[BurlyShirley]

It's interesting to me that the Obama administration has (for now at least) decided against releasing photos of dead Osama. The rationale for this makes some sense, as I think Brian Williams put it, (paraphrasing) "the photo would be used as the cellphone and laptop background for every extremist as a rallying cry or source of motivation to carry out acts of terror" .

Probably true. So what would be the upside of releasing it? Id like to believe that a photo of dead Bin Laden would quell some doubts among the public and 9/11 truther types, but I know that's not the case. These conspiracy theory nutjobs (who are seemingly multiplying) would find a way to turn the photographic proof into evidence of an even bigger conspiracy, I'd guess by pointing out blurry pixels and calling it a photoshop, so it would be a pretty useless gesture on that front.

On the other hand, why does the government have to protect me from seeing a gory photo? I paid for it. Im a grown adult and can choose whether or not to view it. What do you guys think?

 

[c101aviojet]

A compromise between both views could be showing a sawed-off finger.

Tinfoil hat mode on: I believe there's just no way to know if Bin Laden has been killed, still lives with a new faces, or was an invention from the very beginning.
Whatever the case, apart from the personal relief it brings to so many people, I'm not sure his death will really change anything. He even wasn't the real public enemy 1.

 

[Pesqueeb]

No. Damned if they do, damned if they don't. The implication however that in the age of teh interwebz that were going to see something too shocking and/or gory is a tad naive. Has Obama never seen 4chan?

 

[kidwoo]

No. Just like the administration said: Trotting around trophies is not tasteful, civilized nor wise from an incitation standpoint.

Is the fact that everything is being presented on a 'take our word for it' basis? Sure.

But holding the body in a known location is just as sketchy, so getting rid of it does make sense as well. I mean really......who in their right mind would want to have the body of OBL hanging around waiting to be reclaimed by a million nutjobs all over the world?

 

[zdubyadubya]

No. Just like the administration said: Trotting around trophies is not tasteful, civilized nor wise from an incitation standpoint.

Is the fact that everything is being presented on a 'take our word for it' basis? Sure.

But holding the body in a known location is just as sketchy, so getting rid of it does make sense as well. I mean really......who in their right mind would want to have the body of OBL hanging around waiting to be reclaimed by a million nutjobs all over the world?

this.

 

[binary visions]

The people who believe will continue to believe, the people who won't will never be convinced.

It is of no value to release a bloody image of a war victim.

If he wasn't dead, anyone who thinks he wouldn't have a video released by today of him waving around a current newspaper is an idiot, so photos won't help. But there are people who would be outraged, for a myriad of reasons, by the release of the photos, so why stir up those people, and if it adds fodder for even one extremist, why do it? Where is the upside?

I think they did exactly the right thing. Dump the body immediately, hold onto the photos, and let the whole thing go. It gives the minimum amount of trouble for all parties involved.

 

[eaterofdog]

Pffft ain't no pics coming out, they don't have time to stage up some good shops.

 

[kidwoo]

Where's arkane when you need him?

There's gotta be a photo floating around of OBL on the moon with buzz aldrin, typing out an email to obama about a caliphate, with obama's long form birth certificate sitting on his desk.

 

[IH8Rice]

do they have to? no
do i want to see them? fvck yeah

 

[BurlyShirley]

Upside?
From watching the news reports coming out of Pakistan, literally no one locally believes that bin Laden was ever even in that compound, let alone killed there. The same is undoubtedly true across the region. It would seem to me that there is some risk in letting a large portion of the middle east continue to believe that he is alive, and that the US are liars/incompetent. Releasing a photo might work toward convincing those people (these are not prisonplanet reading mouthbreathers, just rural ignorants) that he is indeed dead, and might dissuade other potential terrorists from the belief that you can evade the US forever, even after committing a terrorist attack.

 

[Westy]

We all get pissed if we see dead americans getting dragged in the streets of warzones. I like to think we could take the stand that "we are better than that".

