Pentagon angered by flag draped caskets photos

[The1calledTKE]

DOVER, Delaware (AP) -- A Web site published dozens of photographs of American war dead arriving at the nation's largest military mortuary, prompting the Pentagon to order an information clampdown Thursday.

The photographs were released last week to First Amendment activist Russ Kick, who had filed a Freedom of Information Act request to receive the images.

Air Force officials initially denied the request but decided to release the photos after Kick appealed their decision.

After Kick posted more than 350 photographs on his Web site, the Defense Department barred the further release of the photographs to media outlets.


http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/South/04/....ap/index.html


What I don't get is almost after any war images of the war hero's that paid the ultimate price arriving home and people paying their respects have always been in the news. Are they upset about the large amount maybe making them look bad?

[KillarneyRose]

That's a good question. I think that may very well be the case. To me, the explanation that they want to respect the privacy of the families of the deceased is valid (because I'm one of those type people who cannot bear the thought of being dressed up and paraded around in any way whatsoever after I die), but then I remember that photographing the flag-draped caskets was never an issue during any other military actions.

[James]

Yeah, also . . . the names are not on the coffins. There is a certain amount of anonymity in these pics. And the families were contacted well before.

However, the government learned after Vietnam that America will question War if they see American Dead . . . and a number is just a number, abstract . . the coffins make it real.

[swissmiss04]

I think the photographer had good intentions. It really hits home when you see each coffin and realize how many people (these people) have made the ultimate sacrifice for you and those you love. I totally disagree w/ the Pentagon's sacking of the photographer. Maybe a slight reprimand would have been better?

[DeltAlum]

The Nixon and Johnson administrations blamed much of the adverse reaction to the Vietnam War to almost daily picture of flag drapped coffins coming into the country.

This administration, whether it is good or bad, has been much more controlling of the media than either of the others did.

It's no wonder they don't want pics taken.

[ISUKappa]

Though I think these (two) photos are actually tasteful and patriotic, I can understand the desire to have as few of them out there as possible. Seeing a photo of a flag-draped coffin at a service at Arlington for an 80-year-old general is much different than seeing hundreds of them lined up on a ship being sent back to America.

[James]

Yes but it keeps it real. We should never forget that war is not antiseptic and sterile . . . its dirty and mean and at the end of the day casualties are people injured and dead, not statistics.

Originally posted by ISUKappa
Though I think these (two) photos are actually tasteful and patriotic, I can understand the desire to have as few of them out there as possible. Seeing a photo of a flag-draped coffin at a service at Arlington for an 80-year-old general is much different than seeing hundreds of them lined up on a ship being sent back to America.

[madmax]

Originally posted by The1calledTKE
DOVER, Delaware (AP) -- A Web site published dozens of photographs of American war dead arriving at the nation's largest military mortuary, prompting the Pentagon to order an information clampdown Thursday.

The photographs were released last week to First Amendment activist Russ Kick, who had filed a Freedom of Information Act request to receive the images.

Air Force officials initially denied the request but decided to release the photos after Kick appealed their decision.

After Kick posted more than 350 photographs on his Web site, the Defense Department barred the further release of the photographs to media outlets.


http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/South/04/....ap/index.html


What I don't get is almost after any war images of the war hero's that paid the ultimate price arriving home and people paying their respects have always been in the news. Are they upset about the large amount maybe making them look bad?

Last month you were criticizing Bush for running an ad with pictures of a 9/11 flag drapped coffin. This month you are complaining that they are not posting pictures of flag drapped coffins. http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...ight=bush+flag

[The1calledTKE]

Originally posted by madmax
Last month you were criticizing Bush for running an ad with pictures of a 9/11 flag drapped coffin. This month you are complaining that they are not posting pictures of flag drapped coffins. http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...ight=bush+flag

Well Bush wouldn't be using these for political purposes. All I asked what makes this war any different than any other war.

[The1calledTKE]

Update. Some of the 350 pic on that site are actaully the flag draped coffins of the Columbia astronauts.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Images of the coffins of the dead astronauts from the Columbia disaster got mixed in with some of the pictures splashed across US newspapers of military dead being returned from Iraq.

NASA made an impassioned plea for newspaper editors to double check the published pictures which have caused a controversy as the Defence Department bans media coverage of the return of war dead.



http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor...a_040423222621

[ISUKappa]

Originally posted by James
Yes but it keeps it real. We should never forget that war is not antiseptic and sterile . . . its dirty and mean and at the end of the day casualties are people injured and dead, not statistics.

Oh yes, I agree. But I think 350+ photos are a bit excessive. (especially when they're not all casualties of war.)

[AGDee]

Anybody else find it ironic that as part of the controversy about the story, every single newspaper, news cast and news web site has also posted these pictures?

Dee

[DeltAlum]

Originally posted by AGDee
Anybody else find it ironic that as part of the controversy about the story, every single newspaper, news cast and news web site has also posted these pictures?

Dee

No, since the pictures are what the controversy (story) is about.

[honeychile]

FWIW, in our family photo albums is a newspaper clipping of a flag-draped casket being unloaded off of a ship, and the caption says that it is my mama's elder brother, who was killed during WWII. There has to be at least 100 other caskets already on the dock in the photo.