Author Topic: Sources: Pentagon lifting ban on coffin photos (Read 3174 times)

TheSarge · « **on:** February 26, 2009, 01:20:12 PM »

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert Gates has decided to lift the ban on news organizations photographing the flag-draped caskets of U.S. war dead returning home, and will instead leave the decision entirely up to the families, Pentagon sources said Thursday.

Gates told reporters earlier this month that he was reviewing the policy and that if the needs of the families could be met, and the privacy concerns could be addressed, he favored honoring fallen troops as much as possible.

Gates was to formally make the announcement later Thursday, the sources said.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29410258

BlueStateSaint · « **Reply #1 on:** February 26, 2009, 01:35:47 PM »

What effin' eeeediots. I wonder how long it will be for a news organization to "accidentally" print a pic of someone's coffin, one that the family didn't want released. Over/under: 17 days.

TheSarge · « **Reply #2 on:** February 26, 2009, 01:37:52 PM »

Quote from: BlueStateSaint on February 26, 2009, 01:35:47 PM

What effin' eeeediots. I wonder how long it will be for a news organization to "accidentally" print a pic of someone's coffin, one that the family didn't want released. Over/under: 17 days.

God forbid that happens to me when I ship out next time...but in no way will the media have permission to release a phot like that of me.

I'll be dammed if I'm gonna end up on a protest poster for the fu*king Moonbats.

DumbAss Tanker · « **Reply #3 on:** February 26, 2009, 01:41:40 PM »

I find this quite objectionable.

Peter3_1 · « **Reply #4 on:** February 26, 2009, 02:08:48 PM »

It is Obama. The kid has no "real world" experience. Plus, he is a text book narcissist, and has zero empathy for anyone but himself.

Evidence? How's his half brother and Aunt doing?

NHSparky · « **Reply #5 on:** February 26, 2009, 02:15:05 PM »

Anyone who thought Obama respected the troops? You now have a clear and definitive refutation of that point.

BlueStateSaint · « **Reply #6 on:** February 26, 2009, 02:36:34 PM »

Quote from: NHSparky on February 26, 2009, 02:15:05 PM

Anyone who thought Obama respected the troops? You now have a clear and definitive refutation of that point.

Yet my BIL, the Obot, will defend the guy until he dies.

Airwolf · « **Reply #7 on:** February 26, 2009, 05:00:13 PM »

No wonder the calenders for some ancient civilizations ran out in 2012

thundley4 · « **Reply #8 on:** February 26, 2009, 05:12:32 PM »

Hm, I wonder though. With 0Bama being the CIC and therefore now responsible for any and military deaths, as Bush was*, will the MSM even want to publish the photos any more?

*according to the moonbats.

Chris_ · « **Reply #9 on:** February 26, 2009, 05:18:47 PM »

Quote from: thundley4 on February 26, 2009, 05:12:32 PM

Hm, I wonder though. With 0Bama being the CIC and therefore now responsible for any and military deaths, as Bush was*, will the MSM even want to publish the photos any more?

*according to the moonbats.

It'll still be Bush's War and as always...Bush's fault.

Hawkgirl · « **Reply #10 on:** February 26, 2009, 05:48:21 PM »

Obama is acting like a dictator. He needs to humbled, somehow, some way, and FAST.

Crazy Horse · « **Reply #11 on:** February 26, 2009, 06:13:31 PM »

Gates..............................I wonder if any of the Proud tomorrow will have anything to say about this

Airwolf · « **Reply #12 on:** February 26, 2009, 07:24:00 PM »

Well they can now take all the pictures they want. If I was the base commander I'd make them do it from outside the perimeter fenceline .

NHSparky · « **Reply #13 on:** February 26, 2009, 08:35:05 PM »

Quote from: Airwolf on February 26, 2009, 07:24:00 PM

Well they can now take all the pictures they want. If I was the base commander I'd make them do it from outside the perimeter fenceline .

Make sure they're downrange when M-4/M-16 quals are being held that day.

Come to think of it, for the safety of the journalists/communists/protestors (all the same thing), you might want to make it UPrange--don't want any of those "stray" rounds reaching out and touching someone....

