On Osama Bin Laden photos

Does the public have a right to view graphic photographs of Osama bin Laden after he was shot in a US raid on his compound two years ago?

How about photos of his burial at sea?

That was the question before a federal appeals court Jan. 10, as the judges considered an appeal from Judicial Watch, an activist group seeking release of the photos.

Judicial Watch describes itself as “a conservative, non-partisan American educational foundation that promotes transparency, accountability and integrity in government, politics and the law.”

The government says keeping the images secret is a matter of national security - the photos could incite violence against Americans.

Judicial Watch says that's nonsense and can't imagine how anyone could be upset by the photos of a “dignified burial at sea.”

Perhaps they overlooked the impact of images of a bullet-ridden bin Laden?

President Barack Obama laid out the federal government's case on the CBS television program “60 Minutes.”

“It's important for us to make sure that very graphic photos of somebody who was shot in the head are not floating around as an incitement to additional violence or as a propaganda tool,” the president said.

“That's not who we are. We don't trot out this stuff as trophies,” he said.

Judicial Watch already lost on the federal district court level back in April, when Judge James Boasberg acknowledged the very real threat releasing these photos could bring. ...

The appeals court should affirm Boasberg's ruling. And the US Supreme Court, where this is no doubt heading, should do the same.

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