The US Defense Department said the release of additional images of prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq is "harmful." The new images were aired by an Australian television network.
"The department believes that a further release of images could only further inflame and possibly incite unnecessary violence in the world and would endanger our military men and women that are serving around the world," spokesman Bryan Whitman said, according to the AP.
Later, another defense official said the photos contained no new information about abuse. Thus, it appears the Pentagon doesn't intend to open a new investigation as a result of the latest publication of photos.
Meanwhile, it is reported that Saddam Hussein told aides in the mid-1990s that he warned the United States it could be hit by a terrorist attack. According to ABC News, citing 12 hours of tapes the network obtained of the former Iraqi dictator's talks with his Cabinet, Saddam predicted the attack could involve weapons of mass destruction.
"Terrorism is coming. I told the Americans," Saddam is heard saying, adding he "told the British as well." "In the future, what would prevent a booby trapped car causing a nuclear explosion in Washington or a germ or a chemical one?" Saddam said.
But he insisted Iraq would never launch such an attack. "This story is coming, but not from Iraq," he said.
U.S. officials confirmed the tapes were authentic.
