Legion calls for release of bin Laden photo

Well said Commander.

Yes, we paid a price in terms of the wars and other activities mention, but we are a Nation that prides itself on yielding to a higher calling....Now is the time to demonstrate that calling..again.

Sorry, Commander you are so wrong on this one.

Well written, Commander. Yes, these photos will be gruesome and COULD incite those pre-disposed to act - but, as noted, not releasing will not assuage their hatred.

I would hope the President would release them with a firm statement accompanying their release:

"This is what will happen to those that attack our nation. Neither time nor the tyranny of distance will save you. This proves our cause is just and our intent pure - you cannot and will not win, nor will you survive to see your next generation."

Ought to get their attention!

Gunfighter

Frankly, it would not pain me to see all Islamic Radicals wiped out. If they want to kill innocent people, let's nail them first.
But showing photos of the dead like we won some kind of prize for killing a high value target, serves no purpose. I don't need to see them, and I dont want my children to see them.
We can celebrate the victory without having an internet scrapbook filled with photos of corpses.

This kind of reactionary response is just what makes me question my membership in the Legion. I strongly object to any effort to publish photos of OBL after his death just to satisfy the purient interests of a few ghouls. I have several young grandchildren and do not want them subjected to these kinds of images. I applaud President Obama for his restraint and his sensible response to these requests. The USA has too many important problems to deal with to spend time on this drivel. I am ashamed to be a member of the American Legion at this time!

Agreed, we don't need to release the photos. We are better than that.

Legion, you're way off the mark here. I am a dues-paying member of this organization because it is meant to support Veterans and Active Duty personnel, and advocates for their benefits. Not to get involved in making ridiculous political statements like this, nor to call for things that will serve no purpose other than inevitably increase the danger our troops already face.

Get back to what the Legion is supposed to be doing, get away from this sort of thing. I don't pay my dues to be embarrassed by effluvium like this.

The Legion does not speak for me when it asks for the release of the photo of Bin Laden in death. No possible good can come from the release and, in fact, it has the potential to place American soldiers in harm's way if it instigates even one jihadist to take action.

The Legion should consider this issue carefully before putting out comments that are contrary to good sense and our position as world leaders.

The problem will be simply solved if and when Donald Trump asks that the photos be released. He seems to have the "magic" touch when it comes to the release of documents and such. Tongue firmly in cheek.......

I couldn't agree more with Hoover's comments. Politics is not the reason we pay to support this organization. Knock it off now. You speak for way too many patriots to allow this to pass for "our" positions. It's getting totally out of hand. What do we have to do to get some adult leadership for this group?

I respectfully disagree with the Legion position. It is clear that he is dead and we do not have to prove anything. Releasing the photos serves no useful purpose. In fact withholding them reduces the martyrdom factor and avoids providing a more tangible focus for enemies to seize upon. In this instance, I absolutely agree with the President.

Wow. I feared I would be the only voice in the negative on the "Commander" of the American Legion's thrusting us into the wrong side of a political argument and saying that he speaks for us. EVERYONE has the same basic opinion. Retract the letter, "COMMANDER."

This is NOT a matter for a Veteran Service Organization. My membership is based on the Charter which advocates for veterans, not intended to enter into a debate with the Commander in Chief. This does NOT represent this American Legion member. I respectfully request you rescind this demand. Thank you.

Release of photos would only serve to incite more violence. Those who don't believe he was eliminated would still think the photos were doctored. We should be better than dragging a dead body through the streets. I finally agree with the president on something. I also do not believe it serves any purpose for the Legion to be involved in the decision one way or another.

I don't really have an opinion about whether these pictures should be published, but I strongly disagree with the notion that the taxpayers have paid for them, and therefore they should be published. Whether or not they are published should be determined based on evaluation of the tactical and/or strategic advantages or disadvantages of doing so. I do not see this as a freedom of speech issue. The US government is in posession of the photos (presumably). They (we) are free to decide whether or not to publish. This is unlike (for example) whether a newspaper is allowed to publish photos it has taken or obtained. I am sure that there are many who will hate us regardless of what happens with these pictures. There may be some however, who do not hate us but might be shocked by our choosing to display these pictures. I am not making a case for not publishing but for basing the decision on the effect we reasonably might expect publication to have.

