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Obama Tells ’60 Minutes’ Why He Won’t Release Osama Death Picture–Read Exactly What Obama Said

May 4, 2011  •  Post A Comment

Press Release Directly from CBS News:

PRESIDENT OBAMA TELLS “60 MINUTES” HE WILL NOT RELEASE THE DEATH PHOTOS OF OSAMA BIN LADEN IN AN INTERVIEW TO BE BROADCAST SUNDAY ON CBS

An excerpt from the Interview in which the President Gives his Reasons Will be Broadcast Tonight (May 4th, 2011) on "THE CBS EVENING NEWS WITH KATIE COURIC."

STEVE KROFT: Did you see the pictures?

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: Yes.

KROFT: What was your reaction when you saw them?

OBAMA: It was him.

KROFT: Why haven’t you released them?

OBAMA: You know– we discussed this internally. Keep in mind that– we are absolutely certain this was him. We’ve done DNA– sampling– and testing. And– and so there is no doubt that– we killed– Osama bin Laden. 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. You know, that’s not who we are. You know, we don’t trot out this stuff as trophies. You know, the fact of the matter is this was somebody who was– deserving of the justice that he received. And I think– Americans and people around the world are glad that he’s gone. But– but we don’t need to spike the football. And– I think that given the– the graphic nature of these photos– it would– create some national security risk. And I’ve discussed this with– Bob Gates and Hillary Clinton and– my intelligence teams and they all agree.

KROFT: There are people in Pakistan, for example, who say, "Look, this is all a lie. Obama, this is another American trick. Osama’s not dead."

OBAMA: You know, the truth is that and we– we’re monitoring worldwide reaction. There’s no doubt that Bin Laden is dead. Certainly there’s no doubt among al Qaeda members that he is dead. And so– we don’t think that– a photograph in and of itself– is going to make any difference. There are going be some folks who deny it. The fact of the matter is, you will not see bin Laden walking on this earth again.#

4 Comments

  1. There are people that still think Elvis is alive too. Obama is doing the right thing by note putting out the picture and giving the hard core Al Qaeda members a rallying point.

  2. I agree we do not need to release the photo.
    During the times of Old Tucson, we killed outlaws and displayed them in coffins; those photos are still available today.
    We have evolved as a culture and I am proud of that.

  3. Fact is that these photos will eventually be released but by then, they will be curiosities and won’t give a demoralized group of terrorists something to rally around. He’s dead, Jim and I hope he’s enjoying his all-inclusive eternity stay in the brand new level of Hell built just for him. Even better, he got there in time to take advantage of Hell’s new “cronies fry free” promotion. Oh, look, the bus from Crackwhoretown just pulled in with his virgins! He must be so happy right now……….

  4. Not showing the photo does just the opposite of what was intended. Fake photos and conspiracy theories are spreading, radical Islamists do not believe, respect the killing, and hate us more than ever. Random wildfire rather than US led factual closure.

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