President Obama Won’t Release Bin Laden Death Pictures

Since Sunday night, people across the world have waited for the United States government to release the pictures of Osama Bin Laden after being killed by US troops. Yesterday it seemed as though we would see the pictures soon, but that hope ended today.

While taping an interview with Steve Kroft of CBS, President Obama announced that he would not release the photo's of Bin Laden's dead body. Here is part of that conversation:

"The risks of release outweigh the benefits," he said. "Conspiracy theorists around the world will just claim the photos are doctored anyway, and there is a real risk that releasing the photos will only serve to inflame public opinion in the Middle East."

"Imagine how the American people would react if Al Qaida killed one of our troops or military leaders, and put photos of the body on the internet," he continued. "Osama bin Laden is not a trophy - he is dead and let's now focus on continuing the fight until Al Qaida has been eliminated."

A couple of things here. First, the President doesn't want to inflame public opinion in the Middle East. The sentiment is there, but the reality is not. Anything the United States does inflames public opinion in the Middle East. It doesn't matter what we do, extremists are going to hate us. Trying to baby them and not make them mad won't work.

Second, the President asks how we would feel if Al-Qaida killed one of our soldiers and put pictures of the bodies online. Mr. President, they have! They have done it with soldiers, reporters, and civilians. Does Obama really think not putting Osama's body on the internet will stop the terrorists?

Terrorists don't care about sympathy. They don't recognize or respect it. They only way to get a message across to these savages is by force. It can't be pretty.

It's a shame the President won't release the pictures. I think it's a mistake and will only hurt him in the end. Let the conspiracy theories begin.