AP Files FOIA Request For Bin Laden Photos

Hugh Pickens writes "The Atlantic reports that President Obama's decision to withhold the visual evidence of Osama bin Laden's death has created a fundamental disagreement between the White House and the Associated Press, one of the largest journalism organizations in the world, prompting the news organization to file a Freedom of Information Act request for the bin Laden photos. 'This information is important for the historical record,' says Michael Oreskes, senior managing editor at The Associated Press. 'That's our view.' AP's FOIA request includes a reminder of the president's campaign pledge and a plea to be more transparent than his predecessor. 'The Obama White House pledged to be the most transparent government in US history,' writes the AP, 'and to comply much more closely with the Freedom of Information Act than the Bush administration did.' The AP isn't alone in wanting more insight on the specifics of the raid. When it eventually surfaced that bin Laden was not killed in a firefight, his wife wasn't used as a human shield, there was no live footage of the event and the 'mansion' where he lived was only worth between $250,000 and $480,000, many became skeptical of the White House's narrative. Other organizations that have filed FOIAs include Politico, Fox News, Judicial Watch and Citizens United. Oreskes sympathizes with the president. 'This is obviously one of his most difficult decisions and we understand that.'"

Re:Transparent...

[Xeranar]

I'm calling bull shit on that. This administration makes attempts to be moderately open compared to the last several Republican administrations. Reagan committed an act of treason in the arms sales. Bush hid numerous documents including the total lack of WMDs in Iraq. The idea that they're somehow some shadow organization is bull. The problem was he made statements that in our current political climate of wanting to know the people and not the issues were hard to actually do. If people focused on the issues instead of the people once more the question of "transparency" would become obsolete. That being said, I find that the FOIA are nice statements but I doubt they'll win because the photos are an easy emotional tool to be exploited. The individual details are hard to use to rile somebody.

Re:Sorry, it's Classified.

[Anonymous Coward]

Sorry, but the potential for people to be angry over the release of this information is not a permitted reason to classify a document.

Here are the permitted reasons:
1.4(a) military plans, weapons systems, or operations;
1.4(b) foreign government information*;
1.4(c ) intelligence activities, sources, or methods, or cryptology;
1.4(d) foreign relations or foreign activities of the United States, including confidential sources;
1.4(e) scientific, technological or economic matters relating to national security; which includes defense against transnational terrorism;
1.4(f)USG programs for safeguarding nuclear materials or facilities;
1.4(g) vulnerabilities or capabilities of systems, installations, infrastructures, projects or plans, or protection services relating to the national security, which includes defense against transnational terrorism; and
1.4(h) weapons of mass destruction.
Source: http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/89254.pdf

Re:stupid

[nosferatu1001]

"Accidental" misspeaks such as "he was armed" (he wasnt) "he used his wife as a human shield" (he didnt) and "he was shot while firing back" (he was executed while unarmed as the US had no intention of taking him alive, as actually convicting him of anything based on evidence gained through torture would be...tricky)

The way they carried this out is a dark stain on US claims to be a civilised country.