President Barack Obama made the right call Wednesday when he decided not to release death photos of terrorist Osama bin Laden. There’s nothing to be gained from the release of the graphic pictures.
Skeptics who are not convinced by the DNA evidence and other identifying proof that bin Laden is dead will not be convinced by any photo the U.S. government produces. They will claim the image was manufactured by photo shop procedures and persist in believing that someone else’s body was buried in the northern Arabian Sea.
Any picture of bin Laden’s body, bloodied after the attack by Navy SEALS, could be used as an iconic image by his followers to promote him as a martyr. There is nothing to be gained from inciting violence or creating ill will in the Mideast by allowing the worldwide distribution of such a photo. Or as President Obama indelicately put it “There’s no need to spike the football.”
The precision of the raid on bin Laden’s not-so-remote compound and the painstaking, persistent planning and intelligence gathering that went into that successful military operation was mind-boggling. Now that was a feat that was almost unbelievable.
When it comes to the Al-Qaida’s departed leader, let the doubters doubt. Osama bin Laden is dead. His threats of “Death to America” have ended. And the world is an infinitely better place for it.
Comments (19)
Add commentcome on, this is silly
You liberals are confusing. Its ok to have all those bloody movies that kids watch. Its ok to have all those video games that are graphic showing blood, killing and even rape. But showing the US #1 enemy dead is so awful.
The release would allow closure for so many.
"Any picture of bin Laden’s body, bloodied after the attack by Navy SEALS, could be used as an iconic image by his followers to promote him as a martyr."
You mean its ok for them to celebrate the deaths of US soldiers and whoever else is the infidel? Its ok to put them on the internet to the world while they behead that person?
"Or as President Obama indelicately put it " 'There’s no need to spike the football.' "
Good one, like he didnt do that yesterday at Ground Zero?
"When it comes to the Al-Qaida’s departed leader, let the doubters doubt. "
You mean like you liberals doubt watervboarding and Iraq? Without both, we would have never gotten bin Laden.
You liberals confuse the crapola out of me. Always mixed signals.
Good call by the President.
Good call by the President. No need to release any photo's or video.
I agree, there is no reason
I agree, there is no reason to release the photo. There is a difference between a movie and real life. Bin Laden was a horrible man BUT he had children, those children loved their father. He was a person. I think he was a horrible person but a person no less. We should not gloat. No picture will make them believe. It will cause more anger, hurt, pain and death. For once, Obama made the right call by not releasing the pictures.
no picture please
Does Obama need to show the bin Laden picture to prove he's dead -- like he had to show his birth certificate to prove he was born in the USA? No graphics needed.
I disagree with dems?
Are you suggesting the Dispatch is liberal? LOL!
No Need
I agree. No need to show the picture. I suspect that even showing the picture would not suffice as ample proof to a number of groups. Quite frankly, if the picture is released it would probably be used to ratchet up extremist rehtoric. He's dead. Done deal. Move on to the next one in line.
I agree but....
I agree that releasing the pictures would not change the mind of the doubters, but, is it not a submissive sign on our part that we are showing Al-Quida respect? Respect is the last thing they deserve after 9-11. We should not be intimidated or afraid of what they think or may do if the photos had been released. Rather, we should have gave them notice that his replacement will suffer the same fate.
it sure is truman
We do not need to respect him AT ALL. Did he respect us, ever?
So many muslims that backed him still believe that he is not dead and it is more American lies. I say break their wills and releasing the photos and video may do it. If they hate us more and begin attacking our military, they will be easier to find and destroy.
What about the bin Laden children? They all want us dead too. Do not think for a second that he hasn't instilled in them the same hatred he had for us. Why do you suppose the one attacked the heavily armored and gunned heros who entered the compound?
What does the birth certificate that Obama should have released 2 years ago, but lied and said long forms in Hawaii do not exist, have anything to do with this? And for the record for the 100th time, I never questioned if the President was born here or not.
