Cutting the head of the snake

I agree with President Obama’s decision [“Risk, values shape photo debate,” page one, May 5].

Releasing the photo would be inflammatory and would undoubtedly be used by his terrorist followers to increase violence. We would never be able to completely put to rest any conspiracy theories whether the photo were released or not.

It was good to hear that Osama bin Laden, the world’s most wanted terrorist and mass murderer, was finally killed by U.S. forces. This evil and vicious terrorist was finally brought to justice. It’s a great day for the U.S. and the free world.

Hopefully, cutting the head of this snake will adversely affect his hate-filled followers of the sick ideology he advocated and will eventually bring about their leader’s demise. I also hope that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran meets the same fate for advocating the destruction of Israel and promoting the killings of innocent civilians.

Although this may not be the end of al-Qaida or the war on terror, it is a tremendous setback for them.

— Josh Basson, Seattle

Have a little faith

For those who think it’s a cover-up of the killing of the No. 1 most-wanted man, I say yes; publish the gruesome photos of his dead body. Let these disbelievers have the shock value and disgust of seeing a bloodbath and let their toes curl and have them puke in their kitchen sinks.

This is real. Have some faith in our president to keep his vow to capture and kill the world’s worst criminal. Shame on these American citizens who have no faith in one of the greatest and most powerful countries on Earth and be thankful that this is our home.

I couldn’t be prouder of our CIA, President Obama and our brilliant military powers, and I kiss the ground that I live on in this great country.

God bless America! Let’s show our patriotism.

— Lana Ohara, Bremerton

Some puzzling information

It was late Sunday night, May 1, that Americans took to the streets in jubilation over the news that the mastermind behind the Sept. 11 terrorist attack was killed by two dozen American special operations forces in the town of Abbottabad, Pakistan.

One of the curious things that seems to require some clarity is that Osama bin Laden was shot twice in the head even though he did not have a weapon; he was supposedly given the opportunity to surrender, but he chose to resist instead.

In fact, Al-Jazeera was the first source to mention that bin Laden was unarmed and afterward, officials of the U.S. government confirmed the accuracy of the report as mentioned in the sometimes-controversial Arab news agency.

To wit, was bin Laden executed mafia-style by a bullet to the head from special operations forces?

The most puzzling thing of all is: Why take the body instead of just leaving the bloody corpse in the bedroom on the second floor of the house? Let bin Laden’s relatives in Saudi Arabia along with the Pakistani government decide what to do with his body.

The only real proof that the American military operatives needed was the photos that show that bin Laden was actually killed. Come to think of it, why haven’t pictures been sent to some U.S. allies who are members of the Arab League or prestigious Muslim clerics who can authenticate what appears to be the dead body of the slain al-Qaida leader?

— Robert Randle, Tacoma

A respectable leader

What joy it brings to realize that we have a president who is careful but resolute in his decisions, decisive in his conclusions, without hysterical emotionalism and who values nobility and honor in the manner of respect shown to our enemy in burial.

He also demonstrates deep understanding of the human spirit and security considerations in not permitting the distribution of the death photos of Osama bin Laden. All in all, a poignant reminder of how a great power should value and demonstrate respect and self-assurance.

— Michael Starr Varney, Redmond