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Obama: 'I Won't Release Bin Laden Death Photos'

   VOA News  May 04, 2011
   Attorney General Eric Holder testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington
   before the Senate Judiciary Committee, May 4, 2011

Photo: AP

   Attorney General Eric Holder testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington
   before the Senate Judiciary Committee, May 4, 2011

   U.S. President Barack Obama has decided not to release death photos of
   Osama bin Laden taken after he was killed early Monday by U.S.
   commandos.
   White House spokesman Jay Carney said Wednesday the president decided
   there is no purpose in releasing any of the photographs. He said the
   graphic images would create a national security risk and could incite
   violence.
   The president announced the decision in an interview Wednesday with the
   U.S. television network CBS. Mr. Obama said he has no doubt U.S. forces
   killed bin Laden. He said the man behind the September 11, 2001 attacks
   received the justice he deserved.
   The White House had debated releasing a photo to offer proof that bin
   Laden is dead. Spokesman Carney said Wednesday that compelling
   arguments could be made for and against releasing a photo.
   In other developments, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said the
   killing of bin Laden was lawful and was an act of national
   self-defense. Holder said the United States ultimately will be more
   safe because of bin Laden's death. However, he warned of possible
   retaliatory attacks, and said the fight against terrorist threats is
   far from over.
   Holder said he has ordered law enforcement agencies to be on alert, and
   said there still are serious concerns that the United States must
   address.
   In testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Holder said bin
   Laden's death is a "tremendous step forward" in obtaining justice for
   the thousands killed in the September 11 al-Qaida attacks against the
   United States. He called on Congress to reauthorize for a "substantial
   period of time" provisions in the Patriot Act that expire at the end of
   the month.
   The provisions set to expire allow roving wiretaps on people with
   suspected terror ties, access to records, and tracking someone with no
   ties to a terrorist group, a so-called "lone wolf." Holder said those
   provisions are needed now more than ever.
   The chairman of the Senate committee, Democrat Patrick Leahy, welcomed
   the successful raid that killed bin Laden. He said bin Laden paid for
   his actions against innocent Americans and people around the world,
   calling him a terrorist and murderer who "perpetuated hate and
   destruction."

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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