I'd like to say that I do not agree with posting the pics, because it will serve no tactical purpose. Nor, do I wish for kids on the internet to see this. We are already "dumbed down" as a society due to being desensitized to horrific happenings.

I further agree with several posters that the American Legion, as a professional organization, doesn't need to get involved with this type of "office politics", shop talk. We are here to support military personnel, veterans, and advocate for veterans benefits.

Let's please focus on our mission and not get distracted with items, nor spend energy on things that don't further our organization's cause.

Respectfully
CPT, INF, RETIRED

I could not disagree more with Commander Foster's views on this subject -- AND, once again, the Legion is sticking its nose into political business that has nothing to do with advocating for veterans. Publishing those photos would put our active duty troops at higher risk for harm, and it would be morally repugnant. Just because Muslim extremists publish gruesome photos of executions doesn't mean we should follow suit. OBL is dead, and our Commander in Chief has made his decision. Foster has made it clear repeatedly that he does not respect our President, but Foster does not represent me or many other Legionnaires on this issue.

Who cares. Justice has prevailed. He is gone, others will take his place. Why would we want to see the gory photos? I do not!!!

I agree with the many here who believe this is not an appropriate issue on which the Legion should take a stand. We don't need more gruesome pictures.

In general,I am against the release of the photos of a dead Bin Laden. I'm not worried about an increase in terrorist violence, although its possible. I don't really care what the terrorists do or don't do. We will take care of that when,and if it happens. I'm not even concerned that the photos are "too gruesome" for the general public. Bin Laden is now a non-player. He's dead and buried at sea and I don't need proof that it has happened. I know that politician's can bend the truth until you don't know what the original question was, but eventually when we never hear from him again, it be obvious. I think that this is one of those times when you just have to believe that the President is not lying to you.

If releasing the picture(s) is the cause of one or many more lives of US soldiers, is it worth it? Are willing to assume the responsibility in knowing that releasing these pictures you will have provided the enemy cause for the death(s) of another soldier?
Based on a survey I just participated in, an extremely high percentage of New Yorkers voted ‘NO’ to releasing pictures of Osama.

concur!!

There are very good reasons to release all the photos and information that is not classified for national security reasons. Life magazine had photos far more bloody. Monks on fire. People being shot in the back of the head. Dead bodies in combat. The color film of live action on Tarawa with flame throwers and dead bodies everywhere. This is about Good and Evil and needs to be shown to the entire world. Americans paid the price. They are the peoples photos not the Governments.

Commander, I respect that this is your point of view. As such, put your name on it, not ours. Do the right thing.

There are very good reasons to release all the photos and information that is not classified for national security reasons. Life magazine had photos far more bloody. Monks on fire. People being shot in the back of the head. Dead bodies in combat. The color film of live action on Tarawa with flame throwers and dead bodies everywhere. This is about Good and Evil and needs to be shown to the entire world. Americans paid the price. They are the peoples photos not the Governments.

If you want to get the American people angry, show pictures of dead American soldiers being laughed at and abused. Why would we want to stoop to this level. Let the conspiracy theorists be ignorant. We as Americans should be above the gloating and I am terribly disappointed in this organization's commander for such an ignorant demand. For the first time since he was elected I have to say that I am proud of the President for this decision. Unbelievable!

