Hey, it's me. said:

The point clearly is its a secret government/military operation. Where's the need for a picture of the President et al looking involved and concerned?

We live in a shallowly media driven world. The need for the picture was so there would be something to put on newspapers, and later in history textbooks. Seems like the answer is pretty obvious.

It isn't a big deal, there is really no benefit or harm to such a thing. Such things really have been the norm since long before you or I were born. You're reading way too much into it.