"It will cause more anger, hurt, pain and death." From who? Moderate Muslims claim he was not one of them so we dont have to worry about them. The extreme Islamic groups already hate us so is that going to change so no worries there.
"Quite frankly, if the picture is released it would probably be used to ratchet up extremist rehtoric." You mean we dont deal with that already throughout the world and throughout the Islamic faith?
Gloating was already done, by the "me, me, I, I" speeches Obama is making after the big announcement. I gave him his much well deserved respect for finishing the hunt of this mad man, which was very much non-partisan and very much 100% American. Frankly I was proud of the first speech he made announcing the harvest of bin Laden.
Nancy Pelosi made me sick. Thanked the military 40 seconds into her speech after saying how it was all the liberals, who frankly all opposed this, deserved the credit. Get real hag.
But everyone deserves their own opinion, and mine is to release it.
It serves no purpose
to display the photos anywhere.
it serves one to me
I fought for my country, I want to see dead what everyone has been fighting over
I dont care one bit about Bin Laden's family
I don't have any respect for any member of the regime that crashed planes into our cities and slaughtered our families and children, and I DO want to see proof he's dead. I trust nothing Obama says, or Clinton for that matter, I want PROOF!
We were forced to watch the planes crashing into the buildings 100000s of times, I want to see Bin Ladens dead and gone photos once for every time I had to see that and relive that trauma that went with that day!!
disagree_with_dems
"You mean its ok for them to celebrate the deaths of US soldiers and whoever else is the infidel? Its ok to put them on the internet to the world while they behead that person"
No, it's absolutely not right and is the reason we shouldn't release the photos - we don't need to stoop to their level. It's not a matter of respect for Bin Laden's family, it's a matter of integrity on ours.
Re: You are so right
barnet69, I 'yanked' your post because it was nothing but a hateful attack against another poster.
He had young children. Yes,
He had young children. Yes, I am sure he was brain washing them into his crazy ways but it doesn't mean that his children would go forth and kill thousands. I know he had an adult son there-as for his adult offspring-they have the choice but the young ones don't. Hate brings more hate. Why feed the fire? Make them more angry-yeah they hate us now but think how much more they can hate us. It isn't even about them hating us as much as it is about right and wrong. It is just wrong, wrong, wrong to put them out. I don't think there should have been any gloating done on America's behalf. There is going to be no right answer.
Bin Ladens photos ,and quick
Bin Ladens photos ,and quick burial at sea, were because of thier religion,not that we care about.But by not doing it this way,we could very well be suddenly retaliated against,and we do not need, another 9/11.
Personally i think we broke al quidas back with demise of bin ladan ,but time will tell.
But you can be sure he was not honerd in any way at anytime.
The Real Reason Obummer Won't Show The Photo!
When I read what the fellers was posting here, I had to say to myself, "their is a real reason they will not show the photo". That is, that the Osama Bin Lauden is still alive, in fact it is all a shame. They never killed him. It is a fradulence forced on the people to cover up the fact that there is no birth certificate!
Say what you will, but we all know a forgery when we see one. And Obummer was NOT born in the United States of America. Under our constitution, he is not allowed, nor even was it to have been in event of the option.
I thing that they are pulling the wool over our eyes. Enough of this Democrat party and it's agenda. It is time to call a spade a spade, and time to end this sharade. I am sick of the lies from the libs.
DNTMG
Aitkin
Are some of you crazy?
Really? Why release the pictures. It could possibly cause an unecessary uprising among those who wish harm upon our country. We are better than those ruthless thugs that posted the beheadings on the internet. Are you suggesting that we stoop to their level?
Everything does not need to come down to left wing or right wing. Some things are simply just American. And I believe it would be un-American to follow the examples of the extremist.
As far as the birth certificate goes, thats not even what this article was about. Learn to stay on task people. And for crying out loud this was supposed to be a monumental event for this country, but some of you are so shortsided you cannot see beyond your political parties to say "hey we got that SOB". Kudos to all of the men and women of our armed services. And shame on some of you, for not being more undertanding and respectful.