Officials: Pentagon OKs Media Photos of War Dead

Officials: Pentagon to allow media photos of the homecomings of war dead with family OKBy PAULINE JELINEK and ANNE GEARAN Associated Press Writers
WASHINGTON February 26, 2009 (AP)

News organizations will be allowed to photograph the homecomings of America's war dead under a new Pentagon policy, defense and congressional officials said Thursday.

Photo ban ends: news organizations permitted to photograph the homecomings of America's war dead under a new Pentagon policy.(Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Defense Secretary Robert Gates has decided to allow photos of flag-draped caskets at Dover Air Force Base, Del., if the families of the fallen troops agree, the officials told The Associated Press.

Gates planned to announce his decision later Thursday, they said. The current ban was put in place in 1991 by President George H.W. Bush.

Some critics have contended the government was trying to hide the human cost of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"All too often, the sacrifices of our military are hidden from view," Paul Rieckhoff, executive director of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. "The sight of flag-draped coffins is, and should be, a sobering reminder to all Americans of the ultimate sacrifice our troops have made and the high price of our freedom."

Read full story here: ABC

Look what one commentor said: 

"Gee, all this time I had no idea what a coffin looked like...wow...THANKS for letting me see one...c'mon anybody with more than a d*ck for a brain knows what dead is...dead = dead, lifeless body, blown to bits by explosives and bullets...why do people actually have to be reminded of the obvious??"

Bomb The Bass 88 1:47 PM