The Dead Terrorists Picture Show

Eric Renderking Fisk - May 10th, 2010

Less than twenty four hours after the Special Forces operation that took out the world's most wanted terrorist leader, several news sites reported that the White House was debating on whether or not to release photos of Osama Bin Laden's corpse. Speculation about these photos and when they would be released seemed to over-take the news about the killing itself and took on a life of it's own. There were claims by some that said that no matter how graphic or disturbing The American People deserved to see them as a part of our "collective closure."  I obviously agreed.

Since that time, The White House announced there wouldn't be any public pictures because they would be "incendiary" and would inspire more violence from Al Qaeda and other Muslims that are easily offended.  Barack Obama has to get in front of this issue and release all the damn pictures now. Obviously he would rather feed the conspiracy theorists  who are openly questioning whether or not we actually "got him" and is more concerned what our enemies think than the tax payers who are actually paying the tab to hunt these animals down. Others will obviously disagree with me but not showing the "death photos" of Osama is a huge mistake.

It's consistent, though; after many democrats wanted to release torture and humiliation pictures Abu Ghraib in 2003 because it further served to paint George W. Bush as a "War Criminal," President Obama blocked to release more photos from that event in 2009 for some of the same reasons stated earlier in this rant, [Washington Post: Obama Shifts on Abuse Photos Releasing Images of Detainee Mistreatment Would Endanger U.S. Troops, President Says," By Scott Wilson Washington Post Staff Writer  Thursday, May 14, 2009.]

In a post-Watergate World, it's very easy to be cynical about what the government tells us and assume that if their lips are moving that they might be lying to us. Anything that comes out of the mouths of any president since Nixon, whether it's Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush The First, Clinton, Bush The Second or Obama should be verified by the press. Publish the FACTS, where's the proof that something happened or what the President (regardless of party affiliation) is saying is true or not, let the tax payers and voters make the final decision.

Carl Sagan said on the issue of people claiming they’ve been abducted by aliens; extraordinary claims demand extraordinary evidence. I want to see the extraordinary pictures of the extraordinary event of Osama’s capture and killing after the 10 years of waiting. I want to see Osama dead, with the bullet in the head with some brain and blood spilling out. Not because of some perverse macabre thrill but because I want there to be no doubt in anyone's mind that this villain was actually captured and killed with no conjecture or speculation from conspiracy theorists. What we've seen in the weeks since his capture and killing are pretty good so far, like those of him obsessed with himself and watching reports of about him on television while sitting on the floor in the fetal position under a blanket while waiting for The American Boogie-Man to kick down his door in the middle of the night. That's great, but I want to see the photos of him dead and until that time I'll entertain (but not fully believe) any and all theories floating on the internet.

Here's an example; For the past 10 years there have been a many conspiracy theorists on the left who have been allowed to plant seeds of doubt about what "really" happened on September 11th, 2001; Many on the left from Michael Moore to the Loose Change boys insist that Osama had nothing to do with Sept 11th, or that Osama was just a pawn of the Bush and Cheney Administration . Then why aren't those on the left asking why did we kill a presumably innocent man then? Or better yet, if there were trials about how "Bush Lied," then the prosecutions prime witness has just been snuffed out? Why are the people with that mindset celebrating Obama's victory and not asking the same questions I'm asking.  Why did we kill him now? Why isn't he in Gitmo being debriefed and interrogated about future attacks? The library of data gathered at his multi-million dollar estate is a lot, but to me it's not enough.

The timing of this operation alone is enough fodder for conspiracy theorists, let alone the fact that the proof has already been disposed of. Obama jumped through Donald Trump's hoop with the birth certificate and he took a hit in the polls, there's the high cost of fuel and high unemployment, the S&P downgraded our treasury notes, there are budget battles that are bringing us to the brink of another civil war with the uncivilized rhetoric, and just an overwhelming sense of discontent and distrust sweeping the country. Obama was having one of the worst months of his Presidency in April, May 1st he enjoys a bump in the polls because of this?

The timing of this assignation alone is enough fodder for conspiracy theorists, let alone the proof has already been disposed of. Why was the Obama Administration so quick to bury the evidence at sea and "honored" Muslim tradition rather than keep the body and offer it up to the international community for further examination? What if the British, French or The United Nations asked to see the body? I smell bunk and I'm surprised that I’m the first.

How come President Obama wanted a public trial for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in New York City just blocks away from Ground Zero, but ordered that Osama Bin Laden be shot on sight dead so that there wouldn't be a public trial? Why the fundamental philosophical turn-about? More fuel for conspiracy theories.

Where is there the demand from The Left demanding our own generations version of The Nuremburg Trials?"

Everyone through-out the political spectrum should be demanding to see the pictures of this villain dead. Barack Obama should have learned with the whole “birth certificate” fiasco, you have to get in front of the issue and own it the minute questions and doubts arise. When people ask for proof, deliver. In this case dump all of the photographs that the Navy took of this man’s corpse all at once; since it’s easy to doctor just one photograph quickly, it’s impossible to doctor tens or even hundreds of photos in the same amount of time in a short about of time. For those who say it’ll just incite violence from the radical Islamic fundamentalists… they didn’t need an excuse to do it the first time? Releasing the photos will let would-be terrorists know that no matter how long it takes, we’ll find you and then kill you just like we did to Osama.

Send the clear message in all its gory or glory – this really did happen and it really could happen to you. We really can do this thing, we really did do this thing, and we can easily do this thing no matter how long it takes.

In the post-Watergate world the American people need to be assured that their President is neither a crook nor a liar. It is also important that the people know that the Commander in Chief is not advocating selective censorship to further political aims.  

Links

The Atlantic Wire: "The Associated Press's Case for Releasing the Bin Laden Photo," BY JOHN HUDSON | MAY 10, 2011

The Atlantic Wire: NPR at Odds with the White House on Bin Laden Death Photo BY JOHN HUDSON | MAY 11, 2011

The Daily Number - 19% Likely voters who think Osama bin Laden is still alive BY JOHN ZOGBY WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 2011

Associated Press: "Some US lawmakers to view bin Laden body photos," By BRIAN WITTE  |May 11, 4:47 PM EDT 

Daily Mail - United Kingdom: "Palin criticises 'pussyfooting around' as President refuses to release Bin Laden death photo - but graphic images are published of three others killed in raid," By OLIVER TREE.

Associated Press: "White House: No more photo re-enactments," By DAVID BAUDER, AP Television Writer – Thu May 12, 3:12 pm ET