An Obama administration official said Wednesday that the president told his legal advisers last week that releasing the photos would endanger U.S. troops. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the discussions were private.

Obama wants the issue to go back to the courts, although federal appeals judges have ruled the photos could be released.

The top military commanders in Iraq and Afghanistan have told Obama that their troops could be in greater danger if new detainee abuse photos are released this spring.

Obama came into office talking about how he will make government transparent again.  To his credit he has taken several steps to make this happen.  However, it is the hard situations he will ultimately be judged on and this is certainly one of those situations.  And if this is how he is going to respond he has failed.  This is the same mentality and excuses we got from the Bush administration on why no photos of returning dead soldiers could be released to the public.  This is the same excuse we got on when Bush did not release a single memo dealing with the NSA's survalliance.

There are a few reasons to try and keep a lid of the photos becoming public.  One, the government thinks we are all 4 year old children who can not handle anything.  Two, they are trying to cover their ass.  Three, they say our troops will be in more danger if the photos are released. 

I'm sure Obama's fears that Middle Easterners will react harshly are true.  After all, what is contained on those pictures has to be pretty awful stuff.  But if he is truly committed to a new engagment with the world he has to release the photos.  Acknowledge our wrongs and vow to never let them happen again.  Some prosecutions would also be nice,  And I have to say, if Obama is worried the photos release will endanger the troops then he is being very short sighted.  Continuing the occupation is the ultimate danger to US troops in Iraq.  Get them out.