# Should Obama have released the photos? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 5, 2011, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-obama-have-released-the-photos/580799 "2011-05-05T03:23:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-obama-have-released-the-photos/580799/61 "2011-05-05T15:27:19Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Yes, it is. Which is why the government says it used DNA testing. I’m just pointing out that we haven’t seen any results from the testing; we just have an asserion the tests were done. I’m sure they were done, but if we’re discussing sources of evidence, this is still pretty much ‘the government says X Y and Z happened.’ > That would be stupid, so I don’t think you understand what I am saying here: I’m sure the guy is dead, but we’re not privy to much evidence to substantiate the assertions that he is dead. So if they showed you a copy of the lab report that would count? I mean no way that a piece of paper couldn’t be faked too. You want maybe to see the blood samples and run the lab procedure yourself? Would you be sure they didn’t just give you fake samples? You are right I don’t understand what you are saying here. Spell it out for me. What exactly would count as “objective evidence” if the same evidence that is enough to sentence people to death and to get them off death row isn’t enough? Viewing the dead body for yourself? You sure they didn’t just take some lanky bearded Arab off the street, do some plastic surgery on him and blast him through the head? It’s just their word that they didn’t. Tell me please, since I am having such a hard time understanding, what do you count as “objective”? Please do not take this as a personal insult, but anyone who is not going accept the report of a positive DNA match as objective proof that they got their man, anyone who believes that the government would fake that data, will not accept anything as objective, and does not deserve any consideration in this decision process. They are the lunatic fringe. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-obama-have-released-the-photos/580799/62 "2011-05-05T15:31:29Z")
I agree with Obama in not releasing the pictures. The problem with this is that he did authorize the release of pictures of others killed in the raid. That looks suspicious. I have no doubt he’s dead, it’s just that this should have been an all or nothing release. ---
**Author:** ![Scot\_Dutch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Scot\_Dutch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scot_Dutch)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-obama-have-released-the-photos/580799/63 "2011-05-05T15:34:11Z")
A pastor in Florida burns a Koran, which was pointless, and his hubris sets off the irrational response of over a dozen people who had nothing to do with it being killed in a riot. There is a risk that the release of these photos could present a perceived similar hubris, and be met with a similar irrational response. Cost/benefit analysis says, totally not worth it. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-obama-have-released-the-photos/580799/64 "2011-05-05T15:38:28Z")
I don’t want to see the pics released because I don’t want to see a pic of a man with his eye shot out. I watch the news regularly, if the pics were released they’d be plastered all over every news network in existence, with the usual insincere “You may be offended by this…” Well, not offended, just grossed out. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-obama-have-released-the-photos/580799/65 "2011-05-05T15:48:25Z")
I was just watching a Canadian newsman in Pakistan. He said the Pakistanians are more distrustful of the government than the tea baggers in America. He said we should release the photos there at least. Otherwise they will doubt that OBL was killed. The pictures were used for facial recognition cameras to prove they got him and not a double. So they have high quality pictures. They had collected DNA from relatives over the years in case they were in this position. I am sure they got the right 7 foot tall Arab leader. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-obama-have-released-the-photos/580799/66 "2011-05-05T15:49:35Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > The problem with this is that he did authorize the release of pictures of others killed in the raid. That looks suspicious. That’s wrong. There are pictures out there now, but they were taken later by Pakistani officials. Obama has no control over what is done with those pictures. > [@gonzomax](#): > > I was just watching a Canadian newsman in Pakistan. He said the Pakistanians are more distrustful of the government than the tea baggers in America. He said we should release the photos there at least. Otherwise they will doubt that OBL was killed. The newsman sounds like an idiot. If the photos are released anywhere, they will be on in internet and available everywhere within minutes. You can’t ‘just release the photos in Pakistan.’ ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-obama-have-released-the-photos/580799/67 "2011-05-05T15:53:33Z")
People gawking over the pictures would just be ghoulish, and releasing them would just feed that ghoulishness. If you need visceral satisfaction at his death, just read the headlines again. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-obama-have-released-the-photos/580799/68 "2011-05-05T16:06:51Z")
If anyone needs a picture of a dead ObL, just let me know. I can whip up a completely convincing fake in a day or so if you give me a good photo to start with. If I can do it, so can the government- and better. A photo doesn’t prove anything nowadays- all it does is satisfy bloodlust. Just sayin’. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-obama-have-released-the-photos/580799/69 "2011-05-05T16:45:28Z")
> [@Lightnin](#): > > If anyone needs a picture of a dead ObL, just let me know. I can whip up a completely convincing fake in a day or so if you give me a good photo to start with. > > If I can do it, so can the government- and better. A photo doesn’t prove anything nowadays- all it does is satisfy bloodlust. Just sayin’. We have a Dead ObL joke thread in Cafe Society. Why don’t you start a “Post your fake Dead ObL photos here” thread, too. Let’s see what the creative folks on this MB are capable of. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-obama-have-released-the-photos/580799/70 "2011-05-05T18:26:54Z")
