WASHIGNTON, May 3: As pressure on the US to prove Osama bin Laden's death increased, the Obama administration indicated on Tuesday that it might release photographic evidence of his death.
Appearing on ABC's “Good Morning America” show, White House counter-terrorism adviser John Brennan said officials had graphic video and photos from the raid, including one of the Al Qaeda leader with a bullet hole above one of his eyes and in his chest.
Families of the 9/11 victims and certain countries also had requested to see the photos as a step towards closure, said Mr Brennan.
The Taliban too have been taunting the US government to provide proof of Bin Laden's death.
“We have not heard from our sources, and the reports of his death are coming only from one side,” said Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid in an email sent to journalists.
To silence all such elements, the US government might release the video, Mr Brennan indicated.
The White House counter-terrorism adviser also said that the US Navy SEAL team that killed Bin Laden would have taken Al Qaeda's leader alive if it was possible.
He told reporters that the White House thought Bin Laden would likely resist capture and taking him alive was considered a “remote” possibility. “We were not going to put our people at risk,” he added.
But counter-terrorism experts say that capturing Bin Laden alive would have presented numerous uncomfortable challenges about where to keep him, how to interrogate him and where to try him.
American experts also concluded that Bin Laden was no longer a useful source for intelligence.
US officials, however, also seem aware of the doubts that their decision to dispose of Bin Laden's body in the sea has created.
One American sent an email to CBS News complaining that “There is not a shred of evidence that Bin Laden has been killed and, of course, the media are not requiring any.”
Another asked: “Is it un-patriotic or un-American to ask how, specifically, we know that he's dead?”
Conspiracy theorists also are having a field day.
In postings on the blog, President Obama's Republican rivals are claiming that the administration faked the middle-of-the-night raid, the Bin Laden “death hoax” to replace questions about Mr Obama's citizenship.
“I am sorry, but if you believe the newest death of OBL, you're stupid,” anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan posted on her Facebook page. “Just think to yourself — they paraded Saddam's dead sons around to prove they were dead — why do you suppose they hastily buried this version of OBL at sea?”
The website of the ultra-right Tea Party Nation, which is headed by Sarah Palin, was also brimming with indignant posts questioning the timing of Obama's announcement.
“Don't you think Obama needs something to assure his re-election,” one commenter wrote.
