Speaking to 60 Minutes, President Obama has said the White House will not release photographs of Osama bin Laden’s body to prove his death, reports CBS News.
Republican House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers said Wednesday that the Obama administration should not release the gruesome post-mortem images, saying it could complicate the job for American troops overseas. Rogers told CBS News he has seen a post-mortem photo.
"The risks of release outweigh the benefits," Rogers said. "Conspiracy theorists around the world will just claim the photos are doctored anyway, and there is a real risk that releasing the photos will only serve to inflame public opinion in the Middle East."
"Imagine how the American people would react if Al Qaeda killed one of our troops or military leaders, and put photos of the body on the internet," Rogers continued. "Osama bin Laden is not a trophy - he is dead and let's now focus on continuing the fight until Al Qaida has been eliminated."
The photos are said to be extremely "gruesome" with an exposed wound to the head and brain mater.
Meanwhile: The FBI has released a warning about malicious software and cyber-viruses being spread with fake links claiming to offer images or video of bin Laden's death. Federal authorities and cyber-security experts are warning Web users NOT to click on the links.
I think its a smart move.
Considering that we have become SUCH a visually-driven society AND remembering the relentless reairing of the 9/11 footage, without discretion at times AND this being the symbolic and tender 10th Anniversary of 9/11, I think that too much of the subject could be deadly within and without our borders.
Yes, he's dead and it's done. But there is no cause for celebration until our troops are safely home! That's something to celebrate!
Posted by: TheRevKev | 04 May 2011 at 17:02