Many in Congress happy bin Laden photos won't be released

Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) assesses U.S. policy in Libya and Syria on "Face the Nation," Sunday, May 1, 2011.

/ Chris Usher/CBS

Most Democrats and many Republicans on Capitol Hill seemed satisfied with President Obama's decision not to release graphic photos that show Osama bin Laden with fatal gunshot wounds to his face.

"My initial opinion is it's not necessary (to release the photos)," said Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) as he emerged from a classified military briefing about the raid. "I think there is ample proof that this is Osama bin Laden."

Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), who chairs the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, agreed, adding: I don't think that the timing is such that something incendiary is the right thing to do."

Republican Congressman Mike Rogers of Michigan, who chairs the House Intelligence Committee, released a statement earlier in the day urging the President not to release the photos. In an interview with CBS News, he explained his position.

"To treat Osama bin Laden like he's some trophy of the United States for public gloating I think is wrong," he said. "And it makes it more difficult for an average soldier a sergeant in the Army in Ghazni province in Afghanistan to solicit the help and cooperation of villagers who may or may not be friendly to the United States."

But some Republicans argued that the photos would provide powerful proof of bin Laden's demise to nonbelievers around the world. "The whole purpose of sending our soldiers into the compound, rather than an aerial bombardment, was to obtain indisputable proof of bin Laden's death," said Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), a member of the Armed Services Committee. "I know bin Laden is dead. But the best way to protect and defend our interests overseas is to prove that fact to the rest of the world."

Representative Peter King (R-NY), who chairs the House Homeland Security Committee, was among those who initially supported releasing the photos.

"They're not going to scare people off," he said yesterday, claiming that the pictures had been described to him and that they were "nothing more than you'd expect with a person with a bullet in his head."

Today, he said he respected President Obama's choice.

"While I have said that a photo release may be a good way to combat the predictable conspiracy theories about bin Laden's death, this is a decision for the President to make," he said in a written statement. House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) also said it was up to the president.

President Obama revealed his decision in an interview with Steve Kroft of CBS' 60 Minutes. "It is important for us to make sure that very graphic photos of somebody who was shot in the head are not floating around as an incitement to additional violence. As a propaganda tool," he said.

The decision came nearly three days after the raid in Abbottabad, Pakistan, and after three days of intense debate within the Administration. CIA Director Leon Panetta made it clear to CBS News in an interview with Katie Couric that he came down on the other side.

Former Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin weighed in on Twitter, saying the president should "Show photo as warning to others seeking America's destruction. No pussy-footing around, no politicking, no drama; it's part of the mission."

But Rogers disagrees. "There's no gain by doing it. The conspiracy theorists aren't going to believe the photos...they're going to be doubting Thomases forever," he said.

[smellyecoli5]

To hell with International Law !! Wild West Law is the rule of today !!

[TheGoodGuise]

Yes, the Lennon-McCarney duo were right on track. Once one understands that the line "In Penny Lane there is a Barber showing photographs of every head he's had the pleasure to know" is referring to the Barber people of Africa the picture begins to gel since one very important demographic about those fine African lads is that they are like 99.99% Islamic.

On top of that, work in John's controversial statement: "Christianity and Rock and Roll will disappear. It may take 50 or 100 years but it will happen. I'm sure of it and I will be proved right". Now, what on earth could John have been talking about? Well, one thing we know right now is that Rock and Roll doesn't exactly flourish in Islamic societies. Plus, when we look at the state of Islamic expansion today we must admit that it appears that John's quote has quite a good chance of materializing right before our very eyes.

Anyway, Islam's goal of controlling the world took a slight hit recently but nothing has changed. They will accomplish their goal regarding the spreading of Islam virtually everywhere. It just can not be stopped.

The only thing you can do is prepare either yourself or your children, because the Christian anti-Christ will make it's appearance in the form of a world Islamic leader around 2050, on that you can be sure. To put it another way - we aint seen nothing yet as far as Islamic expansionism goes. At this point the best way to prepare is to get informed - read thegoodguise at wordpress. Once you have a handle on things you will know what to do. Take care and post comments while reading the book with questions or whatever. Make yourself known...stand!!!!

