The Obama administration is saying we shouldn't be 'spiking the football' because releasing pictures of bin Laden's dead body will catalyze more violence against Americans and the US. This is a serious argument and definitely one worth considering, because the last thing we want to do is endanger more American civilian and military lives. Their reasoning centers around the belief that less violence will come from withholding the pictures.
Rick Nelson provides supporting thoughts the administration's decision. I think his most legitimate point against releasing the photos is, "The Obama administration's counterterrorism strategy relies on engaging the vast majority of Muslims who do not support extremist violence. Muslim anger at the U.S. would have weakened this strategy." This is a valid concern in releasing the pictures because we might lose moderates. However, as I said yesterday, we appealed to this base by dealing with his body in accordance with Islamic traditions. And we arguably did moderate Muslims a favor by silencing an extremist voice which was doing irreparable harm to the image of Islam.
If moderate Arabs are pissed at us right now, then it's likely because they want us to stop backing the dictators and monarchs who have been oppressing them. Yet, I don't see that element of foreign policy changing to suit moderates.
Bin Laden's body was identified at several stages. First, at the compound, the SEALs used photo analysis technology to confirm what was left of the man's face was Geronimo. They also used genetic kinship analysis, DNA testing which provides "near 100 percent certainty". At the compound, apparently a woman believed to be bin Laden's wife confirmed it was him. Although, I don't really see how bin Laden's wife would provide trustworthy information. If anything, she would be motivated to lie and hide that her husband was really hiding somewhere else. It's unlikely the DNA results will be released if the pictures aren't going to be released; nevertheless, I think it would be very strong evidence to release to the public.
William Bennett at CNN argues against Nelson in favor of releasing the pictures. I found his rebuttal to the administration's argument quite convincing, especially: "What inspires jihadist attacks against Americans and non-Islamists are speeches by the pope, cartoons, documentaries, nuns walking down the streets of Africa and almost every other exercise of human and civil rights." Killing them doesn't make them hate us; on the contrary, exemplifying everything they hate -- pluralism, women's rights, US boots on Arab soil, girls in schools, backers of dictators, etc... -- makes them hate us. Bennett goes on, "It is, after all, our very existence that troubles our enemies, not the specifics of our actions -- those serve only as an excuse."
Has the administration considered that providing a graphic image of the jihadist hero's death may actually do damage to bin Laden's mythical influence? I would imagine that a hero is best remembered for his rise to grace - not his fall from it. If we denigrate their mythical leader who has evaded capture for years, then maybe it will foster doubts in fighting their cause. Jihadism has much more to gain from fueling ideas that bin Laden is still alive than saying he is dead. If we released the pictures, I would be willing to bet the jihadist leaders actually prohibit viewing the images which reveal the mortality and fallibility of their mythical leader.
What are the pictures the mujahadeen and Islamic extremists are using right now to inspire mass-murder of innocent lives? I've never been in a madrassa or a terrorist training camp but I'm gonna guess, if they use pictures, they have a giant portrait of Osama bin Laden posing in some defiant-looking fashion. Maybe he's holding a gun or looking off into the distance, epitomizing the mystique bequeathed to a staunch leader. I bet an image of the twin towers falling to the ground is inspirational too. They're also using pictures from Abu Grahib and Guantanamo Bay where we tortured (and are still holding) their brethren. They've probably been circulating pictures of children mutilated by drone attacks around Muslim communities as well. They already have plenty of inflammatory anti-American material.
It's also immensely ironic that the administration's position on the pictures completely contradicts its position on closing the Guantanamo Bay prison. President Obama stated during his presidential campaign that Gitmo was one of the biggest incitement tools the terrorists groups use. He is right. Yet, we won't close down the prison to stop inciting more violence. (I know the administration sought closing it a while back which prompted Congress to pass legislation prohibiting the Gitmo prisoners being moved to American soil. But, Obama expended very little political capital fighting this so culpability lies with both branches of gov't.)
Going from here, the Obama administration won't go back on their decision in the short-term, but I'm still guessing that the photos will be "leaked" at some point down the road. Eventually proof will need to be given. I hope they do it in the next few months before the 2012 race gets heated, because then it will be viewed as a political move. Maybe they should just release the details of the DNA testing since it doesn't perpetuate the feared disadvantages of releasing pictures.
We've already done the deed which would provoke retaliation: we killed bin Laden. Regardless if we release a picture proving it, there won't be any less violence because they're still going to want retribution.
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