Gates open to lifting ban on casket photos

[CommunityEditor]

The controversial policy that bans media coverage of flag-draped caskets arriving from the war theater to Dover Air Force Base, Del., is once again being reviewed with an eye toward reversal, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Tuesday.

“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,” Gates said at a Pentagon news conference. “I’m ... pretty open to, to whatever the results of this review may be.”

Gates said he ordered the review after President Barack Obama said Monday night during a nationally broadcast news conference that the White House is “in the process of reviewing those policies.”

Gates said he has put a “fairly short deadline on that effort,” but was not more specific.

Gates, a Bush administration holdover who has served in the Pentagon’s top job since December 2006, said he looked into changing the policy a little over a year ago.

He said the answer he received, partly the result of talks with family members of fallen troops, was that if reporters and photographers were allowed to view the return of flag-draped caskets at Dover, “many of the families would feel compelled to be there for those ceremonies for their fallen hero.”

“For these families, this would delay the return of the remains home,” he said. “For others, it would be a financial hardship to get to Dover. And there were some privacy concerns.”

But, Gates added, “I think that looking at it again makes all kinds of sense.”

Media coverage of military remains arriving at ports of entry was once permitted but came to a halt by Pentagon decree during the 1991 Gulf War, on Feb. 2, 1991.

Exceptions have been made over the years, such as when the media photographed a ceremony at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., for Americans killed in the 1998 embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania. In October 2000, the Pentagon distributed photos of caskets arriving at Dover that contained the remains of sailors killed in the bombing of the USS Cole.

In 2004, a “Sense of Congress” resolution included in the 2005 budget stated that the Pentagon policy “appropriately protects the privacy of the families and friends of the deceased.”

Rep. Walter Jones, R-N.C., has taken the opposite view — that photos of returning caskets both honor the returning service member and remind the public that the nation is at war.

In January, Jones introduced the “Fallen Hero Commemoration Act,” legislation that would force the Pentagon to grant the media access when military remains arrive at U.S. military installations.


Article: http://www.militarytimes.com/news/20...rdead_021009w/


The Associated Press
Flag-draped coffins of U.S. war casualties are
seen aboard a cargo plane in Dover Air Force
Base, Del. President Barack Obama said Feb. 9
his administration is reviewing a policy that
bans the media from photographing flag-draped
coffins of fallen service members.

[POOKIECS]

As a mother I would not want my daughters casket to be photographed. For myself it is a personal thing
for family only. I wouldn't want any protesters to be able to use the photo in their campaigns.

Our young men and women go off to war and then come home to be put on display for everyone to look at. What are we, a bunch of animals to be put on public display after fighting for our countries freedom? I can't believe the American government and the President can even consider this outrage. Every American soldier should stand up and raise hell about this consideration. Our Brothers and Sisters who have gone before us should be rolling over in their graves at this injustice.

What a sad time it must be if we are discussing this issue. We give our life for our country in public and we deserve to be with our family in private if such a thing should happen to us. We didn't sign up for entertainment, we signed up to do the right thing. The right thing in this case is privacy. Our commitment is over at this point and should be up to our family and not the government.

As an active duty service member with family in the service as well, I think is a little absurd. If the media gets this I think the member should be able to comment on it. Here's what I'm thinking, as you process into the military or for those of us in, there should be a form or a box on a form that gives or denys photos of your coffin if you fall while in service. I think this would be fair to anyone asking as some don't mind and others would not want to be seen. Also, how do you think a person's family would feel knowing the front page of their loved ones' news paper had a photo of them returning with honor but also fallen. I think this time the media needs to have a little respect for those who gave them the right to be leeches on society.

I strongly believe that the photos should be shown.
I agree that it will remind people that we are still at war.
I feel that the general public has forgotten our military who are serving.
WIth the war not being being on tv like in the begining, people who do not have family or friends serving
kind of forget what is still happening. I think the photos show honor & respect that should be given to our fallen. It is not necessary to list names so I don't think families would be upset by it.

Army & Air Force
MOM

Is there no respect!?!? My God we don't need to allow the media to review the fallen hero for thieer political haymaking! What purpose does the lifting the ban serve? Respect these heros. God Bless Americagg3













e6n

[mttm86]

I understand why some might want to change the current policy. They believe that allowing the media to photograph caskets will honor our fallen. However, after seeing how the media treats the military I don't think it would be a good idea. I know that if I was killed I would not want my casket to be photographed so it could wind up on some pundit's show as a way to either attack or defend the war. I've made the decision to fight and the possibility of using my memory or sacrifice for a political argument that I do not agree with makes me pretty angry.

I wonder how many of the people who clamor for these photos have ever served, or have family who have served, much less been killed in line of duty? They should take their false concern and stick it.

That is just so wrong. Frankly, if I were in one of those caskets, I wouldn't want my picture to be taken.

Seems to me we need to honor our dead rather than display them like medals!

If deployed, I plan on writing a letter requesting my casket NOT be allowed to be photographed! Might not make any difference...but I hope it will, if it is taken as a last request of a deceased soldier!