CIA Director Leon Panetta has stated to NBC Nightly News that "ultimately a photograph would be presented to the public." Mr. Panetta continued, "Obviously I've seen those photographs. We've analyzed them and there's no question that it's Bin Laden."
The White House has denied that a decision on the photos has been made and Panetta also stated last night in serperate remarks that “the White House makes that final decision.”
While the question about whether to release photographic evidence of Osama bin Laden's body remains up in the air we are getting some insight into exactly what these pictures look like with an unnamed official describing one of the images as "a clear, but gruesome, picture of his face. Bin Laden is shown with a massive open head wound across both eyes." according to CNN.
Rep. Peter King (NY-R) disagrees based on what he has heard though, telling reporters "They’re not ghoulish, they’re not going to scare people off, they’re not offensive,” adding “Nothing more than you expect with a person with a bullet in his head.”
9/11 Widow Abigail Carter, whose husband Arron died at the WTC on 9/11 told ABC News that she has wondered where the photos were, adding that, "It's been kind of strange, the burial at sea, the very fast DNA. ... It's just been sort of: Did this really happen or was this all concocted somehow? It would be reassuring in some sense if the photos were released."
Commentary:
With the drumbeats growing louder in the days following Osama bin Laden's death, and with some questioning the validity of the US Governments claim that he is dead, the Obama administration may have no choice but to release the photographs in some way despite their concerns. Yet while most favor a public release one wonders if a private release, upon request by the 9/11 widow's and family members like Abigail Carter might achieve a balance that limits the crass commercialization of the images and respects this delicate moment in our history.
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