White House Weighing Release of Bin Laden Photographs from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Deck of Aircraft Carrier
EmailABC News has learned that the Obama administration possesses a number of photographs of Osama bin Laden’s corpse, taken in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and from the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson.
Officials who have seen the photographs describe them as “gruesome.” Bin Laden has a gunshot wound to his forehead. The insides of his head are visible.
The pictures from Pakistan are of bin Laden in the compound dead. There are also pictures of his dead son Khaled, the dead courier, and the dead courier’s brother.
The pictures of bin Laden in Afghanistan are from a US military base. The ones from the aircraft carrier are of bin Laden on the deck before and after he was wrapped in a shroud, in keeping with Muslim burial traditions.
-Jake Tapper
Rick Santorum Defends Earmarks 
Ron Paul Ad's Call Santorum a 'Fake'
If the Administration doesn’t feel they have an obligation to show the American people the best evidence of the death of our enemy, what *do* they feel they have an obligation to show us?
We have seen gruesome photos.
We have seen photos of our troops illegally abusing prisoners.
We have seen photos of our countrymen dying in terrorist attacks.
We have seen photos of the coffins in Dover.
We have seen photos of dead people piled up in Rwanda.
We have seen soldiers carrying dead babies in Iraq.
We do not need our sensibilities protected by this administration. We need and deserve information. They should be happy to provide it.
Posted by: MayBee | May 3, 2011, 6:18 pm 6:18 pm
Maybee,
This all took place just over 48 hours ago. Just chill. We will see them. And hopeully the videos as well!
Posted by: Seeryer | May 3, 2011, 6:25 pm 6:25 pm
I don’t plan on cking them out if they do release them but I will ask a trusted resource for confirmation that they are trueblue.
I’m thankful that I miraculously haven’t had to see real life gruesome images in person or in a photo. I’d like to keep it that way as long as possible : )
Posted by: Dianne93101 | May 3, 2011, 6:28 pm 6:28 pm
These photos will be used as visual representation, countless protests and recruitment, for revenge for those who are not yet committed to extremist views that much should be obvious…It’s all about Islamic extremist pride…They want them released and this will be the first mistake this Administration will make in an otherwise perfect execution….Don’t pander to the non-believers Obama…
Posted by: Parallex View | May 3, 2011, 6:30 pm 6:30 pm
We will see them. And hopeully the videos as well!
It seems you agree with me that they should be seen. As the post above states, the WH isn’t so sure.
Posted by: MayBee | May 3, 2011, 6:40 pm 6:40 pm
True – the photographs are gruesome. However, they cannot honestly use that as a way of keeping them from the public – especially considering all we HAVE seen!
There is quite a bit that should have been censored long before now.
One example: You Tube!!
True – there is consideration of relatiation and repercussions that “could” follow. However, we could say that about any leader, dictator or other that has met their demise – and the photos were published.
In all fairness, I think that we the American people, especially the still living victims of 9/11, would like the visual proof of the one who terrorized and killed so many, no longer breathing – No matter what “state” he is in.
(You can’t get away from those who contribute to the desire for gore, but this is not about them)
I understand the rights and concerns for political protocol.
I understand doing the right thing.
I even understand waiting a short period of time.
But they need to publish at least some of the photos.
Posted by: Alexandra | May 3, 2011, 6:45 pm 6:45 pm
Releasing these pictures may create more anger towards america then the actual death of him. Don’t allow the non-believers intimidate you to release more hatred Mr.President.
Posted by: Julie | May 3, 2011, 6:47 pm 6:47 pm
The people need the proof. Hussein was flashed before everyone’s eyes, his hanging was proof. This is no different.
Posted by: Mel | May 3, 2011, 6:49 pm 6:49 pm
i want to see it for myself as well and know its the reall deal and i wanna know whats next? there are others that are still fighting for his army or whatever it is they are. time will only tell
Posted by: tim | May 3, 2011, 6:50 pm 6:50 pm
if someone is going to take revenge for osama it does not matter if they show the pictures or not, what is done can not be reverse
Posted by: enudio zayas | May 3, 2011, 7:03 pm 7:03 pm
“Releasing these pictures may create more anger towards america then the actual death of him.”
Those who already hate the US and want to harm the US will continue to hate the US and harm the US, regardless of what photos are published…
The left and media were more than eager to exploit the inflammatory photos of Abu Graib while Bush was President.
Why is this any different?
Posted by: Sigmonde | May 3, 2011, 7:06 pm 7:06 pm
was there this much hand-wringing, consternation, and time-wasting when it was decided to give Osama a FULL HONOR MOSLEM FUNERAL and bury him at sea within 24hrs?
