Der Spiegel Runs Graphic Photos Of Afghan Killings
GENE JOHNSON 03/21/11 12:31 PM 
Read More: Afghanistan, Afghanistan Graphic Photos, Afghanistan War, Der Spiegel, Der Spiegel Afghanistan Photos, War Crimes Probe, World News
SEATTLE — Graphic photos showing U.S. troops and dead Afghans that the Army was keeping under wraps for a war crimes probe were carried by a German news organization Monday, with one showing a soldier smiling as he posed with a bloodied and partially clothed corpse.
The photos published by Der Spiegel were among several seized by Army investigators looking into the deaths of three unarmed Afghans last year. Five soldiers based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, south of Seattle, have been charged with murder and conspiracy in the case.
Hans-Ulrich Stoldt, spokesman for Der Spiegel, declined to tell The Associated Press Monday how the magazine had obtained the photographs, citing the need to protect its sources.
Der Spiegel has other photos from the case – some of which are more graphic – though he said he doesn't know how many. The magazine printed a few in order to illustrate the story, Stoldt said.
"We published three but not others, and we even pixilated those we did print so that the victims could not be identified," Stoldt said. "We needed to document (the accusations) in some form, and were as restrained as possible."
Editions with the photos were on newsstands Monday, a day after Der Spiegel published them digitally.
Officials involved in the courts-martial had issued a strict protective order, seeking to severely limit access to the photographs due to their sensitive nature. Some defense teams had been granted copies but were not allowed to disseminate them.
"Today Der Spiegel published photographs depicting actions repugnant to us as human beings and contrary to the standards and values of the United States Army," the Army said in a statement released by Col. Thomas Collins. "We apologize for the distress these photos cause."
One of the published photographs shows a key figure in the investigation, Cpl. Jeremy Morlock of Wasilla, Alaska, grinning as he lifts the head of a corpse by the hair. Der Spiegel identified the body as that of Gul Mudin, whom Morlock was charged with killing on Jan. 15, 2010, in Kandahar Province.
