Washington (CNN) — While the White House and the CIA deliberate whether to release a photo of Osama bin Laden’s body, there’s debate outside the White House on what impact such graphic images might have.
There is a school of thought inside the White House that the photo release is unnecessary because there is “no question” that bin Laden is dead, a senior administration official told CNN’s Gloria Borger.
“We’ve got the DNA, the facials, the wife (identification) and measurements,” the source said. “There is no real issue that he didn’t get killed … What’s the point of putting them out when everyone knows he’s dead?”
Those opposed believe that “if the point is just to have some shock value, why do it?” the source added.
The decision, the source said, will likely come down to Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, among other national security officials.
CIA Director Leon Panetta said Tuesday he thinks a photograph of bin Laden’s body will be released at some point, but that it is up to the White House to make the final call.
