The Third Way: Bin Laden Photos, Pawns in Congress, and a Guy Named Sid

If only WikiLeaks had been around when I took US History. It’s much more interesting when emails and such provide backstory. Take for instance the death of Bin Laden and the problem Obama faced over releasing the death photos. Some in the administration favored withholding the images to lessen international animosities and potential terrorist responses. Others felt making the photos public was necessary to verify the death.

Apparently, but not verifiable via available WikiLeaks emails I read, Hillary Clinton wondered if there was another option. Or perhaps she assumed there were only two options and was trying to figure out which one would serve best. The backstory bringing this bit of history to life unfolds in a leaked email from “Sid” (sbwhoeop) writing to "H" ([email protected]). His first line in one of just a few death photo-related emails reads: “Yes, there is a Third Way—on the Bin Laden photos.”

“Don't let the photos serve as trophies; instead take the Congress as trophy using the photos.” This line comes at the end of Sid’s email detailing how the photos could “provide testimony to the President's feat.” In his strategy, Sid has also thought about turning congressmen into effective spokespeople as they “emerge speaking to the national and local press on what they have seen.” He recommends how long the photos should be available and waxes poetic on the effect his “Third Way” will have on Tea Party Republicans, the debt ceiling crisis, and a lurking “Deather” conspiracy.

A week later on May 12, 2011 news coverage of senators’ reactions flashed across our screens. What Sid had proposed played out as planned. Without confirmation of a dead Bin Laden, citizens of the globe might not have accepted the U.S. and its President had accomplished the impossible. The “Third Way” allowed the U.S. and most of the world to lay Bin Laden to rest without seeing the photos. Sid effectively orchestrated what became Obama’s prized moment, confirmation that the President had indeed dispatched America's number one enemy.

Sid, whose email address begins with sbwhoeop, is Sidney Blumenthal. This is the same Blumenthal who worked for Bill Clinton and was called to testify about Lewinsky at the Grand Jury prior to Clinton’s impeachment. He's the same Blumenthal who forged a strong relationship with Hilary, becoming her Senior Adviser during the 2008 election season. It’s important to note Blumenthal was not employed by the State Department during Clinton's tenure. Rahm Emanuel, Obama’s first Chief of Staff, saw to that. Where was the man who suggested sending Congress to view photos of Bin Laden’s body employed at the time? Blumenthal was working for the Clinton Foundation and other pro-Clinton organizations. To complete this brief resume, note that in 2011/2012 Blumenthal also provided Secretary Clinton with Libya research for use in intelligence briefings and that's how in 2015 he found himself giving testimony to the United States House Select Committee on Benghazi.

When history is better revealed we are given more room for valid questions and discourse. My question is this: In what pie doesn’t Sidney Blumenthal have his hands? Which leads to a second question: Just what has Sid advised H about the 2016 campaign, the DNC, and Bernie Sanders?

Link to email referenced: wikileaks.org/clinton-emails/emailid/10108