is it in bad taste to show pictures of flag draped coffins? or does the public have the right to see reality of war?
the Pentagon and the administration thinks you shouldn't have the right to see these photos...
Quote:
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Deputy Under Secretary of Defence John Molino said Pentagon lawyers were looking into whether banning the further release of such photographs would fall foul of the Freedom of Information Act. "We continually get feedback from families that this reflects their desires to maintain a degree of privacy... and also maintains the respect and the dignified treatment of those remains as they're transferred," he said.
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hmmm...it's hard to square that argument since the fallen soldier pictured, and the affected family, are completely anonymous. seems equally likely the administration would like to sanitize the war as much as possible. some of the most powerful images from Vietnam were the ongoing procession of flag draped coffins arriving at Dover Air Force Base...they had an impact on public opinion, as well they should.
publishing these photos oughta be required, imo...the public should be continually reminded that, under all the flag waving and gung-ho rhetoric, it still comes back to cannon fodder. the adminstration is unwilling to come clean on the cost of this war - financial or human.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3652171.stm