Families will have to approve pictures of War Dead

bob_2 · 02-27-09 4:33 am

Gates: Family would have to OK photos of war dead <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090227/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/pentagon_war_dead" target=_top>http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090227/ap_on_go_ca_st _pe/pentagon_war_dead</a> <blockquote><hr size=0><!-quote-!>quote:"My conclusion was we should not presume to make the decision for the families," Gates said in announcing results of a quick review of a ban that had stood through Republican and Democratic administrations. <!-/quote-!><hr size=0></blockquote> At least someone in government is making a compassionate decision on a sensitive subject.

bob_2 · 02-27-09 4:40 pm

Pentagon allows coverage of war coffins <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/26/pentagon.media.war.dead/" target=_top>http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/26/pentagon.me dia.war.dead/</a> <blockquote><hr size=0><!-quote-!>quote:Not everyone had a positive reaction. "Military Families United is disappointed in the president's decision to overturn the ban that has been in place for over 18 years," the group said in a release. "Just last week, Families United released the results of a survey conducted among military families, which found that more than 64 percent ... believe that this ban should not be overturned. It is evident that military families were not consulted nor their wishes honored when the decision was made. "This is a complete disregard for the will of America's military families and their need for privacy during this solemn moment," the release said. <!-/quote-!><hr size=0></blockquote>

bob_2 · 02-28-09 10:47 am

The Press abused their right in the Vietnam war and becaue the Press was comparing Iraq to Vietnam, I believe the practice was changed. I heard no outrage from the families of the dead soldiers, did you?? Just left wing Democrats.

neal · 03-01-09 9:24 am

Bush Sr. put it in place reportedly after a news show had a split screen showing some jovial scene from the White House while concurrently flag-draped coffins were being shown unloading at Dover. From VETVOICE:<blockquote><hr size=0><!-quote-!>quote:In fact, it's a pretty recent policy, instituted for purely political reasons, with waivers given, also for purely political reasons. The ban was instituted just before the first Gulf War, by the first President Bush, worried that images of the dead coming home could affect support for the war, just as they had during Vietnam. And, as noted in the story, George W. Bush allowed images of a victim of the Pentagon 9/11 attacks to be shown, to stir up anger (as if we needed any more reason). --snip-- In the end, those of us who served swore to uphold the Constitution of the United States. Part of that Constitution is freedom of the press, to promote the ability of the public to have as much information as possible - even when that information is not comfortable for those decision-makers in power. The return of our war dead certainly falls into that category. The policy should be changed.<!-/quote-!><hr size=0></blockquote> <a href="http://www.vetvoice.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=2469" target=_top>http://www.vetvoice.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=2469</a>

neal · 03-01-09 9:31 am

It was Dick that did the policy under Bush Sr.<blockquote><hr size=0><!-quote-!>quote:Media coverage at Dover AFB led to a controversy during the Panama Invasion: * December 21, 1989: The day after the U.S. invaded Panama, the first U.S. casualties from the action were returned to Dover Air Force Base. At the same time, President George H.W. Bush held his first news conference since the invasion. Three networks (ABC, CBS and CNN) chose to broadcast the two events in split screen, allowing viewing of both events at the same time. President Bush appeared to be joking during the news conference, despite the solemn ceremony taking place onscreen at Dover Air Force Base, resulting in calls from viewers complaining to the White House about the broadcasts. The practice of permitting media coverage of fallen soldiers' return to the United States was curtailed in 1991, during the Gulf War: * February 2, 1991: "Media coverage of the arrival of [] remains at the port of entry or at the interim stops will not be permitted…" Public Affairs Guidance - Operation Desert Storm, Casualty and Mortuary Affairs, Office of the Secretary of Defense (Arlington, VA), Feb. 2, 1991.<!-/quote-!><hr size=0></blockquote> <a href="http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/news/20090226/index.htm" target=_top>http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/news/20090226/index.h tm</a>

bob_2 · 03-01-09 10:56 am

<blockquote><hr size=0><!-quote-!>quote:The Obama administration is reversing an <center>18-year ban</center> on news coverage of the return of war dead, allowing photographs of flag-covered caskets when families of the fallen troops agree, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday. <!-/quote-!><hr size=0></blockquote> <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090227/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/pentagon_war_dead" target=_top>http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090227/ap_on_go_ca_st _pe/pentagon_war_dead</a> Let's see, that would include Clinton's support also, right, if my math serves me right.

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#1 02-27-09 4:33 am

Families will have to approve pictures of War Dead

#2 02-27-09 4:40 pm

Re: Families will have to approve pictures of War Dead

#3 02-28-09 10:47 am

Re: Families will have to approve pictures of War Dead

#4 03-01-09 9:24 am

Re: Families will have to approve pictures of War Dead

#5 03-01-09 9:31 am

Re: Families will have to approve pictures of War Dead

#6 03-01-09 10:56 am

Re: Families will have to approve pictures of War Dead

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