Since Sunday’s big announcement from President Obama, we’ve all heard the reports – the photos are too gruesome for the public’s consumption. Plus, I shared with you why I thought it was vital for these photos to be released and I stand by that statement today.
Today’s decision is Obama’s first mistake in what is easily the biggest triumph of his presidency. Rather than let the media spin for days about whether or not the photos should be released, Obama could have simply stated Sunday evening that they would not be made public and explained the rationale.
In reality, the reason why Obama is not releasing the photos, appears to make some sense. According to a tweet from NBC’s Luke Russert: “House Intel Comt member tells me decision not to release #OBL death pic grounded in not wanting to create photographic “martyr status.”
However, my gut is telling me that no matter what Obama said regarding withholding the photos, there will absolutely be a number of individuals who will decide to start a “Is Osama Really Dead Campaign?” and that’s very unfortunate.
http://www.forbes.com/lists/
There are fears that if the photos are released they could provoke anger and trigger a backlash against US personnel in the Muslim world.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/
*Uh oh, get ready for some big time ish from Obama haters, conspiracy theorists and others. That’s because the Obama administration will not release photos showing Osama bin Laden after he was killed by U.S. forces, the president has told CBS
http://www.eurweb.com/
The president’s decision comes just hours after CIA director Leon Panetta told U.S. media it was likely the photos would be released at some time.
“I just think it’s important, they know we have it, to release it,” Mr. Panetta said.
White House press secretary earlier this week described some of the images of bin Laden as “gruesome.”
CNN, citing senior administration officials, said one set of photos taken of bin Laden’s body upon the Navy SEALs’ return to Afghanistan after the secret mission clearly identifies the al-Qaida leader but also shows an “open head wound across both eyes.” One senator said she had seen one picture showing his face.
“I have seen one of them,” Republican senator Kelly Ayotte said, adding she believed it confirmed his identitet.
http://www.nationalpost.com/
Eight reasons why Obama was right not to release photos of Osama bin Laden's body
1. Death photos can carry an emotional wallop, and these may rile many Muslims needlessly and perhaps cause retaliation on Americans.
2. It's standard practice in US death-penalty cases not to release images of the executed.
3. Why imitate the jihadists who post gruesome pictures of their victims?
4. Many Al Qaeda supporters won't ever be persuaded that he's dead. Most of the world is already convinced.
5. With the Arab Spring, the world is moving beyond Al Qaeda quickly. Why parade Osama bin Laden's image before the public even more?
6. Let's spare children the sight of such bodily violence.
7. The body of Osama bin Laden is not a trophy. It was his actions, not his body, that were the worse manifestation of a losing ideology that justified purposeful killing of innocents.
8. Let's now focus on further tasks to suppress jihadists.
http://www.csmonitor.com/
