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In breaking news out of Washington DC, U.S. President Barack Obama has decided he will not release death photos of 9/11 mastermind Osama Bin Laden.
Sources are telling media outlets that Obama, who was raised a Muslim, feared disapproval from the Muslim world if he “disrespected” the mass murderer.
Conspiracy theorists and Al Qaeda had called for the White House to release the gruesome photos to prove that Bin Laden was dead after Obama announced he was executed early Sunday morning in Islamabad, Pakistan.
But Obama, who ordered a sea burial for Osama in accordance with Islam traditions, stood firm on his decision not to release the photos.
“Bin Laden is not a trophy,” said Obama in an interview he taped today with CBS News program “60 Minutes”.
Said Obama: “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.”
He added: “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. 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.” Source
The full program airs Sunday night on CBS.
UPDATE I, 5:35pm ET:
REUTERS Pictures and The Guardian UK has the gruesome death scene photos showing the bodies of 3 men inside the shot out compound where Osama bin Laden died. Click HERE to see the photos but be warned: they are graphic!
Osama is not in any of the pictures. For now, the bin Laden pictures are under lock and key — at least until Barack Obama is voted out of office.
Originally posted on May 4, 2011 @ 1:59pm
