Two years on, ‘dead Osama photos threat to US security’
12 Jan 2013 6:34 AM IST
Even almost two years after the world's most wanted terrorist was slain by American special forces, President Barack Obama's administration is refusing to release photos of Osama bin Laden's dead body, warning that this would risk ‘grave damage’ to national security.
Though media outlets worldwide had made a clamour for 52 photographs taken during 'Operation Geronimo' to be released, the Obama administration has stoutly resisted, warning that the images could excite an angry, even violent reaction against Americans.
But now, a conservative legal group, Judicial Watch said that the government has ‘failed to provide any evidence that all 52 images, including those depicting bin Laden's burial at sea, pertain to 'foreign activities of the United States'’.
The conservative legal group, argued before a three-judge appeals panel that the Freedom of Information Act requires the government to release the pictures or it be made to explain why the release of photographs could damage national security, CNN reported.
The al-Qaeda chief was slain on 2 May, 2011 in a raid on his Pakistani hideout in Abbottabad by US Navy Seals, who took pictures of their target to confirm the success of their mission.
Earlier attempts to get the photos released were thrown out by a court last year, which accepted the administration's contention that their publication could harm national security.
The watch-group contended before the court that bin Laden was ‘the mastermind of 9/11’ and ‘the most wanted terrorist in the world’.
In a statement released before the hearing, the channel said that the Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton argued ‘Obama is asking the courts to rewrite the Freedom of Information Act to allow the administration to withhold documents simply because their disclosure may cause controversy’.
Judicial Watch said its appeal makes clear that the group is not seeking information about equipment or techniques used in the raid.
‘Defendants also have failed to provide any evidence that images depicting the burial at sea actually pertain to 'intelligence activities.'
‘Nor have they demonstrated that the release of images of a somber, dignified burial at sea reasonably could be expected to cause identifiable or describable exceptionally grave damage to national security.’
The Federal Appeals Court reserved the judgement. But, it was not known when it will issue its ruling.
US FISCAL CLIFF WOES TAKING TOLL ON MILITARY’S AGGRESSION CAPABILITIES: LEON PANETTA
US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta has urged the Congress to pass a balanced deficit reduction plan, noting that cutting on defence budget due to fiscal problems is posing a serious challenge to national security.
‘This fiscal uncertainty has become a serious threat to national security. Congress must pass a balanced deficit reduction plan, de-trigger sequester, and pass appropriations bills for financial year 2013,’ Panetta said.
Panetta also announced a slew of preventive measures to minimize the adverse effects of substantial budgetary cuts on America's armed forces.
‘We have a vital mission to perform, one that the American people expect and that they are entitled to, which to protect their safety and to protect our national security. Congress must be a partner in that mission. I'd love to be able to do this alone, but I can't,’ he said.
Noting that the Department of Defence has an obligation to protect this country, Panetta said he has asked the military services and other components to immediately begin implementing prudent measures that will help mitigate the budget risk.
‘For now, I've made clear that these actions must be reversible to the extent feasible and must minimise harmful effects on readiness. But we really have no choice but to prepare for the worst,’ he said.
DOUBTS LINGER
Though media outlets worldwide had made a clamour for 52 photographs taken during 'Operation Geronimo' to be released, the Obama administration has stoutly resisted, warning that the images could excite an angry, even violent reaction against Americans.
But now, a conservative legal group, Judicial Watch said that the government has ‘failed to provide any evidence that all 52 images, including those depicting bin Laden's burial at sea, pertain to 'foreign activities of the United States'’.
The conservative legal group, argued before a three-judge appeals panel that the Freedom of Information Act requires the government to release the pictures or it be made to explain why the release of photographs could damage national security, CNN reported.
The al-Qaeda chief was slain on 2 May, 2011 in a raid on his Pakistani hideout in Abbottabad by US Navy Seals, who took pictures of their target to confirm the success of their mission.
Earlier attempts to get the photos released were thrown out by a court last year, which accepted the administration's contention that their publication could harm national security.
The watch-group contended before the court that bin Laden was ‘the mastermind of 9/11’ and ‘the most wanted terrorist in the world’.
In a statement released before the hearing, the channel said that the Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton argued ‘Obama is asking the courts to rewrite the Freedom of Information Act to allow the administration to withhold documents simply because their disclosure may cause controversy’.
Judicial Watch said its appeal makes clear that the group is not seeking information about equipment or techniques used in the raid.
‘Defendants also have failed to provide any evidence that images depicting the burial at sea actually pertain to 'intelligence activities.'
‘Nor have they demonstrated that the release of images of a somber, dignified burial at sea reasonably could be expected to cause identifiable or describable exceptionally grave damage to national security.’
The Federal Appeals Court reserved the judgement. But, it was not known when it will issue its ruling.
US FISCAL CLIFF WOES TAKING TOLL ON MILITARY’S AGGRESSION CAPABILITIES: LEON PANETTA
US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta has urged the Congress to pass a balanced deficit reduction plan, noting that cutting on defence budget due to fiscal problems is posing a serious challenge to national security.
‘This fiscal uncertainty has become a serious threat to national security. Congress must pass a balanced deficit reduction plan, de-trigger sequester, and pass appropriations bills for financial year 2013,’ Panetta said.
Panetta also announced a slew of preventive measures to minimize the adverse effects of substantial budgetary cuts on America's armed forces.
‘We have a vital mission to perform, one that the American people expect and that they are entitled to, which to protect their safety and to protect our national security. Congress must be a partner in that mission. I'd love to be able to do this alone, but I can't,’ he said.
Noting that the Department of Defence has an obligation to protect this country, Panetta said he has asked the military services and other components to immediately begin implementing prudent measures that will help mitigate the budget risk.
‘For now, I've made clear that these actions must be reversible to the extent feasible and must minimise harmful effects on readiness. But we really have no choice but to prepare for the worst,’ he said.
DOUBTS LINGER
- Though media outlets worldwide had made a clamour for 52 photographs taken during ‘Operation Geronimo’ to be released, the Obama administration has stoutly resisted, warning that the images could excite an angry, even violent reaction against Americans
- A conservative legal group, Judicial Watch said that the government has ‘failed to provide any evidence that all 52 images, including those depicting bin Laden’s burial at sea, pertain to ‘foreign activities of the United States’”
- The al-Qaeda chief was slain on 2 May, 2011 in a raid on his Pakistani hideout in Abbottabad by US Navy Seals, who took pictures of their target to confirm the success of their mission
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