Osama Bin Laden Home Videos Expected To Be Released

WASHINGTON — The world is expected to get its first glimpse at Osama bin Laden's daily life as the world's most wanted terrorist Saturday with the disclosure of home videos showing him strolling the grounds of the fortified compound that kept him safe for years.

The footage shot at the terror leader's hideout in Abbottabad, Pakistan, and propaganda tapes made there, are expected to be released to the news media Saturday, U.S. officials said.

They are among the wealth of information collected during the U.S. raid that killed bin Laden and four others. The information suggests bin Laden played a strong role in planning and directing attacks by al-Qaida and its affiliates in Yemen and Somalia, two senior officials said.

And it further demonstrates to the U.S. that top al-Qaida commanders and other key insurgents are scattered throughout Pakistan, not just in the rugged border areas, and are being supported and given sanctuary by Pakistanis.

Despite protests from Pakistan, defeating al-Qaida and taking out its senior leaders in Pakistan remains a top U.S. priority. That campaign will not be swayed by Islamabad's complaints that the raid violated the country's sovereignty, a senior defense official said Friday.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive material.

Their comments underscore U.S. resolve to pursue terror leaders in Pakistan, particularly during this critical period in the Afghanistan war, as President Barack Obama moves to fulfill his promise to begin withdrawing troops this July.

Already the Afghan Taliban has warned that bin Laden's death will only boost morale of insurgents battling the U.S. and its NATO allies. Al-Qaida itself vowed revenge, confirming bin Laden's death for the first time but saying that Americans' "happiness will turn to sadness."

For its part, the U.S. has already launched at least one drone strike into Pakistan in the days since bin Laden was killed, and there is no suggestion those will be curtailed at all.
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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/07/bin-laden-home-videos_n_858929.html

I don’t even watch my own home movies. Why would I want to see this evil incarnate prancing around in front of a video camera? What is our fascination with watching this train wreck? Why do we promote his message in death? Do we have a need to energize his followers? If I must watch home videos, I’d rather see images of Americans who have recovered and prevailed since the events of 9/11. I’d rather watch videos of the seal team in action or the court proceedings of these radicals being sentenced. Let’s not promote Bin Laden’s messages or causes. It seems to me that our media outlets have no self restraint. Just because the video tapes are released, there is nothing that says you have to air them. Describe them, discuss them, critique them, but don’t show them.