Ogre · « **Reply #14 on:** February 27, 2009, 07:56:30 AM »

Quote from: BlueStateSaint on February 26, 2009, 01:35:47 PM

What effin' eeeediots. I wonder how long it will be for a news organization to "accidentally" print a pic of someone's coffin, one that the family didn't want released. Over/under: 17 days.

I thought I'd never see the day when privacy and respect for the families of fallen heroes is trumped by the media's thirst for sensationalism.

Thor · « **Reply #15 on:** February 27, 2009, 08:28:13 AM »

OK, I have to be the disagreeable one here. I remember pictures of our Soldiers coming home in caskets from Viet Nam. It made me sad. It never stopped my will to join the military. I've always looked at it as one of the faces of war. I just don't seem to have a problem with it. However, I never used those pictures in any way.

JohnnyReb · « **Reply #16 on:** February 27, 2009, 10:44:47 AM »

I've been trying to warp my brain into DUmmie mode for ...what? ....2 days now ...trying to figure out why they are allowing this. They have a reason....they have a reason for everything......they have a use for it....I just ain't figure out what it is.

SSG Snuggle Bunny · « **Reply #17 on:** February 27, 2009, 10:53:33 AM »

Quote from: Thor on February 27, 2009, 08:28:13 AM

OK, I have to be the disagreeable one here. I remember pictures of our Soldiers coming home in caskets from Viet Nam. It made me sad. It never stopped my will to join the military. I've always looked at it as one of the faces of war. I just don't seem to have a problem with it. However, I never used those pictures in any way.

I appreciate your thoughts but you are speaking from your POV...which is perfectly acceptable.

However, you are also astute enough to know that others are subject to the emotional manipulation that the leftist shitbags will exploit these photos for.

Eupher · « **Reply #18 on:** February 27, 2009, 11:03:10 AM »

Quote from: Mr Snuggle Bunny on February 27, 2009, 10:53:33 AM

I appreciate your thoughts but you are speaking from your POV...which is perfectly acceptable.

However, you are also astute enough to know that others are subject to the emotional manipulation that the leftist shitbags will exploit these photos for.

Exactly. A single picture is worth 1,000 words, as the saying goes. And there is NO DOUBT that manipulation is the sole purpose behind obtaining these photographs.

We used to call it "propaganda," but we've become so politically-correct we can't even call this kind of shit manipulation on a massive scale.

It will happen, of that I also have no doubt.

Those who would obtain those images of the fallen and do ANYTHING other than honor the memory of the person who fell while performing the mission that the country called them to do are many and varied. They are out there and they're just waiting to exploit the sheeple.

And there are plenty of sheeple, too.

Wretched Excess · « **Reply #19 on:** February 27, 2009, 11:05:09 AM »

"leaving the decision up to the families" could work a couple of different ways. is permission denied unless the family specifically grants it, or is permission assumed until the family specifically prohibits it?

it makes a huge difference.

Wretched Excess · « **Reply #20 on:** February 27, 2009, 11:07:12 AM »

Quote from: Thor on February 27, 2009, 08:28:13 AM

OK, I have to be the disagreeable one here. I remember pictures of our Soldiers coming home in caskets from Viet Nam. It made me sad. It never stopped my will to join the military. I've always looked at it as one of the faces of war. I just don't seem to have a problem with it. However, I never used those pictures in any way.

I don't think the pictures of our fallen heroes coming home in caskets were intended to deter those from volunteering to serve; folks like that are pretty motivated individuals in the first place. I always assumed that the pro-picture people were attempting to manipulate public opinion against the war. Sort of like Rangel trying to reinstitute the draft.

TheSarge · « **Reply #21 on:** February 27, 2009, 12:43:38 PM »

Quote from: JohnnyReb on February 27, 2009, 10:44:47 AM

I've been trying to warp my brain into DUmmie mode for ...what? ....2 days now ...trying to figure out why they are allowing this. They have a reason....they have a reason for everything......they have a use for it....I just ain't figure out what it is.

