Face Off

A photo of the national security team watching the raid on Osama Bin Laden is stirring up some discussion over, not the events as they unfolded, but instead, on Hillary Clinton's facial expression.

The photo, which captures the fear, anxiety and intensity of the atmosphere in the Situation Room shows Secretary of State Clinton with her hand over her mouth, a look of — perhaps? — horror spreading across her face.As many people dissected the photo, her expression was the one focused on most. Scott Hall, Newsweek (opens in new tab)

's director of photography told WWD (opens in new tab) that "The mystery of what's happening off camera is captured wholly in the expression on Hillary's face," while David Brooks of The New York Times (opens in new tab) says he suspects "most people will relate to her expression."

The ongoing discussion of what exactly her facial expression means led Clinton to make the this statement:

"Those were 38 of the most intense minutes. I have no idea what any of us were looking at that particular millisecond when the picture was taken. I am somewhat sheepishly concerned that it was my preventing one of my early spring allergic coughs. So, it may have no great meaning whatsoever."

We can't help but wonder why Clinton must defend herself from showing a look of terror while none of the other people in the photograph, who all show similar looks of concentration and fear, must explain why they look the way they do.

What do you think readers? Should Clinton's face even be a topic of discussion? Do you think she's covering up her intense emotions by brushing it off and saying she might have been coughing?