It would be a huge mistake to put out the photo of OBL

[Nancy Waterman]

That image will take over the story and it will be used to get people
who don't like us riled up in a negative way. It will become iconic and used
against us.

[RandomThoughts]

1. yea its a mistake.

No up side from it at all. And pictures can carry thoughts and reload some of his older followers still out there.

[Nancy Waterman]

3. Exactly right

It will get his followers much more riled up.

[lunatica]

21. Much more riled up than what they already are?

The lines are drawn deeply in the sand now. No one who hates Americans or Obama will stop hating. And how much angrier can the terrorists be? How much more could they want to kill us? I doubt they still have any good feelings that could turn bad now.

The status quo will be the same after a release than they are before a release.

[eleny]

2. Waiting this long has made it controversial

Imo, if it was released immediately as photos of others have it would never have been seriously questioned.

Btw, I don't plan on viewing it if I can possibly avoid it.

[Nancy Waterman]

4. The terrorists are saying they want to see the photo

They supposedly won't believe he is dead until they see it. I think it is an attempt to con
Obama into releasing it so that they can rally around it. Big, big mistake to let them goad us.

[Honeycombe8]

10. I see your point. That's a definite possibility. Couldn't a few terrorist leaders....

be allowed to view the photographs? I guess that wouldn't work....they'd then say publicly that the pics are not of OBL, so the U.S. would end up having to show the pics publicly, anyway.

I think it would've been better not to have "buried" him so quickly. Even tho I know it's a muslim preference to have their dead buried w/in a day...they clearly don't adhere to that...they have dead strewn across half the world w/o burying them at all, don't they, much less within a day?

[Thrill]

5. People who don't like the US. Don't need to be riled up

They already are. Whether the photo is released or not.

[alcibiades_mystery]

16. Exactly

Where's all this "But they'll retaliate" nonsense coming from. Here's a hint: these people are actively trying to kill you 24/7. They don't need external stimulus to jump on that train.

[lunatica]

22. Correct.

And they're never going to love us.

[Joe the Revelator]

6. Why let crazy people dictate what we do?

Stop being afraid.

[onenote]

7. okay, but what will putting out the photo prove?

The deniers will say the photo isn't OBL or that its faked. If you see the photo will you be able so say definitively that its him? Of course not.

[Honeycombe8]

9. I am wondering about that, too. Isn't there an international law against presenting pics of dead...

that one side in a war has killed?

Saddam Hussein's pics were shown because he wasn't dead (yet).

I remember there being some controversy at the time because of some law about not showing pics of prisoners so that it humiliates them, or if they're dead...or something along those lines.

[former9thward]

8. Panetta says it's coming out.

LEON PANETTA: The government obviously has been talking about how best to do this, but I don't think there was any question that ultimately a photograph would be presented to the public. (from interview with Brian Williams tonight)

[tibbiit]

11. A huge mistake

very foolish to give Muslims an image for martyrdom. Please dont (but i know you will).
tib

[cherish44]

17. I hope you meant to say "terrorists" instead of "Muslims"

nt

[OwnedByFerrets]

12. All the president has to say is, "it may endager our military forces to

release the photo". End of argument

[NYC Liberal]

13. There are valid arguments for and against it.

You make a good point and I think that's the biggest mark against releasing it.

However, he's dead. The people who might be inflamed by the photo already know that, so I don't really think it would make much difference.

[Nancy Waterman]

25. Once you have a picture, it is a game changer

Better that they release a picture of the prayers and ritual in the
"funeral" they gave him.

[golfguru]

14. People who hate us are not going to hate us

any less because we do not show the pictures.
The jihadists will never change their hate no matter
how low you bow to them.

[AtomicKitten]

15. I disagree. There will continue to be conspiracy theories that the story is a hoax.

FFS I read that deather theory here at DU.

One picture and the deather theory collapses under the weight of its own horseshit, just like the birther theory did.

[RichGirl]

18. Nobody needs to look at it if they don't want to.

So if they choose to, they can't complain about it. If they do complain about poor OBL...just remind them of people jumping out of windows. That's the most horrible sight I have ever seen. I can't even imagine what it like for the families of those people.

If you are worried about getting terrorist riled up...I think they can handle it. After all, didn't they hang and burn americans and share that picture with us! Don't think they are too squimish.

[fujiyama]

19. Release it. Put it in the public sphere. And do it soon.

Don't drag this shit it out long. Too many stupid conspiracy theorists out there.

Those that will kill over his death will do so anyways and the nation just needs to remain vigilant over those threats. Bin Laden's death doesn't end his ideology.

[Raine]

20. I don't agree. I feel it should be released

people, all sorts of people need to see that he's really dead. If anything a gory death should discourage some from wanting to be just like him. I think it could be a deterent from recruiting more terrorists.

[SkyDaddy7]

23. Maybe but the photo has to be released...

perhaps they will release photos of him wrapped up in the white linen prior to being buried at sea as well. That could be positive.

[Phoonzang]

24. I agree, but for a different reason. I think it's pointless.

In the age of Photoshop, how does a static picture serve as proof of anything? They know about Photoshop in the Middle East...

[KittyWampus]

26. Totally agree with you. I'd rather High Clearance Congress critters view it.

[judicine]

27. Osama photo

The photo was posted in the dem underground yesterday

[Avant Guardian]

28. It would make Obama look like a lowlife

This isnt the Jerry Springer show.

[cry baby]

29. I agree nt

[lynne]

30. Oh, yeah, because they really, really liked us are were peaceful BEFORE the photo -

- uh, not hardly. The damage was done when we did the deed and the hatred was there years ago or we wouldn't have had 09/11 in the first place. If the photo would bring some small measure of closure as evidence of justice done to those victims of 09/11, then they should be released. Our job is to worry about what we can do for our own. Too late to worry about riling up someone in a negative way as that was done with the first bullet through OBL's head.