It’s been one of the most talked-about debates once news broke of Osama bin Laden‘s killing — will they release photo evidence of the terrorist’s death or not?
It was announced on Wednesday that President Barack Obama has decided that he will not release the photos of Osama bin Laden’s body to the public in order to prevent a threat to U.S. national security, The Vancouver Sun reports. Obama likened the release of the classified photos to spiking a football after a touchdown.
“It is very important for us to make sure that very graphic photos of somebody that was shot in the head are not floating around as an incitement to additional violence or as a propaganda tool,” Obama said on 60 Minutes. “That’s not who we are. We don’t trot this stuff out as trophies.
“The fact of the matter is this was somebody who was deserving of the justice that he received, and I think Americans and people around the world are glad that he is gone. But we don’t need to spike the football.”
Some have already opposed President Obama’s decision, citing that the public exposure of the photos would not only provide proof of bin Laden’s death, but would also serve as a threat to other terrorists.
“Show photo as warning to others seeking America’s destruction,” former Alaska governor Sarah Palin wrote on her Twitter page. “No pussy-footing around, no politicking, no drama;it’s part of the mission.”
However, Obama insists that the bin Laden is indeed dead, and providing the photographic proof is not necessary to ease the minds of Americans.
“There is no doubt that Osama bin Laden is dead. Certainly there is no doubt among al-Qaeda members that he is dead,” Obama said. “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.”
