White House spokesman bashes British press over torture reports

Following an explosive report that some of the torture photos President Obama is withholding depict graphic sexual abuse, the Department of Defense and White House came out to vigorously refute the claims.

In a surprisingly broad denial, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs cast doubt on the entire British media.

“I don’t want to speak generally about some reports I’ve seen over the past few years in the British media,” he said. “And, in some ways I’m surprised it filtered down. Let’s just say if I wanted to read — if I wanted to read a write-up of how Manchester United fared in the Champion’s League cup, I might open up a British newspaper.

“If I was looking for something that bordered on truthful news, I am not entirely sure [British papers] would be the first stack of clips I picked up,” deadpanned Gibbs.

“Are you saying the report is completely false?” asked CBS reporter Chip Reid.

“I would refer you … to the statement that DoD put out, that the article is wrong and mischaracterizes the photos that are in question,” said Gibbs. “… None of the photographs in question depict the images described in the article.”

Helen Thomas, pitching a follow-up, asked Gibbs if he had actually seen the photos.

“I have not seen the photos,” he replied.