Bin Laden Death Photos: To Release Or Not To Release

The United States has to decide whether to release photos of the dead Osama bin Laden, which could inflame our enemies, and yet there will be skeptics who want to see a body.

The White House has to weigh the relative value of answering its skeptics versus the cost of emboldening its enemies. There is a school of thought that says it may be better if bin Laden just fades away. He is already a martyr to his followers, but the U.S. is not interested in adding to his legend.

Already, South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham is questioning the decision to bury bin Laden at sea in accordance with Islamic tradition, saying, “To me, it didn’t make a lot of sense.”  The U.S. has photos in its possession.

The argument for releasing them: to ensure that the public knows and can appreciate that he’s dead. There is of course skepticism throughout the world that the US government claim that it killed bin Laden is true.

The argument against releasing the pictures: they’re gruesome. He has a massive head wound above his left eye where he took bullet, with brains and blood visible.

By: Alan

Alan Colmes is the publisher of Liberaland.