WASHINGTON (AP) — Public disclosure of graphic photos and video taken of Osama bin Laden after he was killed in May by U.S. commandos would damage national security and lead to attacks on American property and personnel, the Obama administration contends in a court documents.

In a response late Monday to a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit filed by Judicial Watch, a conservative watchdog group seeking the imagery, Justice Department attorneys said the CIA has located 52 photographs and video recordings. But they argued the images of the deceased bin Laden are classified and are being withheld from the public to avoid inciting violence against Americans overseas and compromising secret systems and techniques used by the CIA and the military.

The Justice Department has asked the court to dismiss Judicial Watch's lawsuit because the records the group wants are "wholly exempt from disclosure," according to the filing.

Tom Fitton, president of Judicial Watch, accused the Obama administration of making a "political decision" to keep the bin Laden imagery secret. "We shouldn't throw out our transparency laws because complying with them might offend terrorists," Fitton said in a statement. "The historical record of Osama bin Laden's death should be released to the American people as the law requires."

The Associated Press has filed Freedom of Information Act requests to review a range of materials, such as contingency plans for bin Laden's capture, reports on the performance of equipment during the May 1 assault on his compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, and copies of DNA tests confirming the al-Qaida leader's identity. The AP also has asked for video and photographs taken from the mission, including photos made of bin Laden after he was killed.

The Obama administration refused AP's request to quickly consider its request for the records. AP appealed the decision, arguing that unnecessary bureaucratic delays harm the public interest and allow anonymous U.S. officials to selectively leak details of the mission. Without expedited processing, requests for sensitive materials can be delayed for months and even years. The AP submitted its request to the Pentagon less than one day after bin Laden's death.

In a declaration included in the documents, John Bennett, director of the CIA's National Clandestine Service, said many of the photos and video recordings are "quite graphic, as they depict the fatal bullet wound to (bin Laden) and other similarly gruesome images of his corpse." Images were taken of bin Laden's body at the Abbottabad compound, where he was killed by a Navy SEAL team, and during his burial at sea from the USS Carl Vinson, Bennett said.

"The public release of the responsive records would provide terrorist groups and other entities hostile to the United States with information to create propaganda which, in turn, could be used to recruit, raise funds, inflame tensions, or rally support for causes and actions that reasonably could be expected to result in exceptionally grave damage to both the national defense and foreign relations of the United States," Bennett wrote.

Navy Adm. William McRaven, the top officer at U.S. Special Operations Command, said in a separate declaration that releasing the imagery could put the special operations team that carried out the assault on bin Laden's compound at risk by making them "more readily identifiable in the future." Before his current assignment, McRaven led the Joint Special Operations Command, the organization in charge of the military specialized counterterrorism units.

So much for the most open and transparent government in history.

hardly


its a national security issue, transparency is not in any way relative to anything doing with americans besides their CURIOuSITY

in this digital and global age, heck yeah, certain things dont need to be 'exploited' , like detailed pictures of dead people

we dont do that with anyones family here,, why would we do it with a foreign body?

something I can finally agree with Mr Obama on. god I hate the media

did it ever occur to them that some of us might have relatives overseas whose safety could be compromised...idiots

I agree that certain things military shouldn't be open to the public especially when compromises the safety of the public and those whom protect the public.

Considering the death was an antagonist in and of itself, it is wise to keep the whole sordid thing as quiet as possible for as long as possible. None of us live under twelve feet of steel with supplies for the rest of our lives and complete filtering of our water and air so yea we should be as discreet as possible in this situation.

i disagree, it would show we mean business... they didn't hesitate to show all the beheadings they did, and everyone already knows he's dead. just another coverup by the regime.

The only problem with that remains the fact that it isnt over yet, and those men remain in the field.....if we compromise them and their missions by releasing this information now.....we hurt the ongoing battle in celebration of something we shouldnt delve into at this time.....my grandmother was sworn to secrecy on the Manhattan Project and before she did her interview with the press she made sure the gag order was lifted.....And you know what we her family didnt even know she worked on the Manhattan Project until she completed the interview....she never displayed one award or picture not anything....that is how quiet she kept it

didn't seal team six get killed when the helicopter crashed a month ago?

Even if one survived or there are others concerned would you wish to put them at risk when so many have aready been lost.....at least ubtil we are out? And it takes more sometimes to complete missions in the field and behind the scenes....this information may include everything...the whole thing not just that part

i'm not in to getting anyone hurt, but i think it is all a lie...

Regan would have shown the photo's cause he had testicular fortitude!

Nothing stoped hem from releasing the pics from gitmo eventho there was an argument that it would upset people and could put our soldiers and America at risk. So why not release Osama's

I dont think the people at Gitmo were killed....

Either way their safety was compromised the day we put a bullet in the guys head. This will do no damage.

The only thing compromised was Mr. Moron Obama announcing to the world AND our enemies the wealth of intel they got from Bin Laden's house. Computers, videos, flashdrives etc. that outlined all future attacks and locations of the enemy etc.

That did more damage then showing a picture or two.

Man I would love to play poker with Obama since he gives our best hand away himself.

First they whine about lack of transparency, then we get junk like this. Remember how they kicked and screamed and pounded their little fists because they didn't get a chance to see Bin Laden's body? Now . . .

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/06/09/earlyshow/main20070262.shtml

There must be some reason that the CIA didn't classify this information. Maybe they have greater wisdom than a message-board poster. They seem to know what they're doing, judging from results.

Now, if you want to complain about foolish disclosure, how many people died from the disclosure of Valerie Plame's cover by the Vice-President's office?

who cares... this post is about obama and his lies... quit trying to change the subject..

This thread is really lets bash whatever we think OBama did or didnt do,, per usual


BUT,,,minglers tend to respond to each others posts with what they feel is relevant to the post before,, this thread seems to follow suit