That being said I think the government could make available hair samples or something similar to valid organizations such as a questioning foreign governments for DNA testing. Suppling proof to the lowest common denominator of frothers and conspiracy theorists is a waste of time as those who do not want to believe will assume they are photoshops. Despite having videos and images there are those that still think that the moon landing was fake. Actually I think it would be easier for the government to fake a dead Bin Laden photo than it would be to not produce one at all.

 

[$tinkle]

not this

however, there should be widespread fotos of ayman al-zawahiri in his present state of [assumed good] health, captioned something like "take a good look now"

or that other yemini/american crackhead imam. don't forget: there's still a bounty on him

 

[$tinkle]

i find it odd the same week we finally see obama's COLB we are now stonewalled on OBL's death certs

 

[MMike]

Perhaps maybe an artist's rendering.....as a Peanuts character maybe....

His last words? "Good grief!"

 

[Fool]

How about a flip-page stick-figure reenactment of the raid.

 

[Pegboy]

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://jerrybrice.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/fallingman-wide.jpeg&imgrefurl=http://jerrybrice.wordpress.com/2011/03/08/shocking-police-helicopter-video-of-911-twin-tower-disaster-released-to-the-publicvideo/fallingman-wide/&usg=__Ns2zz_z-pXXYaEHV7JU6xFNprss=&h=375&w=470&sz=29&hl=en&start=0&sig2=bzIf11pnpZ8NKu21iifX2w&zoom=1&tbnid=yksMVxn-5fk7GM:&tbnh=113&tbnw=136&ei=INLCTfn5EYu6sQPer4TyDw&prev=/search?q=falling+man,+9-11&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&rlz=1I7GGLR_en&biw=1004&bih=581&tbm=isch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=359&page=1&ndsp=19&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0&tx=64&ty=81

I believe it should be released. This photo was released, as well as an interview video with the stomach turning background thuds as people hit the streets from the towers above. I work in a profession where I replace body parts of soldiers with mechanical devices. Right or wrong, these soldiers fought to take down the perpetrator of 9-11 and countless other acts on innocent civilians. The government spent our money to cary out these missions and I for one would like to see the result. As far as enraging the muslim community goes; I think if they associate themselves with and are offended by OBL's lifeless image, they do not deserve our respect. It's a slipery slope for sure.

Ultimately, I think our soldiers who have sacrificed, and the families that continue to mourn, deserve to see this outcome if they chose to do so.

 

[rockofullr]

Upside?
From watching the news reports coming out of Pakistan, literally no one locally believes that bin Laden was ever even in that compound, let alone killed there. The same is undoubtedly true across the region.

Where are you getting this? The Paki government has been all over the TV saying "It wasn't our fault!" and lots of people in Pakistan are pissed at them. Remember Al Qaeda was blowing up sh!t in Pakistan too.

It would seem to me that there is some risk in letting a large portion of the middle east continue to believe that he is alive, and that the US are liars/incompetent. Releasing a photo might work toward convincing those people (these are not prisonplanet reading mouthbreathers, just rural ignorants) that he is indeed dead, and might dissuade other potential terrorists from the belief that you can evade the US forever, even after committing a terrorist attack.

The proof is in the pudding as they say. When no more Bin Laden videos show up EVER I think people will get the idea.

 

[MMike]

A black velvet painting of a shirtless Obama (with fabio body) holding bin Laden's head aloft for the villagers to cheer. Bin Laden's entrails would of course be dangling from our hero's teeth.....that would be sweet.

 

[X3pilot]

His last words? "Good grief!"

No, his last words were "What? Navy SEALS are at the door? I need them like I need a hole in my head!"

 

[X3pilot]

Need to? No.
Want to? You bet!

If some country or group thinks he isn't dead, then let THEM spend 10 years and trillions of dollars to find him next.

 

[eaterofdog]

A black velvet painting of a shirtless Obama (with fabio body) holding bin Laden's head aloft for the villagers to cheer. Bin Laden's entrails would of course be dangling from our hero's teeth.....that would be sweet.

More proof that Canada is an American expansion pack.

 

[stevew]

Perhaps maybe an artist's rendering.....as a Peanuts character maybe....

His last words? "Good grief!"

mmike wins....have lucy shooting him.

