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Opinion: The Bin Laden images we’d rather see

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In Friday’s pages, the editorial board supports President Obama’s decision to keep Osama bin Laden’s death photo under wraps, praising the decision as responsible. An excerpt from the editorial:

The principal argument for releasing the photos is that their publication would rebut theories that Bin Laden is alive. The credible counterargument is that skeptics about Bin Laden’s death -- not all of them, but a significant majority -- will be unpersuaded by release of the photos and will claim that they were doctored. Regardless of the evidence, they will persist in their denial -- just as some ‘birthers’ have been unpersuaded by Obama’s release of his long-form birth certificate.

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I agree. We don’t want to fan the flame by releasing a photo that might look like we’re flaunting our victory or incite violence among Al Qaeda members. And it wouldn’t accomplish much because it’s unlikely the ‘deathers’ would think the photo was real; and those of us who believe the news that Bin Laden is dead, don’t need a photo to prove it.

Because I fall in the second camp, I’ve been far more interested in poring over illustrations and caricatures of Bin Laden that have run in the Opinion section over the last decade. Here’s a selection, care of our design director.


Lawrence Carroll / For The Times

Jonathan Twingley / For The Times

Jonathan Twingley / For The Times

Find more after the jump»

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Steve Brodner / For The Times

Roman Genn / For The Times

Roman Genn / For The Times

Susan Tibbles / For The Times

Michael Ramirez / For The Times

Michael Ramirez / For The Times

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