[raydar2]

Alright Ill just have to accept that. No end zone dance. No high five. No chest bump. Ill just have to settle with renaming my boat He that sleep with the fishes. H3ll yea I am gloating over this. I can see the end now. Al queda is whipped. They are splinter. We still have a lot of work left to do. But this is a big blow to them. Big blow. Now we can start at the head and work down instead of starting at the tail and working up.
For all of you high ranking Al queda members we have your number.

[tgwoe]

If the guy they killed wasn't bin Laden then why was he sleeping with bin Laden wife?
You could hang his body from the statue of liberty and the people who hate democrats would still want to know who supplied the rope.

[umish]

SAY NOTHING, DO NOTHING, RELEASE NOTHING AND DO NOT GIVE THE COW AWAY WITH THE MILK. COVERT OPS IS COVERT AND IT HAS TO STAY THAT WAY TO FUNCTION PROPERLY IN ORDER TO GET THE OTHER TWO BIT TIN HORN DICTATORS..... POLITICIANS ALL SHOULD KEEP THEIR TRAPS SHUT EVEN THOUGH THAT IS TOUGH FOR THEM AND DEFEND OUR COVERT FORCES FROM DISCLOSURE AND OUTTING. NO PICTURES, NO NOTHING WE ARE NOT ROPBLIGATED TO DEFEND OUR ACTIONS WHEN WE ARE DEFENDING OURSELVES. DONE AND FINISHED.

[Patriotson]

America and Obama has become so politically correct that we cannot even make a sentence without being perinoid about who will or will not be offended.
The Osama killing photo's should be shown to the American public who was so offended by his actions on 9/11. I am glad he has become fish bait and chum for the ocean worms but we need the proof that this was not just another ploy for Obama to get his ratings out of the toilet. With this guy, you cannot trust anything he does except that it is for his benefit and to hell with American opinion. While we are not at war with muslims, to the man, everyone who was involved with 9/11 was a muslim. Conclusion, muslims will not clean up their own religious radicals therefore we must assume every muslim is a potential terriorist. So, political correctness has no place in the discussion of Obama. Show the proof Obama like your birth certificate.

[abbe91]

"everyone who was involved with 9/11 was a muslim"

Everyone known to be involved. But you could be more precise: practically all of them were Saoudis.

And about "cleaning up religious radicals", I'm not sure we should try to give lessons.

[pasha128]

by reluctantzealot May 4, 2011 7:22 PM EDT
Dang...where was the daughter? why no mention of her in the first reports, ...

-----

Ever heard of a phenomenon commonly reported as "the Fog of War"?

Early reports tend to get the major details right (especially when results are favorable, but not always). But the minor details take considerably longer to come into focus, if they ever do.

[pasha128]

by reluctantzealot May 4, 2011 7:16 PM EDT
.....
You said that to say OBL might not be dead ...

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More lies, reluctantzealot. What I have said is claiming "OBL might not be dead" is performing the task of an Al Qaeda Propaganda Writer; encouraging remaining forces to continue terrorist acts as well as recruiting additional terrorists to prolong Al Qaeda's effectiveness as a terrorist organization. Are you a paid Al Qaeda shill that sold out your country (how much have you been paid) or are you so ignorant that you are providing this valuable and traitorous service for free? Assuming for a split second this is propaganda operation by the US Government (an incredibly risky gamble considering if Bin Laden's face shows up on a tape with a current newspaper discussing current events all is lost) to demoralize the Al Qaeda organization; you're acts are still traitorous undermining a military mission designed to protect the US and others throughout the world.

[DozerMayne11B]

Everyone knows that even if photos were shown, those photos themselves could have been done up in photoshop. He could very well be alive, for some good old questioning..no one will ever know...face it..

[pasha128]

by reluctantzealot May 4, 2011 5:15 PM EDT
I've not heard any of the Seal team

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One of the assets of a Seal Team is anonymity, they are not going to give up their career and training just to satisfy a delusional deather like you, reluctantzealot.

[reluctantzealot]

I don't want them to give up their anonymity....

You said that to say OBL might not be dead is to call a SEAL a liar, but it's hard to call anyone a liar who hasn't claimed anything. No SEAL's have said OBL is dead... only the people in the WH...they might be liars, who knows, their stories change every hour...

[AOCGUY]

OK folks, Seals are cute aquatic mammals usually found in the sea. SEALs (SEa, Air and Land)are highly trained Special Operations Forces usually found killing those who would attack our country. Case matters, ignoring that fact is insulting to those heroes who arranged the meeting between bin laden and his maker.