What is going on with this White House. Good on them for saying “go” on the op but the funeral and getting rid of the body before autopsy? And the getting rid of body without providing proof for the public, reporters, etc?
The past decades so many people and newspapers have reported OBL’s death, some of them very credible sources. Then you also got conspiracy theorists, crazed Islamists, etc. Show the proof and end the issue?
Posted by: Ed | May 3, 2011, 7:17 pm 7:17 pm
Again….The focus should be placed upon “those who are not yet committed to extremist views.” This will push them over the edge, not could but will…We as a society are so desensitized the “gruesome” aspect of it is not the issue but the propaganda tools they will be used as..I would put these pics under security classification…need to know (view.) If must, show them to the families of 911 victims who request but for heaven’s sake, DON’T MAKE THEM PUBLIC…
Posted by: Parallex View | May 3, 2011, 7:22 pm 7:22 pm
So is the picture of dead Osama not a real picture, cuz he does look bloody and his head is messed up???
Posted by: LISA | May 3, 2011, 7:26 pm 7:26 pm
wait a minute. these sects can behead western journalists with a chainsaw on al-jazera tv……. but we cannot show obl’s body with a massive head wound.
we’ve seen jfk’s head shot photos!
Posted by: jeff | May 3, 2011, 7:26 pm 7:26 pm
we seen the birth cert why cant we see some one for closer who killed so very many inocent people us americans want to have closer even if terror continues which it will we know that till christ him self comes
Posted by: shawn | May 3, 2011, 7:36 pm 7:36 pm
“wait a minute. these sects can behead western journalists with a chainsaw on al-jazera tv……. but we cannot show obl’s body with a massive head wound.”
Doing what they do is not something you should want to be like! Releasing those pictures would make us no better then they are. Fighting hatred with hatred only cause more hatred. No wonder we always find ourselves in useless wars.
That being said I think it is incredibly disrespectful to pass his dead body pictures around like a party favor. I don’t care how bad of a person he was its disrespectful no matter who it is and it will create more anger towards our country the last thing we need are more terrorists and wars.
Posted by: JAO | May 3, 2011, 9:04 pm 9:04 pm
They can show the grusome affects do the math 5+2+11 = (9) 9+1+1= (11) the numbers add up in this ever so strange way showing it would reveal that we can plan a horrific assasination as well. They celebrated victory with the lives we lost on 911 strange the numbers add up to a numerical sequence of these numbers america needs proof!
Posted by: jerry clinton | May 3, 2011, 9:31 pm 9:31 pm
I’ll have the memories of people jumping from the towers and all the rest of the horrible images that this piece of trash caused etched in my mind for life, so who cares if we all get the image of his face blown off added to our memories?? I still see Saddam H’s son’s pics and his hanging in my head. Everyone who suffered and lost loved one’s at the hands of this jerk has the right to decide to look or not to look, but they 100% should be made availabe for the world to see.
Posted by: KF | May 3, 2011, 9:47 pm 9:47 pm
I feel the pictures should and will be released.Give them a chance people.And give our President 4 more years after his term is up
Posted by: carl taylor | May 3, 2011, 10:00 pm 10:00 pm
Usa usa usa
Posted by: Joseph Clark | May 3, 2011, 10:15 pm 10:15 pm
Okay im an american and im happy that hes dead..The thing is that we shouldnt be blaming pakistanis for this. What if they didn’t actually know? Now ofcourse even if they are telling the truth we wouldn’t know..So i think what they say is probably true.
Posted by: Samantha Rickard | May 3, 2011, 11:21 pm 11:21 pm
If they can show our last true president JFK’s assassination on tv repeatedly on the history channel, why not show this disgrace of a human being…the victoms family of 911 should even see the video if they wish….real talk
Posted by: Grymes | May 4, 2011, 12:35 am 12:35 am
WHO CARES! They got to watch Americans jumping to thier deaths. Show the dammned pics
Posted by: robert | May 4, 2011, 12:41 am 12:41 am
What is more Gruesome than watching nearly 3,000 of your fellow country men and women and children die on national tv? What about the firefighter and that poor baby from the OKC bombing? That seemed to be ok to show. RELEASE THE PICS AND VIDEO.
Posted by: sanchotobe | May 4, 2011, 12:45 am 12:45 am
Osama Bin Laden dead or not, it doesn’t stop terrorism. And I don’t agree for him to be already dead. He deserves to be punished under our territory!