I believe that the President was carried screaming & yelling into the situation room May 1. I believe that he reluctantly authorized the mission to eliminate Usama Bin Laden. Not to do so would eventually lead to leaks that he refused, creating the ultimate political crisis for Obama. To that point it is easy to understand the reluctance of the President to release photos providing positive i.d. Unfortunately, there will be a credibility gap created domestically and internationally that Bin Laden was executed, carried off,and buried at sea. The President owes this disclosure to all the people of the United States, especially the families of the 9/11 attack and active military who lost their live since the New York attack. Our enemies will mount an ever growing campaign claiming that there is no proof of the death of UBL.This issue will grow and undermine any chances that Obama will be elected in 2012.

as a legion member this does not represent me. The very terrorist we fight are known to
drag bodies through the street. Why should we lower ourselves to their level. We are better than that. While the commander has a right to his opinion, it should not be presented as the Legion's. The President made the right call. Those that doubt always will. We have film footage of the moon landing and some still doubt that. Releasing the pictures would only degrade our nation.

I was employed as a Security Officer at a nuclear power plant at the time of the events of 9/11.My world was turned upside down by these events(added weight of extra equipment to carry,more overtime,etc.)This is probably the main event that prevented me from working until age 65.Show me the photo!!!!!!!!

At what point did the American Legion fall into the "I have to know everything and see everything" crowd? This organization, more than any other except maybe the VFW, should understand the realities of war and the fact that it is ugly at most times, necessary but ugly.

As the commander notes, there is no doubt that the person killed in the raid was Osama bin Laden.

Release of the photos for all the world can only blaze up the flame of hatred that bin Laden fueled among his deluded followers, further excusing in their minds a zeal for future atrocities.

By contrast the release would provide no benefit of added information to persons of rational interest in the historical fact. However, for historical reasons the photos should be preserved and protected until a future generation can securely say that the conflict of cultures has truly ended.

We must avoid the kind of triumphalism that devalues the courage and accomplishment of the raid team.

We have all seen the pictures of his son shot in the head during the same raid. Releasing the pictures of at the "at sea burial" would give closure.

Thru a Presidential proclamation we allow reporters to take picture at Dover AFB of our service members w/ flags draped over their coffins. I remember seeing a picture front page of my local paper with a line of coffins coming out of military air transporter.

Is having a "celebration" on 5 May at Ground Zero not spiking the foot ball?

No.

I didn't vote for the man, but he was elected to make such HARD decisions... He made it & the people can rest assured that it wasn't a bad decision... at ALL!!! (& I was honestly "on the fence" regarding the release of the photo since before I even knew the photo existed)... He made the decision - live with it.
If the Legion continues to get caught up in unprofessional fascinations such as this, I'll pull my membership in a heartbeat... "this is NOT what I signed up for."

I personally have no doubts Bin Laden is dead, so why release the pictures?
To help skeptical individuals be more assured he's dead.
Now some people will claim that the image(s) are photo-shopped and will fuel terrorists to commit more unspeakable acts. But do you think the terrorists will give us any slack for not releasing the pictures? Of course not.
And it would give Al Jazeera something to put on their web-site, and something for the Islamic world to see, besides the Daniel Pearl beheading, or contractors strung up and butchered. There is a measure of justice in releasing the Bin Laden death photos.
No, we don't want to 'revel' in the death of another human being, but we (US citizens) have paid for the pictures, not just with money but with the blood of our sons and daughters and fellow citizens. Americans deserve and have the right to see the pictures.

We often make mistakes during elections but electing Foster as Commander of the American Legion is one that our great organization may never recover from.

Since assuming his position, Commander Foster has consistently voiced HIS personal views, not those of most Legionnaires. He has tried to be a one-man band in opposing the President at every opportunity. We should be supporting the President, and save our public disagreements for issues that most affect our Country. It doesn't matter which political party is in office, we owe the President our support.

I enthusiastically say that Commander Foster does not speak for this Member, on the issue of the bin Laden photos or most of his other nonsensical diatribes. The Legion will be a better place when Foster's term is finished.

Nobody can give me one good reason to publish OBL photos. There is no doubt he is dead. Publishing photos serves no useful purpose. Doubters and haters would claim they are photo-shopped anyway.

