White House Decision Not to Release Photos on the Alleged Killing of Osama Bin Laden

May 5, 2011

By Padmini Arhant

The President of the United States delivered a speech on May 1, 2011 Sunday night that he authorized the U.S operation Geronimo to kill the most wanted terrorist Osama Bin Laden and proclaimed the mission successful i.e.

Osama Bin Laden was killed in action and the target’s corpse swiftly disposed in the sea after performing Islamic burial ritual by the U.S Navy seal.

During the Presidential address to the nation and the international community at large, the operation details were briefed confirming that Osama Bin Laden finally eliminated from the world.

Then the statements at different intervals through national security spokesperson and the White House Press Secretary followed the White House declaration of Osama Bin Laden’s death.

Subsequent interviews with the CIA director Leon Panetta further added to the operation narration.

Since Osama Bin Laden’s alleged death was declared with Presidential speech, statements and the CIA director interview without producing any evidence whatsoever,

The White House was requested to substantiate the monumental claim on the alleged killing of the terror mastermind through pictures of Osama Bin Laden as well as the entire operation in real time visual content claimed to have been viewed by the President and the selective national security cabinet members.

A video clipping asserting the real time operation viewing by the President of the United States, the Vice President, the Secretary of State, Defense Secretary and other national security members was submitted to defend the position.

However no pictures of Osama Bin Laden either alive or dead have been produced until now.

President Barack Obama response to the legitimate requirement –  he has decided not to the release the photos per his cabinet colleagues advice and claimed the pictures too gruesome for public view.

While it is highly appreciative that certain cabinet members and the President of the United States are concerned about the possible impact on the citizens in viewing the so-called gruesome pictures of the crucial operation and the developments even though such images are regularly seen in the news from different corners of the world,

The nation including the global society deserves credible evidence considering the subject’s profile and the world wide terror endured by the victims.

Notwithstanding the contradictory versions and bizarre operational method from beginning to end ensuring no trace of proof is left behind for public scrutiny.

The initial statement asserted Osama Bin Laden to have been killed in a firefight and later affirmed as being unarmed upon the armed U.S. commandos’ air descent into the building with the commander-in-chief specific authorization to kill rather than apprehend the target and brought to public domain.

Furthermore the documentary revealing the modus operandi confirming the alleged death of Osama Bin Laden in a non-combat residential setting and the purported burial in a sea instead of land is primordial to justify the major proclamation on global security matter.

Declining to share Osama Bin Laden’s images before and after the alleged killing under weak pretext only conforms to secrecy arousing valid suspicions surrounding the event jeopardizing the integrity of the highest office on land.

The incumbent administration was sworn in to office with a commitment towards ‘Hope and Change,’ premised on transparency and accountability that has unfortunately proved to be political rhetoric due to the failure to confront the facts in public on monumental national issues such as ‘Health Care Scandal’ and now the American tax payers expended military operation for reasons evidently lacking credibility.

In a meaningful democracy it is not for the cabinet colleagues to advise the President or the Presidential discretion suggestive of political maneuver to conceal information directly involving the people – the victims in the terror attacks sponsored by Osama Bin Laden in the United States and across the globe.

As for the honorable U.S. lawmakers move to block military aid, apply pressure and condemn Pakistan for providing shelter to terror mastermind and networks is a reactionary and not remedial measure.

Besides the impetus generates a perception among the Pakistan population to scapegoat the military aid recipient by ignoring the origin and the flawed policies largely favored for protracted warfare contributing to the terror networks proliferation becoming the cause to occupy foreign land.

Given the U.S. administration and Pentagon strategy to maintain the status quo demonstrated in the President’s $9 billion pledge to Pakistan Army Chief General Ashfaq Kayani in October 2010,

The cycle continues with no end in sight rejecting the viable options available viz.

Military assistance replaced with humanitarian aid directly benefiting the people of Pakistan through investment in education, health care and infrastructure.

With respect to Osama Bin Laden refuge – despite U.S. and NATO presence in the region for over a decade, the intelligence lapse and procrastination in delivering the truth about Osama Bin Laden until now is a serious violation of public trust.