The thinking is that it will..from a Public Affairs standpoint quiet the moonbats that claim we're hiding the true number of deaths...etc etc

Thor · « **Reply #22 on:** February 27, 2009, 05:37:28 PM »

Quote from: Mr Snuggle Bunny on February 27, 2009, 10:53:33 AM

However, you are also astute enough to know that others are subject to the emotional manipulation that the leftist shitbags will exploit these photos for.

I won't disagree with the potential for exploitation.

Chris_ · « **Reply #23 on:** February 27, 2009, 06:40:07 PM »

Quote from: Thor on February 27, 2009, 08:28:13 AM

OK, I have to be the disagreeable one here. I remember pictures of our Soldiers coming home in caskets from Viet Nam. It made me sad. It never stopped my will to join the military. I've always looked at it as one of the faces of war. I just don't seem to have a problem with it. However, I never used those pictures in any way.

It might make quite a difference to you if it were your son laying in one of those boxes.

Here's a nice letter to Mr. Gates from Military Families United

Quote

----- Original Message -----
From: Military Families United
To: kay_xxxxxxx@xxxx.com
Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2009 6:39 PM
Subject: Sec. Gates Overturns Dover Ban Without Consulting Military Families

Sec. Gates Overturns Dover Ban Without Consulting Military Families
Dear Military Families United Member and Supporter,

As many of you already know, Defense Secretary Robert Gates today announced that the current ban on the media photographing the transfer cases ceremony at Dover Air Force Base has been overturned. We at Military Families United are disappointed with this decision because we feel that the families of the fallen heroes were not consulted prior to announcing this unnecessary change in policy. Despite Sec. Gates saying that he received "input from a number of sources, including all of the military services and the organizations representing military families," Military Families United, the largest military family organization, was not contacted or consulted. To read the Military Families United press statement about this click here

John Ellsworth, President of Military Families United, sent the following letter to Secretary Gates tonight.

--------------------------------------

Dear Secretary Gates:

Let me begin by thanking you for your service and your leadership for this country. I am a Gold Star father, and am painfully aware of the sacrifices that you have made and the tremendous successes that you have achieved with the surge in Iraq. With your leadership and guidance you have played a crucial role in fostering Iraq as a more stable and secure ally in the Middle East.

However, as the President of Military Families United, I am disappointed in your recent actions during your review process of the Dover AFB media ban at the transfer cases ceremony. At your press conference today you said that to make your decision to overturn this ban you received "input from a number of sources, including all of the military services and the organizations representing military families."

As the nation's leading military families organization, we are wondering why we were not consulted before your decision was announced today. We represent the largest number of military families around this nation, including those whose family members have paid the ultimate sacrifice for this country. If you did not consult with the largest military family organization, who did you speak to you?

Last week, Families United asked our military families to tell us how they feel about the possibility of the media ban being overturned. We heard from nearly a thousand families and the overwhelming majority, more than 85%, told us not to overturn the ban. We heard from mothers terrified that their fallen hero would be used as political propaganda; from fathers who didn't want to have to answer media questions as they watched their son come home; and from parents who wanted their solemn moment to remain private and far from the media lenses. We would have been happy to share these responses with you and play a role in your decision making process, but unfortunately that was not an option presented to us.

You have been an unwavering advocate for America's military families and we know your heart aches with every fallen hero and their family. This is why this decision, and the "review process" that apparently advised it, was so out of character. We respectfully ask that as you form the task force to answer the many unresolved issues surrounding your decision, that you allow us a seat at the table. We would also like to know what military family organizations you consulted to make your decision to reverse the ban? We are America's military families and our voices deserve to be heard.

Sincerely,

John Ellsworth
Proud Father of Lance Corporal Justin Ellsworth (KIA 11/13/04)

Tess Anderson · « **Reply #24 on:** February 28, 2009, 04:02:57 PM »

That was a nice letter, too bad they just dismissed the wishes of the fallen soildiers' families.

I don't care, this is tacky to use them as a photo op. I'm guessing he wanted this ban to be lifted to throw a bone at his comrades in the MSM and because it was LBJ's policy during Vietnam that the left exploited.

News:

Author Topic: Sources: Pentagon lifting ban on coffin photos (Read 3174 times)