I don't understand the phrase "we paid for the photos". My heat goes out to all the people presently serving in the military and their families for safeguarding our freedoms. We ask them to defend the constitution not become photo journalists. I was upset when i saw the celebrations of those in the middle east celebrating 9/11 attacks.
i was shocked and ashamed to see the same type of celebrations here but without the rifles being fired in the air.
Am i glad bin laden is dead? Yes. If i can trust the President to launch an attack and sen our young people in harms way then i should be able to trust him to tell the truth about this matter. Of course if they were lying and actually had him in prison and being waterboarded that would be all right with me too. Pictures won't provide any more closure. Until the price is paid by all instead of just a few we are not entitled as a whole to see the pictures.

I am appalled that my national commander would have such short-sightedness! To release the photos would fuel the martydom that they seek! We are better than them in that we know he's dead...and so do they. We don't need to publish pictures of his death to make it "official". Try this on...hopefully the USG will "accidently" release them to Wikileaks and let those fanatics wage a fahtwa on Julian Assange. Another irritant removed. CDR you speak without my support on this issue. I have a son in Afghanistan right now on his third tour and he already has enough to worry about! Don't provide the bad guys with more fuel for the fire they intend to start!

A good part of the President's Senior Staff saw the action live. A Navy Seal unit was on site. Do people actually think that this number of officials and military would be silent of a cover up or conspiracy?
We got Bin Laden. His identity was confirmed.
There are only two reasons, in my mind, to release the photos and those are sensationalism, and morbid curiosity. Neither of these justify releasing the photos.
I disagree with much of what the President does, but this time I am with him.

The President go it right. No need to spike the ball. Release of the pictures won't satisfy the conspiracy nuts, birthers, and others of the lunatic fringe. No point in publishing pictures that do us no good but can be used by the terrorists and their sympathizers.

Allan J. MacLaren
Col USAF Ret

Viewing the pictures isn't as important as the message to the terrorists. When you F@#$ with us we will F@#$ with you. Taking a politically correct position with these slime dogs is how we got sucker punch in the first place.
Has anyone seen them express any of their hatred on the Syrians ? No cause the Syrians are known to be politically incorrect and would totally crap in their piss cutters in a NY minute. Our leaders need to be more like our Legion Commander and get tougher.

I support the right for you and my fellow legionaires to each have their opinions, but I must say that I believe to say the "Legion" wants the photos released is incorrect. I for one have seen plenty of "death" photographs and taken some as well, but I burned those photographs years ago in an attempt to find closure in my own life.

I do not believe that we need to throw gasoline on an already raging fire, and those photos would do much more harm than good in my opinion.

I am very proud of the men and women who are currently serving our country and who have served us in the past, but I for one do not agree with your demand to our President to release those photographs. Yes we have paid a great price in dollars for this war, but that doesn't mean we should be observing every detail of that war.

Some things are better left in the mind, not in the media.

Why is everyone so interested in seeing photos of a dead person.If you were in any of the Wars I am sure you saw your fair share,I know I did in Vietman,don't need to see any more,just my oppinion

To all you panzies afraid to release bin laden's death photo I have only one thing to say to you, Thank God you weren't in Al Anbar, Iraq during the dark days in 2005. Stop trying to appease this enemy. It only strengthen their resolve and makes things harder for our Troops. In Islam, power is everything and every time we cave in to them it enpowers them. If you don't know this enemy maybe you should keep your mouth shut.
Mark Russak
Combat Veteran Iraq and Afghanistan

I have six nephews serving in the Army (both regular and National Guard), Navy, Air Force and Marines. Four of them have done 11 tours in the Middle East. It is not worth a hair's breadth more of danger to them and their fellow military personnel to "convince" those who refuse to be convinced. Bin Laden is dead. It doesn't matter that certain people don't believes it. Nor do we need to lower ourselves to humanity's lowest common denominator by making such a show. Thank God for Obama. Not only is he correct in not allowing the photos to be shown, he didn't request Bin Laden's head in a box like his predessesor.