More Abu Gharib

I've written about this before, but here's more info on the release of more Abu Gharib photos.

Judge Alvin Hellerstein (search) said the 144 pictures and videos can be turned over in redacted form to protect the victims' identities. He gave the Army one month to release them.

The judge ordered the release after he viewed eight of the photos last week. They were given to the Army by a military policeman assigned to Abu Ghraib.

As an aside, 144 pictures is a dozen dozens. That's one hell of a coincidental number. It would make perfect sense if these were film photos, but is a curiously round number for digital photos. My guess is the original investigators got tired of collecting them, or maybe they felt a dozen dozen were enough to tell the whole story. Coincidences happen, but still pretty bizzare.

I also find it remarkable that a judge can order the release of 144 photos after only having seen 8 of them. Is that an informed verdict?

Countdown: 1 month until the world hates us twice as much as they already do. I'll still be amazed if these photos see the light of day. It will be a bad day, I'll tell you that.