Wednesday, May 4, 2011

As Predicted: No Photographs of Dead bin Laden to be Released

As predicted here and by others, the Obama administration has decided not to release any photographs of Osama bin Laden after he was allegedly killed on May 1, 2011 by Seal Team 6. The primary reason invoked is to prevent the unnecessary provocation of his followers and others who remain sympathetic to his cause. This rationale of course has some merit.

Had the US not purportedly "buried him at sea" the lack of public disclosure of his photo ID would not be a problem.  His remains could have been examined by multiple forensic pathologists not affiliated in any way with the US government. This could have included DNA testing in which an unbroken chain of evidence could have been insured with respect to the blood and tissue samples obtained. As it is, we are left having to simply take their word for the fact that a DNA test was performed, that the sample was from a recently dead man thought to be Osama bin Laden and that the result was 99.9% positive for OBL. Given all the lies, obsfuscation and omissions of the past however, it is most difficult to simply accept it on faith.

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