White House Press Briefing

Let's see how this goes. Will try to keep up with a press briefing with the White House Press Secretary, Jay Carney. It is supposed to begin at 2 Eastern, but hasn't begun yet, and it's after that time. Still waiting.

Here we are, got a feed going, waiting for him to show up.

Here he is, I think.

President made decision not to release photos of bin Laden. Interview with Steve Kroft of 60 Minutes. President asked about how did you know it was him? Prelim was 95 per cent sure. Why not release pics? Did all testing, no doubt he's dead. Graphic photos not to be used as propaganda. Not a trophy. Don't need to spike the football. All his advisors agree. Is it really true? We were monitoring world reaction. No doubt among Al Qaeda that he is dead.

Questions: Photos didn't exist when bin Laden was killed. Arguments on either side. Graphic photos of him shot in head. Not in our interest to allow images to become icons to allow propaganda for them to used as incitement against Americans.

Evolution of decision making process? Got opinions of others that went into decision.

Panetta said there may be photos. Downside of releasing weighed heavily. Not 100 percent obvious decision. Consulted with National Security Team.

Firefight, who was firing at US commandos? Operational details need to be secret, he says. Details unavailable from him.

Not going further than information given yesterday, he says. (Ducking the question)
He says we need to be mindful of that we need to protect way of getting bad guys.

Burial question. Respect to him shown greater than respect shown to his victims. Fact made clear are not aimed at Islam. Cooperation from Muslims important. Seen as good thing. Who we are, he says.

What said to 911 victims who want closure. Reiterates won't go beyond what he has said earlier.

Any other evidence of his death that may be considered in being released? Some other details may be released- how reached conclusion can be made available.

Pakistani government question. Briefing- don't know about it, he says.

More questions about shooting. ( something about this they are not willing to let people know about )

Approval rating poll bounce. But economy is still polling badly.

Any opportunity for questioning bin Laden? Refused to answer.

Extolling the bravery of killing one man who was said to be unarmed. No casualties of Americans, he said.

Was willing to answer a bit about asking bin Laden's wife. Inconsistent.

911 families, would they be allowed to view photos? He said he doesn't know.

Economy question. Budget discussion.

Pressing for details, won't provide them. Exploitation of 911 families? Meetings will be private.

Why invite Bush? This is moment of unity for Americans, he said.

Was Panetta misinformed? Final decision had not be made, he said.

Wreath laying ceremony at Ground Zero.

Questions about legal justification for killing. He says authority to kill if wouldn't surrender. Team could take him prisoner, if necessary. Surrender would have been accepted, if feasible.

Pakistan question- how was he able to hide in plain site? Investigations ongoing.

Stop giving information, why? Divulging information that would limit capacity doing something similar in future. (Seems to be getting defensive There seems to be an evasion.)

Enhanced interrogation techniques question. Not really answered as far as I can tell. Multiple ways of obtaining information, he says.

Deliver justice or take into custody?

I'm stopping here. The questions continue.

Update:

Holder says killing justified.   Ok, but why not say so directly?  Why the talk about surrender?  It appears that they don't want it to appear as an assassination, when in fact, it was.  It appears that they are playing paddy cake with the Islamists for some reason.  Why treat his body with so much respect?  Who is he worried about?  US public opinion or someone else's and, if it is someone else's, why?


Update:

A possible explanation here.   There are those in Europe who say killing bin Laden that way was against International law.  How does that square with what the Democrats were saying about Bush?  It doesn't.

Update:

Good point made here in a comment:

Seems to me this is a strategic error whose consequences will be felt in the years to come. By assisinating rather than capturing, we are losing the opportunity to pump terrorists for information. Without that information, how will we be able to capture the new terrorists who take the place of the ones we kill?