Dershowitz: Release OBL Photos or Face Lawsuit

NRO ^ | 05/05/2011 | Andrew Stiles

[OldDeckHand]

Harvard Law Professor Alan Dershowitz renders his two opponents — Col. Morris Davis, former chief prosecutor at Guantanamo and Nicholas Kristof of The New York Times — speechless as he makes the case for why the photos of a dead Osama bin Laden should be released, dismantling every one of their counterpoints in the process. He suggests that news outlets, should they elect to sue the government to obtain the photos, would have a winning case. But will any have the gumption to do so? (Or at least, more than had the gumption to publish the Muhammad cartoons?)

DERSHOWITZ: The precedent this would establish for suppressing material because it might be offensive or might lead to this, it would give…Muslim extremists veto about what we can read, what we can hear. It harks back to the cartoon issues and other forms of censorship. We should not censor because if we publish it will offend the sensibilities of people who don’t share our values.

-video-

[OldDeckHand]

Probably one of the best and most compelling arguments I have seen for their release.

[Cyman]

When I agree with Mr. DipSh@t can Armageddon be far behind?

[tsowellfan]

Probably one of the best and most compelling arguments I have seen for their release.

It's almost too late anyways. Enough time has past for the enemy and international doubters to claim the photos are fake.

[Tex-Con-Man]

Very uncomfortable feeling to agree with this guy.

[Dansong]

Dersh has been on our side on a number of issues lately, hasn’t he?

[rhombus]

Just like the birth certificate, every day we talk about the photos we’re not talking about gss prices, high unemployment, the mess in the middle east and the dismantling of capitalism. Why, it’s almost as if they planned both distractions. ;-)

[556x45]

It seems not good enough for the people of Detroit.

[Tzimisce]

....the administration is being held in contempt of court for ignoring a judge on the offshore drilling decision.

Two separate courts have thrown out Obamacare...but they’re still implementing it.

What on Earth leads you to believe Obama will follow the courts here?

[tsowellfan]

I've always been neutral regarding the release of the photo. I tend to tilt against releasing it but I also agree with the deathers too. It does not really matter to me. But, if we're going to release it, it should be done now. Otherwise the enemy's going to call it a fake.

Obama is telling a BIG lie about why he does not want to release the photos. Well, maybe a half-lie. It's true he does not want to incite more violence from the terrorists but only because it would be his doing and it would happen under his watch. If it happens under a republican's watch it's okay with Obama in fact it's encouraged. After all, he had no problem inciting violence when it came to releasing all of the "torture" photos that were taken during the Bush administration. And if tomorrow violence erupts in one of our malls or train stations, Obama wants to continue to blame Bush and the "torture" photos for that. He does not want that violence to erupt coincidentally after releasing the Obama death photo.

[loveliberty2]

Although one may disagree with Mr. Dershowitz most of the time, but his analysis and reasoned argument during the TV interview last night was the most compelling one offered to that time.

His is a constitutional argument, based on those rights delineated and claimed in the First Amendment. He rightfully pointed out that neither Congress nor the President of the United States possess rights which are superior to the constitution's limits on power to limit free speech.

[Mr. Mojo]

Dersh has been on our side on a number of issues lately, hasn’t he?

He has indeed. Maybe he's wising up a bit in his old age.

[fella]

Dershowitz is pointing out that submission to islam takes many forms.

[Maverick68]

blind squirrel...

[dennisw]

Dersh has been on our side on a number of issues lately, hasn’t he?>>>>>>>>

He is with us half the time but of course he voted for that noted Israel hater Hussein Obama

[TheOldLady]

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[mewykwistmas]

Lot’s of things are released much latter. They should find a way to release fishfood’s DNA profile and tell his family to do one if they don’t believe he is dead.

[driftless2]

The Obama admin certainly has no right to talk about inflaming Muslim sensiblities as they couldn’t wait to rush out the Abu Ghraib photos or any other info that put our servicemen in a bad light. Bunch of blithering hypocrites.

[over3Owithabrain]

Not releasing the photos because some may still doubt their authenticity is a non-issue and a weak reason to withhold them. Because anyone who would still doubt OBL's death when presented with actual photos would have done so anyway without their release. So releasing them doesn't add to the number of people believing in a conspiracy, it actually greatly REDUCES the amount of doubters. That weak line of reasoning for defending Obama's secrecy should be dropped for lack of logic and reason.

The pics should be released because we ideally do not have a secret government that withholds important truths. All US citizens were victims of OBL's murderous deeds to one or extent or another and deserve closure. The world needs closure.

Why won't they even show the photos to our representatives or to the direct victims of 9/11? Why not show a photo of OBL right before he got offed without the gore? Why not show a death photo to variois media?

[over3Owithabrain]

Not releasing the photos because some may still doubt their authenticity is a non-issue and a weak reason to withhold them. Because anyone who would still doubt OBL's death when presented with actual photos would have done so anyway without their release. So releasing them doesn't add to the number of people believing in a conspiracy, it actually greatly REDUCES the amount of doubters. That weak line of reasoning for defending Obama's secrecy should be dropped for lack of logic and reason.

The pics should be released because we ideally do not have a secret government that withholds important truths. All US citizens were victims of OBL's murderous deeds to one or extent or another and deserve closure. The world needs closure.

Why won't they even show the photos to our representatives or to the direct victims of 9/11? Why not show a photo of OBL right before he got offed without the gore? Why not show a death photo confidentially to various media so they can report it's existence?

[Paisan]

Dersh has been on our side on a number of issues lately, hasn’t he?

I like Al. He is one of the very few Liberals, along with Lieberman, who defends Israel’s right to defend Israel’s Right. He also stepped over the fence to quell the hissy shrilling against Palin in the recent Blood-Libel controversy.

With age, comes wisdom...