soldiers of the Abu Ghraib prisoners. Those photos were then given out as evidence of torture that was being done by the American soldiers on the detainees of Abu Ghraib. The torture in Abu Ghraib was exposed when the US media started showing interest after the first report of abuse by the US military. The central command in the United States however explained to the media that investigations over the matters had begun. This was then followed by other reports of abuse. This continued until April 2004 when broadcast by 60 minutes II television news–magazine released photographs evidencing torture of prisoners by US soldiers. Some of the images included a US army officer in front of naked prisoners forcing them to masturbate with their heads covered with polythene sacks. Another photograph was of a US army sergeant sitting on a Iraqi prisoner between two stretchers, and the other one was of two US soldiers standing behind a pyramid of naked US soldiers.
After the release of these photos, Iraqis were not very much surprised because they have been suspecting that anything might happen. People had been talking about it and the photos were just to add on evidence over their suspicion. US president later apologized to Iraqi saying that those involved would be punished though this was taken not to be enough apology for torture. This resulted in the imprisonment of those who were directly involved in the issues. Other responses over the matter include the Geneva Convention which had been approved by US as the law of land. The convention categorically banned torture, and acts of violence and cruelty, humiliations and degrading actions against prisoners any time and anywhere (Miller, Vandome, and McBrewster, 267).
The evidence of torture given by these images caused the blood of many people in Iraqi and other parts of the world to boil. This resulted in attacks on the Americans and British. Iraqis got angry after seeing the humiliating images and they started panning for a revenge that could help them to restore their humiliated dignity. The release of photos of the Israel Defense Forces featuring Palestinian prisoners some of whom were dead has brought back the discussion on the abuse and humiliating treatment among the media. New media groups are entering into the investigations and the pictures are still being posted on internet sites. Several media groups in many countries of the world are still holding the many unreleased pictures of the detainees’ torture by the US army. However, the former US president, George Bush was against the release of such photos during his leadership arguing that the release of such photos would cause an adversary towards them (Greenberg, 132).
Conclusion
The actions of US army officers have been evidenced by the use of photos. Photos have acted as proof for the humiliating acts that were done towards the Iraqis and the Palestinians by the US soldiers. However, in the case of war against Iraqi, the photos by Guttenfelder acted as a source of evidence for the good work of the soldiers. Photos can therefore give both positive and negative evidence.
Works Cited
Greenberg Karen. The torture debate in America. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005.
Lange Christy, Shooting Gallery. Web.
Miller, Frederic: Vandome, Agnes: and McBrewster John. Abu Ghraib Torture and Prisoner Abuse: Baghdad Central Prison, 372nd Military Police Company (United States), OGA,Manadel Al- Jamadi, Thomas Pappas. Georgia: Alphascript Publishing, 2009.
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