 

[narlus]

i'm sure consumptionjunction.com will have photos up at some point

 

[Andyman_1970]

We all get pissed if we see dead americans getting dragged in the streets of warzones. I like to think we could take the stand that "we are better than that".

What he said. If we parade this photo out and all the redneck mouthbreathers start pounding their chest about how bad ass we are.....how is that different from those Islamic nutjobs bragging about blowing our folks up?

I'm glad we took the "high road" on that one..........

 

[stevew]

free julian assange!

 

[BurlyShirley]

i'm sure consumptionjunction.com will have photos up at some point

Yeah, that's the other thing. The photos ARE going to come out at some point. I guess the Obama admin will have plausible deniability with regard to taking responsibility for the fallout (should there be any) when the photos do come to light, but the end result will ultimately be the same. Why fuel all this speculation in the mean time? Didn't he learn anything from the birth certificate fiasco?

Where are you getting this?

Lots of random reports and interviews on the news.

 

[Inclag]

I just want to see a photo with OBL with a pancake on his head.

 

[stevew]

just like watching columbine footage....wouldn't be shocked by it...

 

[stevew]

I just want to see a photo with OBL with a pancake on his head.

don't you mean what's left of his head?

 

[Inclag]

don't you mean what's left of his head?

Nah, was never a fan of strawberry's on pancakes.

 

[dante]

Upside?
From watching the news reports coming out of Pakistan, literally no one locally believes that bin Laden was ever even in that compound, let alone killed there. The same is undoubtedly true across the region. It would seem to me that there is some risk in letting a large portion of the middle east continue to believe that he is alive, and that the US are liars/incompetent. Releasing a photo might work toward convincing those people (these are not prisonplanet reading mouthbreathers, just rural ignorants) that he is indeed dead, and might dissuade other potential terrorists from the belief that you can evade the US forever, even after committing a terrorist attack.

Bin Laden's dead. If he wasn't, he would've had a video/audio out stating that he wasn't. The only question in my mind is whether he was actually in that compound (and killed by US forces), or whether the US just found out that he'd died 6mo ago from kidney disease and the US staged this to score political points.

 

[Westy]

Bin Laden's dead. If he wasn't, he would've had a video/audio out stating that he wasn't. The only question in my mind is whether he was actually in that compound (and killed by US forces), or whether the US just found out that he'd died 6mo ago from kidney disease and the US staged this to score political points.

Bin Laden supporters would no doubt go out of their way to disrepute the US and show he had already died. If there is any cover up going on it is probably because any dead OBL pictures have someones cock in his mouth or they did get him alive and are currently putting cigars out on his scrotum.

 

[AngryMetalsmith]

While killing an enemy is often necessary for self defense, it seems morally reprehensible to celebrate their death no matter how evil or twisted they were.

 

[binary visions]

Didn't he learn anything from the birth certificate fiasco?

So, what, policy should be they cave to all nutjobs who scream loud enough?

I'm actually mildly disappointed that the birth certificate was released at all. Let the ignorant knuckle-draggers believe what they want.

 

[jasride]

I m glad they aren't released as well. But im sure within 10 to 15 years the photos will be main stream and the History Channel or something like it will have a show about OBL just like there has been the past week but with included death photos. But for now, no photos, good call!

 

[Pesqueeb]

So, what, policy should be they cave to all nutjobs who scream loud enough?

I'm actually mildly disappointed that the birth certificate was released at all. Let the ignorant knuckle-draggers believe what they want.

It only made the GOP look more nutty in the eyes of many voters.

 

[DamienC]

Bin Laden supporters would no doubt go out of their way to disrepute the US and show he had already died. If there is any cover up going on it is probably because any dead OBL pictures have someones cock in his mouth or they did get him alive and are currently putting cigars out on his scrotum.

Weekend at Bin Laden's

 

[johnbryanpeters]

Don't need to see it, morons will argue about it past the end of time. He's dead, it's done.

 

[sanjuro]

While I don't need to see a picture of body, then who does? Really no one, even our staunchest allies.

Just accept Obama at his word, but everyone's curiosity is piqued.

 

[stevew]

so this is one time where most of you don't want to see wikileaks do their job?