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Why Obama should have released Bin Laden death photos

President Barack Obama went back on his promise to release at least one photo of dead Bin Laden, and said on Wednesday he would rather not incite more violence in the name of the Al-Qaeda terror chief's photo.

The president appeared to have been swayed by the predominant view in the national security apparatus that releasing the photo would hand another propaganda tool to terror organizations and endanger the lives of Americans overseas.

While that appears as s sagacious opinion, many argue that transparency could have been the better option. This view gains strength in the backdrop of the government slightly modifying its initial reportage on Bin Laden killing in the subsequent days, fuelling confusion about the real story and igniting talks that the entire death story was fake.

Some prominent republicans, including likely presidential candidates Sarah Palin and Tim Pawlenty demanded that the president release the 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,” ,” Palin said.

This is somebody who had no regard for the 3,000 or so Americans that he killed on 9-11 in horrific conditions; buildings crushing, people jumping out of windows, Pawlenty said.

And somehow the notion that he and his followers would be offended by that, when they are in fact the purveyors of terror. I think it would have been okay to release the photos.

Others have said the decision not to release the photos is another instance of appeasing the islamists.

While the decision not to release the photos shows some restraint on the part of the administration the proof of its success depends on whether the terror outfits and sympathizers will see the U.S. in a better light because of this. It looks like that possibility is quite dim. Bin Laden and his Al-Qaead brand of terrorism drew inspiration from deep-routed animosity to the culture and ethos the U.S represented. They were not exactly reacting to some perceived behavioral flaws.

It will be hard to imagine that not releasing the photos will make U.S. citizens any safer around the world.

On the other hand, releasing the photo would have at least dispelled unnecessary rumors and conspiracy theories doing the rounds. There are hordes of people who still think the entire operation was a charade. The terror outfits will themselves stand to benefit from spreading that Bin Laden's death was a U.S.-sponsored hoax.

The President, who just released his own long-form birth certificate to quell unwanted rumors about his citizenship, should have given due weightage to the value of transparency. The President released his birth certificate after much dithering, and he acknowledged that he was releasing it finally so the country could focus on things that matter.

Though the photos are not going to see the light of the day for now, there are many who believe that some time in future the photos will be unveiled for the public. The footage of President John F. Kennedy’s killing, as also still images from that incident, was not released officially for a long time. These got out in the public realm later on.

MuchMusic Video Awards 2012

MuchMusic Video Awards 2012

Top After-Market NYSE Gainers (PPO, MLR, PNX, NCI, TTI, HLX, HS, VG, HK, CACI)

The top after-market NYSE gainers on Wednesday are: Polypore International, Miller Industries, Phoenix Companies, Navigant Consulting, Tetra Technologies, Helix Energy Solutions Group, Healthspring, Vonage Holdings, Petrohawk Energy and CACI International.

Polypore International Inc. (NYSE:PPO) shares climbed 9.72 percent to $60.75 in aftermarket trading session. Its first quarter net profit surged to $25.8 million or $0.55 per share from $14.1 million or $0.31 per share in the same quarter last year. Net sales rose to $185.7 million, while analysts’’ expected net income of $0.40 per share on revenue of $164.38 million.

Miller Industries, Inc. (NYSE:MLR) shares gained 6.06 percent to $16.80 in post market trading session. The company reported first quarter net income of $0.61 per share compared to $0.17 per share in the same quarter last year. Revenue rose to $108.9 million against analysts’ estimation of $91.81 million.

Phoenix Companies, Inc. (NYSE:PNX) shares gained 5.47 percent to $2.70 in aftermarket trading session. The stock has a 52 week low of $1.61 and 52 week high of $3.83 and has $297.76 million market capitalization.

Navigant Consulting, Inc. (NYSE:NCI) shares gained 5.11 percent to $10.91 in post market trading session.

Tetra Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:TTI) shares advanced 4.97 percent to $13.52 in aftermarket trading session. The company stock declined 4.73 percent in regular trading session.

Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc. (NYSE:HLX) shares gained 4.54 percent to $17.73 in aftermarket trading session. The stock has a 52 week low of $8.38 and 52 week high of $19.20 and has $1.8 billion market capitalization.

Healthspring, Inc. (NYSE:HS) shares gained 4.29 percent to $43.27 in post market trading session. Herbert A Fritch, Chairman & CEO of HS, sells 7,500 shares of HS on May 5 at an average price of $41.55 a share.

Vonage Holdings Corp. (NYSE:VG) shares gained 3.98 percent to $4.96 in post market trading session. Its first quarter net income rose to $21.11 million or $0.09 per share from $13.97 million or $0.06 per share in the same quarter last year.

Petrohawk Energy Corp. (NYSE:HK) shares advanced 3.79 percent to $24.95 in post market trading session.

CACI International, Inc. (NYSE:CACI) shares gained 3.66 percent to $61.75 in aftermarket trading session. The company reported first quarter net income of $36.4 million or $1.16 per share for the third quarter compared to $26.7 million or $0.87 per share in the same quarter last year. CACI also raised its fiscal 2011 earnings estimate to 4.15 to 4.30 per share from 4.05 to 4.20 per share.

MuchMusic Video Awards 2012

Analyst: Apple to sell 500,000 iPhone 3G S in first weekend

Apple is gearing for its widely-anticipated launch of its latest iPhone 3G S on Friday leaving analysts speculating on how the handset will perform in terms of sales.

Piper Jaffray's senior analyst Gene Munster thinks it's going to be a good weekend for Apple and AT&T as it estimates they will sell 500,000 iPhones this weekend, according to a research note sent to clients, reports Fortune.

The estimate is half as many phones as Apple first sold when it launched the iPhone 3G. But to put that into perspective, Apple sold launched the first iPhone in 21 countries on the first day. In comparison, the iPhone 3G S will be sold in only eight countries on its first day.

Still, 500,000 phones sold in three days is a lofty number. Consider that the iPhone 3G was a fairly big upgrade over its predecessor when it was released, and most notably added the much faster 3G data speeds to the device.

The new iPhone 3G S, which the company says is the fastest iPhone ever, comes with a 3-megapixel camera and can record video. Other features include voice recording, spotlight search, compass among others. The handset will also have iPhone OS 3.0, the new software that apple released on Wednesday.

MuchMusic Video Awards 2012

MuchMusic Video Awards 2012

MuchMusic Video Awards 2012

MuchMusic Video Awards 2012

MuchMusic Video Awards 2012

MuchMusic Video Awards 2012

MuchMusic Video Awards 2012

MuchMusic Video Awards 2012