About those pictures....

[Old and In the Way]

I see no value in releasing the pictures to the general public, maybe a net harm than good. Obama should bring the combined members of the Senate/House Intel Committee's to the WH and show them the pics. Then have a joint statement released that confirms the authenticity of the pics. End of Story.

[Historic NY]

1. I think some have already seen them...

Key Republicans say don't release bin Laden photoBy Domenico Montanaro, Political Reporter, NBC News

Two key Republicans on foreign policy -- Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI), chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, and Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) -- say the United States should not release the postmortem photos of Osama bin Laden.

"I don't want to make the job of our troops serving in places like Iraq and Afghanistan any harder than it already is," Rogers said, NBC's Kelly O'Donnell reports. "The risks of release outweigh the benefits. 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 Qaeda killed one of our troops or military leaders and put photos of the body on the Internet.

"Osama bin Laden is not a trophy; he is dead, and let's now focus on continuing the fight until al Qaeda has been eliminated."

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/05/04/6583783-key-republicans-say-dont-release-bin-laden-photo

Actually Rep Mike Roger (R) is actually very supportive of the Presidents decision, he is an ex-FBI agent. He was on With Big Ed tonight.

[Lisa0825]

2. I think some members of the press should also see them.

I think showing them only to government officials would allow for more skepticism. I think some major media people should be able to view them and write about the pics, without obviously sharing the images.

[Paradoxical]

3. Fuck censorship.

[doc03]

4. I would bet at least one of them would claim they were

photo-shopped and somehow they would end up on the internet anyway.

[FarLeftFist]

5. Here's what should happen...

They should be released on whitehouse.gov and barackobama.com for those who are over 18 (click the electronic agreement) then you will be able to view. And while you're there you could also click the donate to Obama button. I'm serious.

[EFerrari]

7. I don't think you can make political contributions via a government website. n/t

[FarLeftFist]

8. barackobama.com

By posting them in both places people will be more prone to visit barackobama.com than whitehouse.gov because barackobama.com sticks in peoples heads easier because its our presidents name followed by the common .com, then they will see visual evidence and while they're there they can donate.

[EFerrari]

9. You want to use a picture of a dead guy for a re-election fundraiser?

Do you think that's the message Obama wants to be selling?

lol

[FarLeftFist]

10. Yes.

Well, not just any dead guy, that would be weird, but OBL yes. I'm not saying they have to make a donation to see the photo, but since they're there why not.

[divvy]

15. Why not Global Pay-Per-View and pay off the defense costs?

In case you cannot tell, I am being a bit sarcastic.

[EFerrari]

6. I'm going to leave it up to the Ministry of Truth. They know best.

[GeorgeGist]

11. I think you're afraid ...

that you might stop dancing if you saw the pictures.

[Old and In the Way]

13. Not I.

I have no prurient interest in seeing the pics....I can go to rotten.com if I want that thrill. I'd have preferred to see OBL put on trial...clean shaven and in a business suit, to answer for his crimes. But that was never going to happen...because such a trial could not be stage managed.

[FLPanhandle]

12. They'll be "leaked" eventually

That way the US government doesn't look like they are grave dancing. However, the picture will be "leaked", that way the government can feign outrage while getting the picture out.

[divvy]

14. Your reasoning has one major flaw

No matter what you do, you will never convince the 30% that only look for evidence to support their pre-concieved ideas. Releasing the photo's will produce NO net good, and has a definable negative.

Gotta let em whirl. They are gonna whirl anyway