On May 13, 2009, the White House announced that they would seek to block the release of photos depicting abuse of terrorism detainees by U.S. officials abroad, claiming they could “further inflame anti-American opinion and to put our troops in danger.” The decision was a reversal on President Obama's part, and was met with acclaim by Fox News' Sean Hannity, who said on his program that night: “The Obama administration has done a 180 on an important issue of national security, but here is your headline for tomorrow morning, here is your YouTube moment. I, Sean Hannity, agree with President Obama. He did the right thing.”

Hannity went on to say that the decision will “make the country safer” and the release of the photos “would have been extremely dangerous for our troops”:

Hannity was clear -- releasing these photos would have incited terrorists to commit acts of violence against America and U.S. troops.

Now, almost exactly two years later, President Obama has decided against releasing controversial photos of Osama Bin Laden's corpse, claiming that they could be used as “an incitement to additional violence or as a propaganda tool.” Sean Hannity, who agreed with that rationale two years ago, now doesn't buy it.

Last night on Fox News he told Oliver North: “The rationale is what bothers me the most, Colonel, and the rationale seems to be that by releasing this photo, we will incite people that already hate us. And we put a bullet in the guy's brain. I think they already hate us.” Video, with graphic images, below:

What accounts for Hannity's change of opinion? It's tough to tell. A cynic might note that the detainee abuse photos threatened to cast a negative light on the Bush-era counterterrorism policies that Hannity so vociferously endorsed and continues to defend, while the Bin Laden photos do not.

But that's just the cynicism talking.