Snapshot Issues

The decision by the President not to release additional torture photos is right on the money. On the advice of his top military personnel, what else could he possibly do? Ironically, John McCain agrees with him.

President Obama's campaign promise of being transparent has not been besmirched by the reversal. Considering the sensational nature of the images, which would likely incite further hatred from people who already loathe America in the first place, keeping them from publication is perhaps the only reasonable conclusion at this point.

Those who argue that the release of the photos is critical for helping the public understand the scope and scale of prisoner abuse as well as for holding senior officials accountable for authorizing or permitting such abuse don’t seem to be getting the whole picture. Public viewing of such pictures is certainly far less important than the safety of the American people. Vigorous prosecution of the torture-approving offenders can come at a later date.

Administrative transparency is still the standard of President Obama's White House. He has never hidden his agenda, or his aims for helping people who are in dire need in the current economy.

Toxic Burn

While any form of human or animal torture is deplorable, and investigation and or subsequent punishment should be conducted thereof, opening up this particular can of worms might color Barack Obama's presidency if he is not careful.

The President has been on the right path since he walked into the White House. He has made decisions based on what will benefit the American people and not a political party, and he has accomplished more in the three months he has been in office than any other President in my recent memory. I would hate to see his first or second terms consumed in the media by the investigation of insidious mistakes made by his predecessor and his sidekick.

• Holder declassifies timeline of actions by top Bush officials on interrogation

However, those who ordered torture of prisoners in the first place should be held accountable. Heads should roll from the top. No one is above the law, contrary to what Bush and his friends once thought or continue to think. Securing the safety of our country is extremely important, but the fact that we were not attacked after 9/11 during the remainder of Bush’s term was in my view just his dumb luck, not the result of excessive torture methods or secret memos now coming to light.

I am of the firm opinion that Bush will go down in history as one of our nation's worst presidents. I just wish his toxic overflow would roll away instead of getting in the way of the good works of our current President.