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The Osama bin Laden death photo so many folks were demanding to see last spring after the world's most wanted terrorist was killed by a Navy SEAL team in Pakistan may be released after all. And now we'll get to see how many people really wanted to see pictures of the Al Qaeda leader's dead body ... and how many were just ranting for the heck of it.
A lawsuit by Judicial Watch, an activist group that's lobbied to have the photos released, has resulted in an admission by the Department of Justice (DOJ) that there may be some records from SEAL team's exercise that would not compromise national security if released. That could mean anything from photos allegedly taken of bin Laden's body immediately after death to imagery of his burial at sea being given to the media. And now for the good news.
This DOJ brief, unearthed by The Atlantic Wire, has opened the door to release of the images under the Freedom of Information Act. But every photo and video would still be subject to some serious review to check for national security issues, stuff like ensuring the identities of SEAL team members remain safe.
That means we should still have time to make up our minds about whether we REALLY need to see the photos (wipes brow ... phewwww!).
Personally, I never needed the time. As much as I've fought for the people's right to know, I do not do well with these sorts of photos. I didn't want to see the much Googled video of race car driver Dan Wheldon dying on the track a few months ago. I did not want to see the horrific, but also highly popular, video of Florida man Clay Duke taking a school board hostage before shooting himself in the head.
But I'm not everyone. And while my belief in the freedom of information made me push for the photos' release, that was just one reason people had to call for the images. And those people are being given a powerful thing ... choice.
Nine months ago, some people were demanding these photos because they wanted proof that Osama really was gone. With the passage of time, I imagine many of the doubting Thomases among us have come to simply accept that our government has been telling the truth, and Osama bin Laden was indeed shot to death in Abottabad, Pakistan. Having made their peace with the issue, they can avoid the images and whatever scars the viewing of grisly images could leave on the psyche ... or they can decide to look, right along with the Americans who don't believe and the folks who believe but are just the sort who like to see these things.
Finally, it looks like the government is going to let us decide for ourselves whether we want to look or not. Finally, they're placing the power with the people. It's time for us to exercise that power of choice and decide what WE want to do with these photos.
Do you know what you'll be doing?
Image via FBI
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