Obama: I Won't Release Bin Laden Death Photos

"Conspiracy theorists around the world will just claim the photos are doctored anyway," says Intel Chair
By Brian Montopoli, CBS News
May. 04, 2011

How convenient, absolutely no evidence of any kind will be provided and the American people have to take this serial lair's word on mere faith. - Chris, InfoLibIn an interview with Steve Kroft for this Sunday's "60 Minutes," President Obama says he won't release post-mortem images of Osama bin Laden taken to prove his death.

"We don't trot out this stuff as trophies," Mr. Obama said.

"We don't need to spike the football...given the graphic nature of the photo it would create national security risk," said the president.

Video of the comments will appear on the CBS "Evening News" on Wednesday.

Republican House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers said Wednesday that the Obama administration should not release the gruesome post-mortem images, saying it could complicate the job for American troops overseas. Rogers told CBS News he has seen a post-mortem photo.

"The risks of release outweigh the benefits," Rogers said. "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."

"Imagine how the American people would react if Al Qaeda killed one of our troops or military leaders, and put photos of the body on the internet," Rogers continued. "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."

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