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The raging debate over whether the death photos of Osama bin Laden should be released or not to quell rumors has unknowingly only managed to strengthen the voice of conspiracy theorists.
Top White House officials and lawmakers are divided over whether they should release the official death photos of the dreaded terrorist.
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The "gruesome" and "morbid" photos allegedly show a bloodied face of bin Laden with a part of his head blown off and brain exposed. bin Laden was allegedly shot in the forehead and chest.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have advised U.S. President Barack Obama not to release the photos as they feel it could be "inflammatory" and "prompt a backlash against the U.S. for killing bin Laden."
The House's Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Rep. Mike Rogers also said Obama is reluctant in releasing the death photos as conspiracy theorists are "going to see the pictures and find ten reasons why they think it’s someone else."
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Rogers, speaking to NBC News, said release of the photos can also jeopardize military operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere as many can misunderstand it as an anti-Muslim action and inflame hatred.
However, CIA Director Leon Panetta has told NBC News that releasing a photo is important because "we have to reveal to the rest of the world the fact that we were able to get [bin Laden] and kill him."
Agrees Rep. Joe Heck, a Republican and member of the House Intelligence Committee. "The photos have to be released most definitely, to make sure we get rid of any conspiracy theorists that think we did not take care of bin Laden," Heck said in an online interview with ABC News.
Rep. Andre Carson, one of the two Muslim lawmakers in Congress also said bin Laden's death photos should be released.
According to Carson, bin Laden "clearly posed a threat" to the United States and to the world and the world should be made aware that he is truly dead and gone.
"Not only did he kill Americans and jeopardize the lives of Americans, but Muslims as well," Carson told The Hill, a newspaper that covers Congress. "I think that publishing this photo - the administration has a right."
University of Michigan Professor of Law Steven Ratner also said there isn't any rule "of international human rights that per se prohibits release of photos of the dead."
Meanwhile, the delay in the government coming to a firm decision whether or not the death photos should be released has only helped strengthen the voices of conspiracy theorists and skeptics.
According to the conspiracy theorists, the whole U.S. operation was a hoax and meant only to whip up a positive frenzy and boost Obama's popularity ratings before the 2012 elections.