Posted by: Mark Spencer | May 4, 2011, 9:18 am 9:18 am
oh i see the white staff and friens get to see the pitures of the shot dead binloden howeverv the tax payerss have to wait ….its a i get to look however you dont!!
Posted by: bob | May 4, 2011, 9:25 am 9:25 am
From ‘killing of ‘osama bin laden
Posted by: Mike | May 4, 2011, 9:35 am 9:35 am
we want to see this piece of trash …we still have images of our own people jumping from the WTC and basically getting incinerated in the towers. Seeing a picture of the dung who caused it is what we deserve! the more mutilated, the better!
Posted by: crimson | May 4, 2011, 10:34 am 10:34 am
Until we have seen the pics, we will not have closure.
Posted by: patriot | May 4, 2011, 10:35 am 10:35 am
Since this monster has been declared DEAD some 8 times in the past 10 years, the doctored photos just don’t cut it. Should have fed his parts to the hog farm.
Posted by: John Curtright | May 4, 2011, 11:24 am 11:24 am
He’s dead. The world is a better place. We had to see all the horrible images of 9/11 and now all we want to see is the dead body of the man responsible. However, we have to remember that we are not the monster he is. I would lie if I said it wouldn’t give me pleasure to see his corpse. However, I don’t want to lower myself to being the blood thirsty monster that he was. I don’t care about seeing the pictures. His death was necessary but I refuse to crave blood.
Posted by: Scott | May 4, 2011, 2:18 pm 2:18 pm
The photos are not needed, Osama Bin Laden is dead and fed to fishes in the deep ocean waters, isn’t that enough information. And I’m sure if the photos are released, more people would agitate to know and verify where he was buried at sea. People!!! relax your flaming brains about pictures. Get pictures of the Compound where he was fired, dream and ponder over those. We don’t need more hate from those psychos than we already have.Concealing the photos, is the wisest decision.
Posted by: Anonymous | May 4, 2011, 3:14 pm 3:14 pm
I agree with all of you out there that want to see the pictures and video! It is not right that 9-11 was televised and on the web for the whole world to see! our family members and friends who lost their lives on national television in front of the whole world didnt get any descretion why should the man responsible be respected more then our own!!!! where is the justice in that? His pictures and video should be all over the news web everywhere just like the people from 9-11! we want proof that it went down as our government says we deserve that and so do our fallen americans who died on 9-11!! Or is just a conspiracy?? is that why they dont want to show us the proof?? it is not right show us the proof of his death!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Maurissa | May 4, 2011, 10:15 pm 10:15 pm
end of obl era beginning of photopolitics..
Posted by: sarker | May 4, 2011, 11:04 pm 11:04 pm
Qsamas death photos should be released.Reason being, our gov’t
wants to avoid the appearance of a conspiracy at ALL costs!! It’s the morally correct action to take concidering the feelings of our fallen heroes families, the families of the twin towers victoms,and ALL of America for that matter. Just release the pics Mr prez. It really is just that simple.
Posted by: ron | May 4, 2011, 11:21 pm 11:21 pm
So, why not just put a black square over the gaping hole like they use to cover other unmentionables and show the rest of his face …
Posted by: Army Mom 9611 | May 5, 2011, 1:24 am 1:24 am
I agree with all of you out there that want to see the pictures and video! It is not right that 9-11 was televised and on the web for the whole world to see! our family members and friends who lost their lives on national television in front of the whole world didnt get any descretion why should the man responsible be respected more then our own!!!! where is the justice in that? His pictures and video should be all over the news web everywhere just like the people from 9-11! we want proof that it went down as our government says we deserve that and so do our fallen americans who died on 9-11!! Or is just a conspiracy?? is that why they dont want to show us the proof?? it is not right show us the proof of his death!!!!!!!!
Posted by: johnny | May 5, 2011, 6:21 am 6:21 am
I am a wife of a former serviceman and so glad he’s retired now. Releasing those photos are putting blood on our hands this time — no Usama Bin Laden. The President of the United States made a correct decision and we need to respect it. America does not take trophies for those we have killed. Our country is many nation, many race and religion. We do that we are creating a home grown terrorist on our shores. Let’s put a stop to all this photos because we know that will create anger among our own American people. If that is released — So help me God. We did it to ourselves. The death of our servicemen around the world and the American civilians overseas are in jeopardy. We still have terrorist war —- take the hint! Do not release those photos.
Posted by: Chato | May 5, 2011, 6:06 pm 6:06 pm
I love my country but fear my government
Posted by: death squad | May 6, 2011, 2:47 pm 2:47 pm