"I think that given the graphic nature of these photos, it would create some national security risk. It is important for us to make sure that very graphic photos of somebody who was shot in the head are not floating around as an incitement to additional violence. As a propaganda tool. There's no doubt that Bin Laden is dead. And so we don't think that a photograph in and of itself is going to make any difference. There are going be some folks who deny it. The fact of the matter is, you will not see bin Laden walking on this earth again."
Personally, I'm conflicted on this issue and could really see it going either way, so I came up with a list of reasons on why the photos should be released and the corresponding reasons why they shouldn't be released. My list after the jump:
| Reasons To Release the Photos | Reasons to NOT Release the Photos |
It will show the Muslim world that Osama bin Laden is dead. | It will inflame the Muslim world and make life harder for the troops. |
| It will prove once and for all that bin Laden is dead. | DNA evidence, facial recognition software, and the U.S. Navy SEAL team confirm bin Laden's death more conclusively than a photograph. |
| It will give closure to many Americans who wish to see bin Laden's corpse for themselves. | The need to see the photos with our own eyes is more of a selfish need than a need for closure. |
| The entire point of going in with a SEAL team as opposed to an air strike was to obtain proof of bin Laden's body. | The entire point of going in with a SEAL team as opposed to an air strike was to confirm bin Laden's death. |
| Al Qaeda could force us to release them anyway by releasing another bin Laden video which claims that he is alive. | Any bin Laden video released in the future will be unable to provide authentication with respect to its date. |
| We are desensitized to gory images. | The photos will be too gory. |
| If we don't show the photos, certain people will continue to believe the conspiracy that bin Laden is still alive. | By virtue of the Birther issue, we have seen first hand that people predisposed to believe a conspiracy will continue to believe it no matter what you show them. |
| In the interest of good faith towards the Muslim world, it will show that we gave proper burial rights to bin Laden. | Only the video of the burial - and not the head shot - is necessary to show that proper burial rights were given. |
Should the White House release the photos of Osama bin Laden's dead body?
