Sarah Palin

Palin: Obama 'Pussy-Footing' By Not Releasing Photo Of Dead Bin Laden

Brian Beutler | May 4, 2011, 2:47PM

Just three days after the world learned President Obama ordered a daring special operations mission resulting in the death of Osama bin Laden, Sarah Palin has come around to claim he's "pussy-footing around" -- specifically by not immediately releasing photos of the deceased al Qaeda leader. To underscore the irony, Palin claims the pictures should be released "as warning to others seeking America's destruction" -- one day after numerous reports had her moving in a more pragmatic direction on foreign policy.

Palin took to Twitter, one of her go-to modes of communications, moments after news broke that Obama would not release the bin Laden photos.

"Show photo as warning to others seeking America's destruction. No pussy-footing around, no politicking, no drama;it's part of the mission," she said.

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Topics: Barack Obama, Mike Rogers, Osama Bin Laden, Republicans, Sarah Palin, Susan Collins, Terrorism, Tim Pawlenty, War On Terror

Navy Seals

Sen. Ayotte: I've Seen A Photo Of Slain Bin Laden

Susan Crabtree | May 4, 2011, 2:16PM

Update at 3:47 p.m.: Sen. Saxby Chambliss' office says he didn't show Ayotte the photo and he has not seen it himself.

Amid reports that the White House will not release a photo of a slain Osama bin Laden, a photo of bin Laden is circulating among some senators.

Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) tells TPM another senator showed her a photo of a deceased bin Laden with the understanding that it was an authentic photo the Navy Seals took of him after he was killed.

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Topics: Barack Obama, House Intelligence Committee, Kelly Ayotte, Mike Rogers, Navy Seals, Osama Bin Laden, Saxby Chambliss, Senate, Senate intelligence committee

Osama Bin Laden

House Intelligence Chair Mike Rogers: Releasing Bin Laden Photo Is A Dangerously Bad Idea

Benjy Sarlin | May 4, 2011, 12:48PM

A key Republican lawmaker has come out strongly against releasing photos of Osama BIn Laden's bullet-riddled corpse, adding an influential voice to the mix as the White House formulates its plan on the issue.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-MI) warned in a statement that releasing the gruesome images of Bin Laden would not only fail to quell conspiracy theories about whether the Al Qaeda leader is still alive, but was antithetical to American values and could lead to blowback in the Muslim world.

"I don't want to make the job of our troops serving in places like Iraq and Afghanistan any harder than it already is," Rogers said. "The risks of release outweigh the benefits. Conspiracy theorists around the world will just claim the photos are doctored anyway, and there is a real risk that releasing the photos will only serve to inflame public opinion in the Middle East. "

Rogers also worried that the grotesque display would reflect poorly on America's honor.

"Imagine how the American people would react if Al Qaida killed one of our troops or military leaders, and put photos of the body on the internet," he said. "Osama bin Laden is not a trophy - he is dead and let's now focus on continuing the fight until Al Qaida has been eliminated."

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Topics: Mike Rogers, Osama Bin Laden

Mike Rogers

Mike Rogers Named Chair Of Intelligence Committee

Rachel Slajda | December 15, 2010, 3:45PM

Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI), a former FBI agent who helped write the Patriot Act, has been chosen to chair the House Intelligence Committee.

"Speaker-designate Boehner's confidence to appoint me to serve in such a critical position for America's national security is humbling," Rogers said in a statement. "It will be an incredible responsibility to serve as chairman as we work to get the oversight, policy, and funding right to provide our nation's intelligence professionals with the tools and support they need."

Some notable moments from Rogers:

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Topics: House Intelligence Committee, Mike Rogers