05/13/09 | Breaking Tweets

May 13, 2009

Obama changes mind: Opposes POW abuse photos

Per USA Today, United States President Barack Obama has decided that he is now against the release of photos detailing alleged abuse of prisoners of war in Afghanistan and Iraq. According to Pentagon spokesperson Geoff Morrell, some military commanders have raised concerns that releasing said images could aid al-Qaeda in their propaganda efforts.

The 44 images in question were part of a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and are slated to be released to the public on May 28th.

Early Twitterverse reaction appears to be in favor of President Obama's switched view on the issue:

BeaconOfLight (Unlisted location) Obama finally realized release of pictures would put US soldiers in danger. Da, 4 as smart as he is supposed 2 B, it took him long enough.

Jamey_F (Unlisted location) Wow Obama... You actually are thinking and not releasing pictures.. Finally good job

MoBrain (Unlisted location ) Just heard Obama is blocking the pictures of "torture" under Bush Admin. I'm suspicious. Maybe Cheney hit a nerve!

ehlersd (Texas) RT @texaszman: LOL! Obama Reverses Course, NOW opposes release of Prison Pictures! Wait! Which way is the Wind Blowing??

MSGTAM (Woodland, WA) Sitting here thinking that President Obama made a great decision in not releasing the interrogation pictures.

Pope supports Palestinian state

Per BBC, Pope Benedict XVI shows his approval and support for the Palestinians' right to a homeland, as he continues a Middle East tour in the West Bank.

In Bethlehem the Pope called for a "just and lasting" peace in the region and encouraged the citizens of Palestine to denounce acts of violence and terrorism.

Twitter users in the region speak about the Pope's visit:

Pnina (Jerusalem) G'morning from Jerusalem, where the Pope is currently a 5 min walk from my house. Think he'd like to try a hafooch? 11 May 2009 from web

JerusalemBureau (Jerusalem) I think the #Pope's walkout reflects politics, not integrity 11 May 2009 from Tweetie in reply to miguelg1964

fatherjonathan (Rome, Italy) Doing radio tour today on Pope's visit to Jordan and Israel. One host expressed shock the Pope would call for a two-state solution. What?! 13 May 2009 from web

Some citizens are inconvenienced by the Pope:

ASoldiersMother (Jerusalem, Israel) Tell that to the pope! Wanted to get across town yesterday...but driving there wasn't an option :-) At least 2day is better. 13 May 2009 from TweetDeck in reply to SusanZelinski

sarijos (Jerusalem) no traffic snarls today :-) The pope is still visiting somewhere else 13 May 2009 from TweetDeck

carolw (Israel) Spent the day in Jerusalem. Only inconvenienced by the Pope once. 13 May 2009 from web

jerrib247 (Jerusalem, Israel) The Pope being in Jerusalem is a traffic nightmare! Whole sections of the city are closed down. What a pain. 13 May 2009 from TweetDeck

Nigeria: Thousands protest high fuel prices

Per BBC: Nigerian police are on high alert in the city of Lagos as an anti-government march takes place on Wednesday. Hundreds of thousands of Nigerians hit the streets in protest of rising fuel prices, low minimum wages and the slow process of electoral reform.

The Nigeria Labour Congress has served notice to the Federal Government that more protests around the country would follow if the government does not meet its demands.

Twitterers in Nigeria and elsewhere covered the event:

dennisude (Abuja, Nigeria) Crude oil theft in Nigeria's niger delta bears economic, environmental, socio-political and security problems. http://bwbx.io/6GIg 12 May 2009 from Business Exchange

234next (Nigeria) Lagos/Nigeria - Police in Ikeja cheer on workers in peaceful protest march. 13 May 2009 from web

WorldPolitics (India) Nigeria: Labour Protest - FG Raises Security Alert - AllAfrica.com http://cli.gs/PePpjz #LinkTweet 12 May 2009 from WP to Twitter

francjournalist (Bangalore, India) Security heavy at Nigeria march: Thousands of protesters take to the streets of a Nigerian city for an anti-gove.. http://tinyurl.com/paxugv 13 May 2009 from DestroyTwitter