Why has the US never released Osama Bin Laden death photos? U.S. President Barack Obama had opted against releasing photographs depicting the deceased body of Osama bin Laden after the SEAL Team Six killed Osama in Abbottabad.
Why has US never released Osama Bin Laden death photos?
Obama said that the graphic images could incite violence or be exploited for propaganda
The move came as Obama, along with key members of his national security team, including Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, weighed the potential ramifications of making such graphic images public.
National Security Concerns Trump Public Disclosure
Obama, in an interview with CBS News’ “60 Minutes,” emphasized the conclusive nature of DNA testing confirming bin Laden’s identity, asserting that there exists no doubt among U.S. officials regarding the Al-Qaeda leader’s demise.
Despite calls for transparency, the administration deemed the release of the photographs too risky, citing concerns that they could be exploited as propaganda tools or incite violence against Americans.
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Asked about skeptics, including in Pakistan, who don’t believe bin Laden is dead, Obama said, “There is no doubt that bin Laden is dead. Certainly, there is no doubt among Al-Qaeda members that he is dead. And so we don’t think that a photograph in and of itself is going to make any difference. There are going to be some folks who deny it. The fact of the matter is you will not see bin Laden walking on this Earth again.”
The Former U.S. president added, “This was someone who was deserving of the justice he received.”
White House Upholds Respectful Disposition, Despite Controversy
White House spokesman Jay Carney defended the decision, emphasizing the administration’s commitment to prioritizing national security interests.
Carney underscored efforts to prevent the images from becoming symbols of anti-American sentiment and reiterated the respect shown to bin Laden’s body in accordance with Islamic traditions, despite his role in orchestrating the 9/11 attacks and numerous other atrocities.
“These are graphic photographs of someone who was shot in the face, or the head, rather. And it is not in our national security interest to allow those images — as has been in the past, to be the case — to become icons to rally opinion against the United States. The president’s No. 1 priority is the safety and security of American citizens at home and Americans abroad,” he said.
“The efforts that were made to give Osama bin Laden an appropriate burial, following Islamic precepts and traditions, were considerable,” he said.
“I would also say that the respect that was shown to him and his body was far greater that the respect Osama bin Laden showed to the victims on 9/11, or any of his other victims.”
Potential for Continued Debate and Legal Implications
While the White House‘s decision may have put to rest immediate calls for the release of the photographs, legal experts suggest that avenues such as Freedom of Information Act requests could potentially lead to their eventual disclosure.
This decision coincides with U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder’s assertion to Congress that the raid targeting bin Laden was legally justified as an act of national self-defense.
The raid, Holder said, “was justified as an action of national self-defense” against “a lawful military target.”
