By It was really only a matter of time before this issue came up considering its popularity on the left:
Defense Secretary Robert Gates suggested on Tuesday that he was open to allowing the media to photograph the flag-draped coffins of fallen soldiers as their bodies and remains are returned to the United States.
“If the needs of the families can be met and the privacy concerns can be addressed, the more honor we can accord these fallen heroes, the better,” Mr. Gates told reporters.
He said he was ordering a review of the military policy that bars photographers from taking pictures of the return of the coffins, most of which are coming from Iraq and Afghanistan and go through Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. He also set a “short deadline” for a decision. The military has said the policy is meant to protect the privacy of the families of the dead soldiers and maintain dignity. But skeptics, who include some families as well as opponents of the war in Iraq, say that the bodies in the returning coffins are not publicly identified, so privacy is not an issue, and that barring photographers is a political maneuver meant to sanitize the war. [NY Times]
Something a lot of people don’t realize is that this policy is not something put into place because of the war in Iraq. This policy was actually put into place in 1991 during the Gulf War. I don’t remember anyone back then complaining about it? This whole thing came up clearly for partisan political reasons.
My biggest concern about this is that many family members greet the coffins of their loved ones and do they need to have a CNN crew following them to greet the coffins? Better yet should these families have this personal moment plastered on left wing blogs and Michael Moore movies simply because of the claim that the public has a right to know?
What Secretary Gates should recommend is that the DOD will post authorized photos for distribution of coffins returning home that respect the privacy of families and prevents a media spectacle at Dover AFB just like the picture you see above.
You can read more over at Blackfive.
1:40 am on February 14th, 2009 1
When Kennedy died, nobody hid his casket did they? Wait what about Audie Murphy, Alvin York any president.
Wait, we should also hide the Tomb of the Unknowns. Heck while were at it, we should bulldoze Arlington National Cemetery so the news media and Michael Moore can't follow the families.
3:52 am on February 14th, 2009 2
I saw a banner online yesterday reporting the story the 4 service members died in a bomb attack in Iraq that brought it home to me again. It read, "The Forgotten War." I was bothered by the polling at the tail end of last year's election by how little interest or concern the American public had left for the wars that their fellow Americans are still fighting and dying in.
I don't believe that keeping the realities of war out of sight and out of mind is best for America. Whether you agree or disagree with the politics of our participation in the wars or a war in particular, should no take away from our responsibility to honor and appreciate those made that sacrifice for causes that may or may not have personally supported.
I believe almost all Americans do truly honor them. Only a fringe group of "so called Christian" wanted to participate in dishonoring and desecrating these dead. But many just don't like to deal with the unpleasantness of it and many have a short attention span.
Unfortunately, these public ceremonies will be necessary to remind Americans we are still at war and of the real sacrifices their fellow Americans are making for them.
4:38 am on February 14th, 2009 3
I don't see how having CNN cameras following grieving family members at Dover AFB is in anyway honoring the sacrifices of servicemembers making the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Here is how one family member who lost his son in Iraq feels about this:
” target=”_blank”>http://www.mudvillegazette.com/031490.html
10:59 am on February 14th, 2009 4
The media will sully just about everything they can for sales. The dignity and honor of those who fought and died holds no restraints, You can be sure the first pictures they take will be held up by some jerk running around with the picture held high while he denigrates eveything the soldier stood for, for his own narrow special interest.
I think soldiers/ or family members should have the choice beforehand of weather they want there coffins shown publically.
4:11 am on April 1st, 2009 5
Kennedy bad analogy – Jackie was there with him and rode on the plane and saw his casket with the flag draped first rather than sitting at home 8 days later and seeing her husbands Flag Draped Casket for first time on CBS or some other media. As I said in a letter I wrote – the first moment of seeing the Flag Draped Casket of a Fallen soldier should be the family and the family's alone and not force that on them in a public way via the media outlets. But then, unless you have been "one of us" and can truly know and appreciate what it is like, it is really hard to understand, but obviously easy to express an opinion.
robert stokely
proud dad SGT Mike Stokely
KIA 16 AUG 05 near Yusufiyah Iraq
USA E 108 CAV 48th BCT GAARNG