The systemic abuse of executive power and the consistent evasion for public disclosure not to mention the truth subversion is tolerated in a democratic system with no consequences effectively rendering the U.S. democracy weak and irrelevant.

Democratic power is undermined when the elected officials are granted impunity in light of strong ethical misconduct and politically motivated erroneous decisions with no regard for the implications on human lives and national image as witnessed in –

President Ronald Reagan administration with President George H.W.Bush as the then Vice President in Iran-Contra Scandal and the cover up beyond exposure.

Latin American coup d’état. Middle East – Iran contra enabling the theocratic leader Ayatollah Khomeini rise to power in Iran.

President George H.W.Bush and family close business relationship with Osama Bin Laden immediate family.

President Bill Clinton lying under oath on personal affair.  Administration also held responsible for the Haitian economic decline allowing U.S, Corporations to benefit at the local population plight.

Delayed intervention in Bosnia and Rwanda genocide.

The extended warfare in Burundi and Congo that facilitated massive arms supply into the continent.

President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney  – Illegal invasion of Iraq under false pretext,

Vice President Dick Cheney holding vested interests in Halliburton – implicated on several corporate crimes and the executive branch disregard for human rights, environment, economy, false terror alerts…. epitomizing the gross misuse of power.

U.S and coalition forces along with many lives in Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan sacrificed in the lies and deception behind the justification for war.

U.S. military command not being forthright on troops casualty viz. the brave Pat Tillman shooting incident and similar accounts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Toppling governments – Democratic Haiti destabilized and the then democratically elected President Jean Bertrand Aristide exiled until today.

Other Issues – Negligence and mismanagement of Katrina, Abu Ghraib, Torture, rendition and denial of Habeas Corpus, Guantanamo bay…are just the few among the litany of charges against the Bush-Cheney administration.

President Barack Obama – Health Care Scandal pledging 30 million mandatory subscribers to Health Insurance industry.

Presidential decision not to investigate Bush-Cheney administration crimes.

Pursuing Bush-Cheney policy on Guantanamo bay, warfare, economy and environment.

Bush tax cuts extension to the wealthy.

Appointment of tax evading GE Corporation CEO Jeffrey Immelt as the White House Consul Chair for Jobs creativity and competitiveness irrespective of public dissent emanating from GE CEO held responsible for exporting over 20,000 jobs overseas.

White House mishandling of BP oil spill in the gulf coast with permits issued in October 2010 and more drilling scheduled in July 2011 against residents and environmentalists’ concern.

Additionally reports on permits contemplated for drilling in the Arctic.

Honduran Successful coup d’état, Ecuador failed coup, Lebanon government toppled – NB.  All three governments were democratically elected.

Currently Osama Bin Laden alleged killing not backed by evidence.

The tradition in Presidential power abuse continues in the absence of checks and balances.

U.S. Congress as elected representatives in a republic abstained from safeguarding democracy and upholding the law of the land exempting none regardless of stature, political affiliations and economic or social factors not barring the constitution limiting executive power for the precise rationale.

The office of Presidency is obliged to honor the constitutional oath as the Congressional members are in protecting democratic values conspicuously missing from the political system governed by special interests.

Reluctance to do the needful would be deemed complicity in treason of the highest order.

Democracy is threatened in the refusal to meet general expectations perhaps leading to decisive actions.

Therefore releasing evidence is necessary for public review and verification.

“The Arc of the moral universe is long but it bends towards justice.” – Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr.

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

http://youtu.be/HrHZb1mYV6M http://youtu.be/DIwfp6YDXTM http://youtu.be/yKRJ2elpOJ8 http://youtu.be/ypeCYfKHQJ4 http://youtu.be/qmsIR9BxOwo http://youtu.be/LPnD3bhW8BM http://youtu.be/1W6QLfXE3wA http://youtu.be/HwaSwnVTJ3Q http://youtu.be/C8ftDuPAGJw

Written by Padmini Arhant · Filed Under National and Global Security 

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