It doesn’t make sense that they would release the [pictures of the other dead guys](http://www.reuters.com/subjects/bin-laden-compound) \*\*[WARNING GRAPHIC IMAGES IN LINK]\*\*at the scene, but not OBL’s. However, maybe the US government didn’t release the other pics, they may have been taken by the media after the SEALs left. As has been said, by others, if the reason is to avoid sparking unwanted violence…I would think that actually killing OBL is going to spark more violence than releasing images of his dead corpse. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-obama-have-released-the-photos/580799/71 "2011-05-05T18:28:34Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > It doesn’t make sense that they would release the [pictures of the other dead guys](http://www.reuters.com/subjects/bin-laden-compound) \*\*[WARNING GRAPHIC IMAGES IN LINK]\*\*at the scene, but not OBL’s. However, maybe the US government didn’t release the other pics, they may have been taken by the media after the SEALs left. The photos were taken by a Pakistani official and then leaked or given to the press. Nothing Obama can do about that. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-obama-have-released-the-photos/580799/72 "2011-05-05T18:39:01Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Nothing Obama can do about that. I. thought. I. kind. of. implied. that. in. my. post. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-obama-have-released-the-photos/580799/73 "2011-05-05T18:40:08Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > I. thought. I. kind. of. implied. that. in. my. post. 😕 I was agreeing. It doesn’t happen very often on message boards, but once in a while… ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-obama-have-released-the-photos/580799/74 "2011-05-05T18:46:57Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > I was just watching a Canadian newsman in Pakistan. He said the Pakistanians are more distrustful of the government than the tea baggers in America. He said we should release the photos there at least. Otherwise they will doubt that OBL was killed. They can believe whatever they want. It makes no difference if they believe OBL is still alive. The only people for whom it matters are terrorists or prospective terrorists. And if they think he’s still alive I hope they waste a lot of time and effort looking for him. When they get no word or (more importantly) money from him they’ll have to accept that he really is dead. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-obama-have-released-the-photos/580799/75 "2011-05-05T19:11:27Z")
> [@Revenant\_Threshold](#): > > I would say that if there’s a chance that releasing such photos would act as a further catalyst for those who would do harm, then unfortunetly the desires of the 9/11 victims are subordinate to the necessity of trying to avoid new victims of some other attack. > > Beyond that, I tend to agree that it’s not a very noble reaction. By all means, it would be perfectly legitimate to treat the guy (and his remains) unpleasantly, but the point of being noble is not doing such things even when you have reason and excuses. That’s great but he wasn’t treated unpleasantly. He wasn’t wrapped in a pig skin and shoved out the back of a helicopter, he was given a 40 minute religious ritual according to his custom. I’m tired of kissing the ass of people who will attack us regardless. We fed the world Abu Ghraib pictures but somehow reality goes on vacation when a mass murdering POS gets what is coming to him. We did it, we announced it to the world we did it and then in some bizarre sense of political correctness over of a military attack on foreign soil, the pictures are forbidden. The operation was assuredly planned down to the smallest detail by the military and intelligence agencies but the Commander in Chief couldn’t plan 5 seconds beyond the event. You’d think that he’d try and squeeze some time in to work on it between the Washington Correspondent’s dinner and a round of golf but no. Instead, he acted like a college student cramming for finals. We waited an hour past the announced time for his speech only to learn later he was not prepared to deal with the pictures. It was a complete media hose-up and it belongs entirely to the President. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-obama-have-released-the-photos/580799/76 "2011-05-05T19:22:30Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I was agreeing. It doesn’t happen very often on message boards, but once in a while… Gotcha! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-obama-have-released-the-photos/580799/77 "2011-05-05T19:27:59Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > They can believe whatever they want. It makes no difference if they believe OBL is still alive. The only people for whom it matters are terrorists or prospective terrorists. And if they think he’s still alive I hope they waste a lot of time and effort looking for him. When they get no word or (more importantly) money from him they’ll have to accept that he really is dead. You thought they were looking for him? All they had to do was pull up the blind. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-obama-have-released-the-photos/580799/78 "2011-05-05T19:59:54Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > First they say they’ll release the photos. Then they say they’re thinking about it. Then Panetta says they will. Then the White House says they won’t. I just did a quick search and can’t find anything like a reputable cite that an official White House spokesman said that the photo’s would be released. There are plenty of “inside sources” but nothing that looks official. Do you have a White House attributable quote or just “they” said? Found the [Panetta quote](http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/osama-bin-laden-death-photo-sought-911-families/story?id=13516795): Asked by reporters if a photo will be released, Panetta said, “I think it will be,” adding that the White House will make the final decision. Can’t find a quote but [USA today](http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2011-05-03-photos-bin-laden_n.htm?csp=34news)had: Press secretary Jay Carney said Tuesday that officials are concerned about the “sensitivity” of releasing a photo of the al-Qaeda leader, who was shot in the head by Navy commandos on Sunday and then buried at sea. He would not say who has photos from Sunday’s raid on bin Laden’s suburban Islamabad compound or who has seen them. He also did not say when officials will make a decision. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-obama-have-released-the-photos/580799/79 "2011-05-05T20:37:19Z")
nvm ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-obama-have-released-the-photos/580799/80 "2011-05-05T21:01:41Z")
> [@China\_Guy](#): > > I just did a quick search and can’t find anything like a reputable cite that an official White House spokesman said that the photo’s would be released. There are plenty of “inside sources” but nothing that looks official. Do you have a White House attributable quote or just “they” said? > > Found the [Panetta quote](http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/osama-bin-laden-death-photo-sought-911-families/story?id=13516795): Asked by reporters if a photo will be released, Panetta said, “I think it will be,” adding that the White House will make the final decision. > > Can’t find a quote but [USA today](http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2011-05-03-photos-bin-laden_n.htm?csp=34news)had: Press secretary Jay Carney said Tuesday that officials are concerned about the “sensitivity” of releasing a photo of the al-Qaeda leader, who was shot in the head by Navy commandos on Sunday and then buried at sea. He would not say who has photos from Sunday’s raid on bin Laden’s suburban Islamabad compound or who has seen them. He also did not say when officials will make a decision. Panetta said: “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.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-obama-have-released-the-photos/580799.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-obama-have-released-the-photos/580799.md?page=5)