For whatever my 2 cents is worth...
I get the sense that this decision is about continuing to build and mend Islamic relations with the US. If you were paying attention to Obama's announcement, he made several points to go out of his way to speak directly to muslims and show them that WE are the good guys. Furthermore, providing an almost proper burial - a sign of respect to the religion and culture - to the world's most hated figure seems like a calculated move as well.
These decisions seem to me to be to isolate terrorists, Jihadists and Al Queda members and show the rest of the wold of Islam, that we (the US) recognize that there is a profound difference between the former and latter. I'm no political expert, but it would seem to me that the ultimate solution to peace, harmony, respect and true democracy in the Middle East lies with the support of the masses.
Perhaps the decision to release the photos won't turn would-/will-be Jihadists into pro-Americans, the assertions that essentially say "they are who they are and won't change" ring true to me as well, but I don't think this decision is about them. Maybe the decision to withhold the photos was simply to avoid having future Muslim men and women join the Al Queda cause? Every effort to split Islamic radicalists with the majority of the Islamic world - the Middle East versions of all of you and me, will weaken their cause and strengthen ours.
If you don't buy that, how about simply playing the "worst-case scenario" game? Worst case scenario of not showing the photos? Conspiracies abound forever, Obama loses the presidency, the terrorists that were already going to be terrorists do their thing, the world keeps turning. Worst Case Scenario of showing the photos? Conspiracy theorists claim the photos are faked, bring up consistencies in the story provided mere minutes after a huge military assault on the other side of the globe, Obama still loses the presidency. The Terrorists that were already going to be terrorists do their thing AND are more effective in recruiting other people who, had they not seen the offensive photo of half of Osama's head, wouldn't have been terrorists, to ALSO become terrorists. The world keeps spinning with more terror in the world. Worst case, yes, however why risk it?
